Hidden assets have long been a concern in high-value divorce proceedings. Increasingly, investigators and family lawyers are encountering cryptocurrency as part of that landscape. Digital assets can be transferred quickly, held across multiple wallets and moved between jurisdictions, which can make them difficult to identify during financial disclosure.

A recent article by Aidan Radnedge [How wealthy spouses are hiding crypto assets worth millions during divorce cases] highlighted how wealthy spouses are using cryptocurrency to conceal assets during divorce cases. It reflects a trend investigators are seeing more frequently as digital assets become part of complex financial structures.

In some matters, concealed funds originate from spending someone has attempted to keep separate from their declared finances. Private travel, hotels or relationships carried out discreetly can lead to accounts or wallets being created outside the normal financial structure. Over time those accounts may begin to hold far larger sums.

When financial disclosure becomes necessary, those arrangements often come under closer scrutiny.

Investigating Hidden Wealth

Uncovering concealed assets requires a combination of financial analysis, open-source intelligence and cross-jurisdictional enquiries. Cryptocurrency adds another dimension, particularly where funds move through exchanges, private wallets and multiple jurisdictions.

Despite the complexity, financial activity leaves evidence. Transactions connect to exchanges, wallets connect to platforms and assets often link back to real-world purchases or ownership structures. Careful analysis of these connections can reveal a far broader financial picture than initially presented.

A Record-Breaking £100 Million Settlement

iSanctuary was instructed in a case that ultimately resulted in a record-breaking £100 million divorce settlement in the UK courts.

The matter involved a husband who appeared to have divested himself of significant assets during proceedings. Our investigators examined the structures surrounding those assets to determine whether they were genuinely beyond his control.

The investigation focused on high-value London properties held through offshore companies, along with the history and sale of a superyacht connected to the individual.

Working across several jurisdictions including Europe, the British Virgin Islands and Asia, investigators analysed corporate records, ownership structures and financial movements linked to these assets. Evidence established the husband’s previous ownership of the yacht and the proceeds from its sale, demonstrating that these assets formed part of his financial portfolio.

The court ultimately awarded the client £100 million.

Cryptocurrency and Asset Tracing

Digital assets now appear more frequently within the structures examined during divorce investigations. Cryptocurrency can be transferred quickly, held across multiple wallets and moved between jurisdictions.

Blockchain transactions create a permanent ledger of activity. When analysed alongside traditional financial records, these movements can provide valuable evidence. Transfers between bank accounts and crypto exchanges often provide the first indication that digital assets exist.

Supporting Crypto Investigations with REKTify

To support investigations involving cryptocurrency, iSanctuary developed REKTify™, a specialist platform, which can be used to trace and map digital asset movements on the blockchain.

Used alongside traditional asset tracing methods, these capabilities help investigators and legal teams build a clearer understanding of digital wealth that may not appear in standard financial disclosure.

The Importance of Early Investigation

As digital assets and international financial structures become more common in divorce litigation, specialist investigation is playing an increasingly important role.

Asset tracing, corporate analysis, blockchain examination and open-source intelligence can reveal connections that materially affect the financial outcome of a case. Ensuring the court has an accurate understanding of the assets involved remains central to achieving fair settlements in complex divorce proceedings.