The FBI Seizes Nearly $2 Million Of Digital Assets In Three Months, New Filings Reveal
The FBI has seized nearly $2 million worth of digital assets in the past three months, according to public records and interviews with two people familiar with the seizures. The seizures, first reported by Forbes, represent the highest amount of digital currency ever seized by the federal government.
The majority of the assets seized by the FBI are in the form of cryptocurrency. The amounts involve Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero, Zcash, and other digital currencies.
The FBI’s seizures are part of a wider effort by federal law enforcement to crack down on cybercrime. As cryptocurrency becomes increasingly popular and widely used, criminals have found ways to use digital currency to facilitate illegal activities, such as money laundering and purchasing contraband.
The FBI has long been concerned about the potential use of cryptocurrencies for illicit activities, and the agency has launched several large-scale initiatives in recent years to combat such crime.
The public records and interviews did not reveal the specific cases involved in the seizures, but an FBI official confirmed that the agency had conducted several seizures over the past three months and that the amounts involved were “in the millions.”
The FBI has also been reported to be working with the Internal Revenue Service to track and seize digital assets from criminal organizations and individuals.
The agency appears to be increasingly vigilant in the fight against cybercrime, and it’s clear that digital assets are becoming a valuable tool in its arsenal.