MASTR · CRYPTO & WEB3
From a wallet graph to a finding someone else can reproduce
Preserve observations, test alternative explanations and distinguish a transaction path from a claim about identity or intent.
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Could another researcher reproduce the conclusion from the cited record?
Begin with a narrow question
A useful investigation asks something concrete: which addresses received an allocation, how much a defined set sold during a period, or which contract action changed a permission. A broad accusation invites selective evidence. Define the chain, asset identifier, time window and accounting unit before collecting transactions. State exclusions early so the reader can see the boundary of the claim.
Preserve the observation
Record transaction identifiers, block references, addresses, decoded actions and the source of labels. Save relevant responses and documents when appropriate, with retrieval dates and hashes for preserved files. A screenshot can help explain a finding but often omits fields needed to reproduce it. An explorer label may change; the original transaction record and the researcher’s interpretation should remain distinguishable.
Attribution needs more than a line
A common funder, repeated timing pattern or shared transaction can support a hypothesis of coordination. Shared services, exchanges and routers can also produce relationships between unrelated users. Identity attribution is a further claim. Explain which evidence supports common control and which alternative explanations were considered. Do not turn an uncertain cluster into a named-person accusation simply because the graph looks persuasive.
Reconcile money without double counting
A sale can route through several assets and addresses. Counting each hop as new proceeds inflates the result. Separate gross receipts, fees, conversions, internal transfers and final balances. Keep native units alongside valuation assumptions. A profit calculation also needs costs and a defined starting inventory; sale receipts alone are not profit. MASTR’s existing LAPTOP reading guides demonstrate why that accounting discipline matters.
Publish limitations with the finding
A good conclusion says what the record establishes, what it suggests and what remains unknown. Link corrections to the original claim instead of silently replacing the past. Preserve quoted source wording separately from editorial explanation. This makes an archive useful even when a historical opinion was too strong: readers can inspect what was said, why it was said and how later evidence affects it.
Ejemplo explicado
If one sale receives 100 USDC and the proceeds are transferred through three wallets, the transfer graph may show 400 units of movements. It still documents only 100 USDC of sale receipts unless additional independent sales occurred. A graph total and an economic total answer different questions.
Preguntas para recordar
- Define scope before measuring.
- Preserve raw identifiers and source dates.
- Separate observation, inference and identity.