Educational laboratory of financial investigations
About the Laboratory
The Educational Laboratory of Financial Investigations operates within the Educational and Scientific Institute of Economic Security and Customs at the State Tax University of Ukraine (STU). Established by decision of the Academic Council, the Laboratory specializes in blockchain analytics, cryptocurrency-related financial crime investigation, and AML/CFT compliance training for law enforcement agencies.
The Laboratory develops and delivers practical training programs that equip investigators, prosecutors, and operational officers with the skills to detect, trace, and document financial crimes involving virtual assets — from basic blockchain analysis to advanced techniques for tracking obfuscated cryptocurrency flows.
Mission
To strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies to investigate financial crimes involving cryptocurrencies and virtual assets, by delivering specialized, practice-oriented training programs grounded in real investigative scenarios and supported by licensed professional analytics tools.
Training Focus Areas
The Laboratory’s training curriculum covers two levels, developed iteratively with direct input from law enforcement practitioners:
Foundational Level
- Blockchain architecture: UTXO and account-based models, transaction lifecycle, block explorers
- Keys, addresses, custodial and non-custodial wallets; token classification (MiCA framework)
- Exchange typology (centralized and decentralized exchanges) and wallet types
- Regulatory frameworks: FATF Travel Rule, KYC/KYT requirements, VASP obligations
Advanced Level
- Transaction obfuscation techniques: peel chains, mixers/tumblers, CoinJoin, cross-chain bridges
- Anti-detection methods: KYC drop accounts, anti-detect browsers, no-KYC exchanges, DEX-based laundering schemes
- Blockchain analytics platforms: Crystal Blockchain (licensed and deployed), Chainalysis, Elliptic, TRM Labs
- Legal frameworks for cryptocurrency seizure under Ukrainian criminal procedure (Article 170 CPC)
- AI-assisted tools for blockchain analysis
- Multisig wallet seizure procedures; FATF 2025 compliance pathways; chain of custody for digital evidence
→ For detailed program descriptions, see Training Programs
Licensed Professional Tools
The Laboratory holds institutional licenses for professional-grade investigative and analytical software:
| Tool | Function |
|---|---|
| Crystal Blockchain | On-chain analytics and cryptocurrency transaction tracing |
| i2 Analyst’s Notebook | Link analysis and intelligence visualization |
| Orbis | Global company data and corporate structure analysis |
| YouControl | Ukrainian business intelligence and due diligence |
Law Enforcement Stakeholders
The Laboratory has delivered training to investigators and operational officers from eight Ukrainian agencies covering the full spectrum of financial crime, anti-corruption, and national security investigations:
| Agency | Abbreviation | Area of Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Economic Security | BEB | Primary financial crime investigation body |
| National Anti-Corruption Bureau | NABU | Anti-corruption investigations |
| State Bureau of Investigation | DBR | Serious crime investigations |
| Security Service of Ukraine | SBU | National security, including sanctions enforcement |
| Asset Recovery and Management Agency | ARMA | Management of seized and confiscated assets |
| Office of the Prosecutor General | OPG | Prosecutorial oversight of investigations |
| National Police of Ukraine | NPU | General policing and cybercrime investigations |
| National Agency on Corruption Prevention | NAZK | Anti-corruption policy, asset declarations, monitoring |
This broad end-user base provides a unique platform for validating training methodologies and investigative tools across diverse institutional contexts.
International Partnerships
| Partner | Country | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Intelligence | Netherlands | MoU signed (December 2025) | Institutional access to Crystal Expert blockchain analytics platform for training and research |
| DAI Global / UCIF Project | UK / Ukraine | Active partner | Co-organized training events at STU (February–March 2026) under the UK FCDO-funded project “Strengthening Ukraine’s Capacity to Counter Illicit Finance” |
| iSanctuary | International | Guest lecturer | Participated in the pilot training program (March 2026) |
| Cryptoforensic Investigators | International | Guest lecturer | Participated in the pilot training program (March 2026) |
Key Events
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| December 2025 | MoU signing with Crystal Intelligence | Discussion of the digital investigations laboratory concept; participants included STU Acting Rector Serebrianskyi, Institute Director Rokun, and Laboratory representative Semyrianov |
| 24 February 2026 | Guest lecture “Cryptocurrencies Unmasked: Modern Investigation Methods and Blockchain Analytics” | Co-organized with the UCIF project (DAI Global); opened by Panchenko Ye. — First Deputy Head of the International Police Cooperation Department, NPU; practical session led by Crystal Intelligence experts; hybrid format (on-site + online) |
| 23–24 March 2026 | Pilot training program “Financial Crime Investigation Methodologies” | Supported by Crystal Blockchain, iSanctuary, Cryptoforensic Investigators, DAI Global; stakeholders from 8 LEA agencies (OPG, DBR, NABU, NAZK, NPU, SBU, BEB, ARMA); participants developed and presented their own training materials |
→ For photos and detailed reports, see Events & Activities
Goals
Training delivery:
- Develop and deliver specialized training programs on cryptocurrency-related financial crime investigation for law enforcement agencies
- Create practice-oriented training environments (crypto training labs) with licensed professional analytics tools
International integration:
- Participate in EU-funded research and training programs (Horizon Europe, ISF, CEPOL)
- Expand training delivery to law enforcement agencies from EU Member States and partner countries
- Contribute to international projects addressing cryptocurrency-facilitated crime and terrorism
Institutional development:
- Build a sustainable, multi-source funding model for LEA training through international grants, bilateral programs, and institutional partnerships
- Develop a specialized library of educational, methodological, and research materials on blockchain analytics and financial investigations
Institutional Framework
The Laboratory operates under the Regulations on the Educational Laboratory (PDF, Ukrainian).
The State Tax University of Ukraine is a fully associated country to Horizon Europe since 1 January 2021, enabling participation in EU research and innovation programs on equal terms with EU Member State organizations.
Related Pages
Departments of the Institute of Economic Security and Customs
Contact information
Campus D,
Institute of Economic Security and Customs
Institute of Economic Security and Customs
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