CCI Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CCI facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is a blockchain? → A decentralized digital ledger
2. What does the ERC-20 standard define in the Ethereum ecosystem? → A technical standard for fungible tokens on Ethereum
3. Which cryptocurrency is known for its privacy-focused features? → Monero
4. Which tool is commonly used for blockchain analysis? → Chainalysis
5. Which agency enforces financial crime laws in the U.S.? → FinCEN
6. Why are cryptocurrency exchanges required to follow compliance regulations? → To prevent financial crimes
7. What technique involves compelling a suspect to surrender cryptocurrency private keys, and what US constitutional challenge does it face? → Compelled decryption; faces Fifth Amendment self-incrimination challenges
8. What is AML in the context of cryptocurrency? → Anti-Money Laundering
9. Why is it important to understand exchange KYC practices? → To find potential ID points
10. What does KYC stand for in the context of cryptocurrency exchanges? → Know Your Customer
11. What role do regulators play in the crypto space? → They oversee legal compliance and protect markets
12. Which of the following best describes the primary function of a cryptocurrency mixer or tumbler in a financial investigation context? → To pool and mix transactions from multiple users to obscure the trail of funds.
13. Which tool is commonly used by investigators to analyze Ethereum smart contract source code, transactions, and token transfers? → Etherscan
14. What does KYC stand for? → Know Your Customer
15. What is 'smurfing' in the context of cryptocurrency exchange investigations? → Breaking large amounts into smaller transactions to stay below reporting thresholds
16. Which global group sets AML guidelines? → FATF
17. In Ethereum, what does 'gas' represent? → The computational fee required to execute transactions and smart contract operations
18. What is a block in a blockchain? → A container of transaction data
19. What is essential when preserving digital evidence? → Keep a secure and documented chain of custody
20. Which US government agency maintains primary AML/KYC regulatory authority over domestic cryptocurrency exchanges? → FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network)
21. What is a smart contract? → Code that executes agreements automatically
22. What is the benefit of using visual graph tools in tracing? → They enhance pattern recognition
23. In DeFi, what does TVL (Total Value Locked) measure? → The total value of assets deposited in a DeFi protocol's smart contracts
24. What is the primary legal tool used to compel a cryptocurrency exchange to provide user account data? → Subpoena
25. What is a smart contract in the context of blockchain technology? → Self-executing code deployed on a blockchain that automatically enforces agreement terms
26. Under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), what cash transaction amount triggers a mandatory Currency Transaction Report (CTR)? → Transactions exceeding $10,000 in a single day
27. In the US, which agency primarily manages and auctions off seized cryptocurrency? → The US Marshals Service (USMS)
28. What ensures the integrity of a blockchain? → Cryptographic hash linking blocks
29. What is the primary goal of cryptocurrency tracing? → To follow fund movement across wallets
30. When investigating a cryptocurrency exchange, which legal instrument prevents the exchange from alerting the customer that their records are being sought? → Non-disclosure order (gag order) accompanying the subpoena