Comparing Bitcoin generators on the clear web and the dark web

Abstract

Objective
This study examines Bitcoin generator (BG) websites on the clear and dark web. It focuses on their prevalence, revenue, and associated warnings, as these sites are suspected scams.

Method
Data for the study was gathered from the Dark Web Monitor and Iknaio Cryptoasset Analytics. A four-step process was used to identify BG sites and their Bitcoin addresses from 2 million dark websites.

Results
We found 832 dark web BG sites. The monetary revenue from a dark web BG site is approximately 1/3 smaller per Bitcoin address than from a clear web BG site. There is a concentration of revenue at a few BG sites. Only 24% of Bitcoin addresses on dark web BG sites have ever had money deposited on them. On the dark web, the top three clusters of crypto addresses account for 35% of the total revenue. On the clear web, the top three clusters account for 52% of the total revenue. The longer BG sites are online, the higher the revenue. There are hardly any warnings against BG sites.

Conclusion
Our results fit the Rational Choice model of crime: the revenue is modest, but the effort of the offenders is also limited.