7 ms·

I would think that it was traced via bitcoin, not pgp.

by veemjeem 13y ago

jordanbaucke 13y ago
Its worth noting there was no indication that BTCKing and Mr. Shrem used PGP to encrypt their communication.
- dobbsbob 13y ago
  From the original arrest it said he was using his work email @bitinstant to communicate with BTCKing and I don't remember anything about PGP being used. Shrem is screwed, because all those emails are highly incriminating with him actively helping BTCKing avoid being flagged in the system for laundering checks. BTCKing was originally caught because he's a drug addict supporting his habit by exchanging coins and was completely sloppy and careless with everything.
olalonde 13y ago
The blockchain was not even mentioned in the original FBI document. Everything was based on email/SR logs. Bitcoin makes it very difficult to associate transactions with people and I haven't yet heard of a case where the blockchain was successfully used to track down someone.
- dobbsbob 13y ago
  Indeed, not a lot of ways to associate an address with somebody unless: - seize drives or papers with private keys - extract printer memory if they printed a private key - subpoena exchanges to hand over records to tie them to identities they have on file - search if somebody put the address in a forum sig or on IRC/elsewhere and admitted it was their address - check IP if they generated the address with an online wallet, brainwallet or some other discoverable method (not behind Tor) Otherwise all you are looking at is a big chain with coins going from address to address and no way to prove somebody is the definitive owner of it.
  - unreal37 13y ago
    Almost all business transactions are between people that know at least a little bit about each other. If Silk Road User A sends Silk Road Merchant B BTC for drugs, A has to give B a postal address to mail the drugs to. There is almost no such thing as two completely anonymous people in a financial transaction. There's always an email address, user name, a third party, or postal address to tie them. The only thing that I can think of is some type of charitable/political donation that is anonymous.
  - abruzzi 13y ago
    For 100% certainty yes, but like a murder (or any other crime) no one witnesses, a circumstantial tie to a bitcoin address is theoretically possible. Though that doesn't seem to be the case here.

I would think that it was traced via bitcoin, not pgp.

jordanbaucke 13y ago

Its worth noting there was no indication that BTCKing and Mr. Shrem used PGP to encrypt their communication.

dobbsbob 13y ago
From the original arrest it said he was using his work email @bitinstant to communicate with BTCKing and I don't remember anything about PGP being used. Shrem is screwed, because all those emails are highly incriminating with him actively helping BTCKing avoid being flagged in the system for laundering checks. BTCKing was originally caught because he's a drug addict supporting his habit by exchanging coins and was completely sloppy and careless with everything.

olalonde 13y ago

The blockchain was not even mentioned in the original FBI document. Everything was based on email/SR logs. Bitcoin makes it very difficult to associate transactions with people and I haven't yet heard of a case where the blockchain was successfully used to track down someone.

dobbsbob 13y ago
Indeed, not a lot of ways to associate an address with somebody unless: - seize drives or papers with private keys - extract printer memory if they printed a private key - subpoena exchanges to hand over records to tie them to identities they have on file - search if somebody put the address in a forum sig or on IRC/elsewhere and admitted it was their address - check IP if they generated the address with an online wallet, brainwallet or some other discoverable method (not behind Tor) Otherwise all you are looking at is a big chain with coins going from address to address and no way to prove somebody is the definitive owner of it.
- unreal37 13y ago
  Almost all business transactions are between people that know at least a little bit about each other. If Silk Road User A sends Silk Road Merchant B BTC for drugs, A has to give B a postal address to mail the drugs to. There is almost no such thing as two completely anonymous people in a financial transaction. There's always an email address, user name, a third party, or postal address to tie them. The only thing that I can think of is some type of charitable/political donation that is anonymous.
- abruzzi 13y ago
  For 100% certainty yes, but like a murder (or any other crime) no one witnesses, a circumstantial tie to a bitcoin address is theoretically possible. Though that doesn't seem to be the case here.