Author
Asst Prof Ariesta Wibisono Anditya
Organisation/Institution
University of Malaya, Faculty of Law
Country
MALAYSIA
Panel
Information Technology Law
Title
Exploring the Unexplored: Cryptocurrency as Digital Evidence in ASEAN Countries
Abstract
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous countries have entered the digital realm. Digitalization has caused their requirements to expand into the cyber realm. This is evident in the emergence of digital currencies, specifically cryptocurrencies, which have gained widespread adoption. Criminals occasionally prefer the decentralized, immutable, and transparent characteristics of cryptocurrency due to the challenges in tracking transactions. Terrorists, for instance, will utilize cryptocurrencies to finance illicit goods. This study will investigate the legal admissibility of cryptocurrency as evidence in court when it is derived from money laundering activities. The employed methodology is a systematic literature analysis utilizing data sources comprising Scopus-indexed papers that address the study's keywords: cryptocurrency, digital evidence, and ASEAN nations. The study employed a comparative methodology to assess the acceptability of cryptocurrencies in ASEAN nations. Information pertinent to the matter will be utilized to address it. This research provides a foundational literature review for individuals pursuing further investigations into cryptocurrencies and their connections to various types of cybercrime. This study concludes that cryptocurrency, as a digital asset, possesses unique attributes necessitating collaboration among law enforcement, digital forensics, and legal experts to ensure its evidentiary validity in money laundering prosecutions.
Biography
Ariesta Wibisono Anditya is an Assistant Professor at Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani Yogyakarta (UNJAYA) and a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya (UM). His teaching and research span criminal law, international criminal law, human rights, victimology, criminology, and legal anthropology, with a central focus on cyberlaw and digital forensics. He holds two master’s degrees, one from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and another from Universitas Indonesia (UI). Ariesta has published on Indonesian criminal justice, cyberlaw, and international criminal law, and has earned recognitions that include Professional Lecturer Certification, competitive research grants, and the St. Andrews Cambridge Select English IELTS certification. His current doctoral work investigates the use of cryptocurrency as digital evidence and develops standards for chain of custody and admissibility, alongside privacy-preserving governance, for permissioned blockchain systems. By bringing anti-money laundering insights into forensic workflows, he aims to strengthen evidentiary integrity while protecting data subjects and ensuring compliance with data protection principles. His broader research agenda examines how law and technology interact in sensitive investigative contexts, including the validation of on-chain traces, the management of private keys, and the integration of off-chain storage with verifiable proofs. Ariesta is committed to advancing legal theory and policy in Indonesia and beyond through collaborative scholarship, open pedagogical practices, and service to the academic community. He mentors students and early career researchers, promotes rigorous and ethical research methods, and advocates for educational innovation that supports access, inclusion, and professionalism in the legal field.
