How to preserve crypto wallet evidence

Why wallet evidence needs care

Cryptocurrency transactions are recorded permanently on the blockchain, but that record is only useful if you save the right details in a form others can check. A screenshot of an app balance alone is not enough.

The exact wallet addresses and transaction hashes involved matter more than a general description of what happened. These are what a crypto tracing effort or exchange investigation actually works from.

This matters even before you know whether tracing will succeed. A complete record kept now costs little effort and keeps every option open later, whether that turns out to be a bank dispute, a police report, or a civil claim.

Save the addresses and transaction hashes

Copy or screenshot the full receiving wallet address exactly as it appears, character by character, since even one wrong digit makes it unusable. Do the same for your own sending wallet address.

Save the transaction hash, or TXID, for every transfer, which you can usually find in your wallet app or on a blockchain explorer. This code lets anyone verify the transfer independently of your account.

Save exchange and KYC records

If you sent funds through an exchange, save the name of the exchange, your account details, and any know-your-customer (KYC) verification you completed when signing up. This shows a legitimate, traceable starting point for your transfer.

Keep any correspondence with the exchange about the transaction, including support tickets or chat logs, since exchanges sometimes hold additional records tied to the receiving wallet.

Protect your own wallet while you gather evidence

Never share your seed phrase with anyone, including someone claiming to help you trace or recover funds, since this is the most common way a second scam takes the rest of your holdings. Genuine help never needs your seed phrase.

If your crypto wallet itself may have been compromised, move any remaining funds to a new wallet with a fresh seed phrase before continuing to gather evidence.

What to do next

Bring your wallet addresses, transaction hashes, and exchange records together, then make a police report with these details included. Contact the exchange involved directly and ask about their process for reporting fraud.

Read what to save after a crypto scam for the fuller picture, then organise your evidence for a lawyer once you have gathered what you can.

No one can promise how a case like this will end, but a complete and well organised record gives whichever route you take next, tracing, reporting, or a claim, its best chance.