BTC Criminal Ransom Payment Demand
Bitcoin is being used as a ransom payment method in criminal extortion schemes, demonstrating illicit demand for the asset
Too little corroboration in the last 3 days to call a trend (4 articles). Watching for it to gain traction.
"JAN3 cited roughly 61,000 BTC in government custody as one reason for the score. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that authorities seized more than 60,000 Bitcoin in a major investment fraud and money laundering case."
"THE chilling ransom notes sent by Nancy Guthrie's kidnappers – demanding up to $6 million in bitcoin before claiming she died of natural causes... The first ransom email sent to the Guthrie family claimed Nancy was being held captive and laid out strict payment deadlines... demanded 'bitcoin in the amount of $4 million USD before 5 pm on Thursday the 5th.'"
"Our takedown, Operation Zephyr Exodus, led to an indictment of their CEO for wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, and the forfeiture of roughly 127,000 Bitcoin — about $15 billion at the time and the largest forfeiture in U.S. history — ripping out the financial engine of a criminal syndicate that used its ill-gotten gains to attack everyday Americans."
"Bitcoin demand in exchange of location of phone. The source proposed to provide TMZ with the location of a phone that has access to the video in return for one Bitcoin."