US Government to Sell Bitcoin Seized from Dark Web Dealer – Featured Bitcoin News

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US Government to Sell Bitcoin Seized from Dark Web Dealer

The US government has been approved by a federal judge in Utah to sell 513 Bitcoin and 512 Bitcoin Cash seized from an investigation involving Aaron Michael Shamo, a dark web dealer.

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513 Bitcoin and 512 Bitcoin Cash

The U.S government is expected to sell all crypto assets of Aaron Michael Shamo(Shamo)following his recent arrest, including approx. $10 million worth of Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BTC).

On May 31, 2017, Shamo along with other dark web operators including Drew Wilson Crandall, Mario Anthony Noble, and Sean Michael Gygi were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, aiding the importation of a controlled substance, intentional adulteration of drugs, use of the US mail in drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and engaging in monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity.

When the dark web operators were found guilty of the charges filed by the FBI, the Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash holdings of the criminals were seized and moved to the custody of the United States Marshals Service (USMS).

The US government expressed its concerns over the high volatility rate of the crypto assets, suggesting they would rather sell the coins instead.

How US Government Lost $2.36 Billion

US Government to Sell Bitcoin Seized from Dark Web Dealer

Last October, it was disclosed that the US government sold 144,336 BTC at a price of $336 per bitcoin after shutting down the Silk Road. The total value of the seized coins were sold at $48.5 million. Had the government possessed them in patience, however, they would be worth $2.4 billion at current value.

In the next few weeks, the US government is expected to proceed with the sale of the 513 BTC and 512 BCH at the current value of around $9.4 million.

What do you think of the selling? What will be the opportunity cost if they’d instead hold for another three years?


Images via Shutterstock.


Tags in this story
BCH, Bitcoin, bitcoin cash, BTC, dark web, Drug Trafficking, FBI, N-Regulation, The Silk Road, USMS

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Cindy Wang

Cindy is a cryptocurrency journalist who has been focusing on the Chinese community. She finds it fascinating to be part of the industry and hopes to see the world change for the better.

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