Heuristic Transaction Analysis
Heuristic transaction analysis uses logical patterns to infer relationships between blockchain transactions and addresses. This includes identifying common change addresses in Bitcoin-like systems, where the remainder of a transaction is sent back to a new address controlled by the sender.
By applying these heuristics, analysts can reconstruct the flow of funds and identify the true source and destination of capital. This technique is essential for building a coherent view of market activity from fragmented on-chain data.
It allows for the categorization of transactions into different types, such as exchange deposits, OTC trades, or internal transfers. The accuracy of this analysis depends on the complexity of the heuristics used and the underlying protocol design.
It is a standard method in blockchain forensics and fundamental analysis. Over time, as privacy features evolve, these heuristics must be constantly updated.