The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking for information about attendees at a Bitcoin Core developer meeting. The investigation follows the theft of $3.6 million worth of bitcoins belonging to Luke Dashjr, a prominent figure in the developer community.
FBI investigates Bitcoin developer meeting following theft of $3.6 million
The incident behind this investigation dates back to January 1 last year, when Luke Dashjr reported the theft of a significant portion of its bitcoin holdings. This theft, facilitated by the compromise of a PGP key (Pretty Good Privacy), was detailed by Dashjr on social networks, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
The compromise would have affected both “hot” and “cold” portfolios, adding complexity to the ongoing investigation of the FBI. Despite his pleas for help, notably from the FBI, Dashjr found itself powerless in the face of the loss of its digital assets, estimated at $3.6 million.
This Wednesday, Mike Schmidt, director of Brink, a non-profit organization supporting open-source developers, has informed participants of “CoreDev Atlanta” from October 2022, that the FBI is requesting information about the attendees. After negotiations, the information requested was limited to the names, email addresses and GitHub usernames of those attending the event.
Schmidt expressed his apologies for this breach of personal information, while emphasizing the legal obligation to cooperate with the FBI. The subpoena was subject to a one-year non-disclosure clause, which has just expired, allowing Schmidt to inform participants of the situation.
This spectacular theft highlighted the persistent challenges associated with securing cryptocurrencies, even for the most seasoned experts in the field. The circumstances of this case remain nebulous, with unanswered questions about the vulnerabilities exploited and the security measures in place. Dashjr’s inability to recover its stolen funds also highlights the often irreversible nature of transactions on the blockchain.
As a journalist at Coinpri, I’ve been captivated by the world of bitcoin and blockchain since 2020. The decentralized aspect of Bitcoin particularly piqued my interest. Since then, I’ve been working constantly to spread my knowledge, hoping one day to see a world where everyone fully enjoys their financial freedom.
