It seemed that anyone could buy or sell anything with Bitcoin and never be tracked, let alone busted
“It’s totally anonymous,” was how one commenter put it in Bitcoin's forums in June 2013
sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/w…
“It’s totally anonymous,” was how one commenter put it in Bitcoin's forums in June 2013
sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/w…
“The FBI does not have a prayer of a chance of finding out who is who"
Bitcoin’s anonymity is also a powerful tool for financing crime : The virtual money can keep shady transactions secret
But things have evolved since then
Bitcoin’s anonymity is also a powerful tool for financing crime : The virtual money can keep shady transactions secret
But things have evolved since then
The Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI and other law enforcement agencies have been active :
- in February 2015 Ross Ulbricht, the 31-year-old American who created Silk Road, a Bitcoin market facilitating the sale of $1 billion in illegal drugs, was sentenced to life in prison
- in February 2015 Ross Ulbricht, the 31-year-old American who created Silk Road, a Bitcoin market facilitating the sale of $1 billion in illegal drugs, was sentenced to life in prison
- in March 2015 the assets of 28-year-old Czech national Tomáš Jiříkovský were seized; he’s suspected of laundering $40 million in stolen Bitcoins
- in September 2015 33-year-old American Trendon Shavers pleaded guilty to running a $150 million Ponzi scheme—the first Bitcoin securities fraud case
- also in September 2015 30-year-old Frenchman Mark Karpelès was arrested and charged with fraud and embezzlement of $390 million from the now shuttered Bitcoin currency exchange Mt. Gox
This article is worth reading in full 
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