The FBI Investigates Bitcoin Developer Event Theft
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has taken an interest in a Bitcoin core developer event that occurred in October 2022, where over 200 BTC were stolen from developer Luke Dashjr.
Dashjr, who is a co-founder of the Ocean mining pool, publicly revealed the theft. At the time of the incident, the Bitcoin stolen was valued at approximately $3.3 million. However, considering the price fluctuations before the Bitcoin halving and the price surges driven by ETFs, the stolen BTC would now be valued at more than $14 million.
FBI Subpoena for Event Attendees’ Information
- Mike Schmidt, co-founder of the Bitcoin non-profit Brink, shared that the FBI issued a subpoena demanding personal information about attendees at the CoreDev Atlanta event that took place before TABConf in 2022.
A tweet by Mike In Space expressed the sentiment that Luke Dashjr failed to secure his Bitcoin, leading to the doxxing of conference attendees by the FBI. This raised concerns within the Bitcoin developer community.
Compliance with Subpoena and Lack of Clarity
- The FBI’s subpoena requested first and last names, GitHub usernames, and email addresses of the event attendees in connection with Dashjr’s claim.
- Schmidt complied with the subpoena based on legal advice, despite concerns about the exposure of personal information.
The details of the FBI’s investigation remain ambiguous. Schmidt expressed uncertainty about whether the subpoena aimed to identify a specific suspect or was part of a broader data gathering initiative. After complying with the subpoena, there has been no further communication between Schmidt and the agency.
Other FBI Crypto Investigations
- Aside from this incident, the FBI had previously probed into the origins of a fake tweet from the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission about Bitcoin spot ETF approvals.
- The tweet, suspected to be a premature draft, caused a stir in the crypto community. However, the SEC clarified that it was not an internal communication from the agency.
Hot Take: Respect Privacy and Security in the Crypto Community
The recent FBI investigation into the Bitcoin developer event highlights the importance of privacy and security in the crypto industry.
As a crypto enthusiast, it is crucial to prioritize safeguarding personal information and digital assets to prevent potential security breaches and ensure a safe environment for all participants.
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