The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has confirmed seizing $3.6 billion worth of Bitcoin in what could be termed as DoJ’s largest ever finance bust. The money was taken from a New York-based couple, charged for their involvement in money laundering of funds stolen in the Bitfinex cryptocurrency hack in 2016.
A Milestone Hack
Back in 2016, as reported by Hackread.com, a milestone cryptocurrency hack occurred in which one of the biggest crypto firms in the world, the Hong Kong-based Bitfinex exchange, was targeted, and 119,000 bitcoins were stolen. About six years later, the DoJ has arrested a couple that allegedly perpetrated this hack and laundered the stolen cryptocurrency.
Details of Seizure
In a landmark move, the US DoJ seized around 94,000 bitcoins from the couple, worth $71 million when it was stolen. The recovered bitcoin currently is worth over $3.6 billion as today, one bitcoin is worth around $43,400.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco has regarded the seizure as the department’s largest financial seizure and claims that this indicates that the crypto sector doesn’t offer a safe haven for cybercriminals.
In a futile effort to maintain digital anonymity, the defendants laundered stolen funds through a labyrinth of
Read More: https://www.hackread.com/billions-bitcoin-seized-crooks-tied-bitfinex-hack/
