Cyber groups are commercial associations that operate exclusively in and via cyberspace.
Most cyber groups are, for official purposes, organised as unregistered associations or companies. For example the Exceptional Insights Group has a memorandum and articles of association just like a any other registered Cayman Islands entity. Some are organised as general partnerships, if that suites their governing jurisdiction. If a cyber group has a written governing document, then that document should stipulate the jurisdiction and the law which governs it. In the case of the Exceptional Insights Group, that would be the Cayman Islands.
Cyber groups offer a range of goods and services including physical goods. These are usually offered through public web properties, however, recently there’s been a trend towards private trade via private communication mediums like private messaging apps, etc.
Payments may be accepted via traditional means, however, the trend recently has been towards the use of crypto-assets like Bitcoin as the payment method of choice for most cyber groups.
Many cyber groups consist of distributed teams, with their members being located anywhere around the globe. Cyber groups usually engage talent on a freelance basis either directly or via a freelance portal.
Cyber groups are incredibly easy to start and can be started in anywhere including in non-industrialised jurisdictions. The jurisdiction that governs the group does not have to be the jurisdiction of its members. The membership structure of a cyber group can be extremely flexible and it’s usually very confidential.
There’s a good chance going forward that you and I will be doing business with an anonymous cyber group whenever we transact online or via private message. Cyber groups are a thing of the future and they’re here to stay.
Attribution: This content was originally published on the 8th of January, 2017. https://medium.com/@mikehydes/whats-a-cyber-group-f8f217266e12