Blockchain Evidence in Criminal Trials: Admissibility, Integrity, and Chain of Custody

Abstract

The increasing use of blockchain technology in financial transactions, digital communications, and decentralized systems presents new challenges and opportunities for criminal litigation. This article examines the legal implications of admitting blockchain-based evidence in criminal trials, focusing on issues of admissibility, data integrity, and chain of custody. Drawing on comparative legal frameworks and emerging jurisprudence, it explores how courts may assess the evidentiary value of blockchain entries, the reliability of decentralized data records, and whether traditional evidentiary standards can accommodate cryptographically secured and distributed evidence. The article concludes with recommendations for policymakers and legal practitioners regarding the standardization and certification of blockchain evidence.