Ethereum’s Cryptographic Future: What It Means for Tracing, Evidence and Control

Taking Vitalik Buterin’s essay, “The cryptographic world computer”, as her starting point, 33 Chambers barrister, Flavia Kenyon, a specialist in blockchain and digital asset law, examines what Ethereum’s evolving architecture means for lawyers and courts dealing with disputes involving cryptoassets.

The article identifies five key issues:

1. Cryptographic validity proves neither provenance nor authority

2. Future Ethereum sharpens the distinction between BTC and ETH

3. Tracing requires a layer-by-layer analysis of object and control

4. Greater verification may coexist with reduced evidential visibility

5. Attribution and remedies become more fragmented