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United Kingdom

UK Intelligence Agencies Are Investigating Cryptocurrency Transactions (newscientist.com) 19

MattSparkes writes: Bitstamp, Europe's largest cryptocurrency exchange, says it has handed over information on some of its customers to the UK's intelligence agencies, MI5 and MI6. The news suggests that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are being used in serious organised crime and terrorism, as well as domestic crime.

The Security Service, also known as MI5, is responsible for preventing terrorism and espionage within the UK, while the Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6, is tasked with foreign intelligence. Neither organisation tackles ordinary crime, unless there is a threat to national security, and until now no cryptocurrency investigations have been confirmed.

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UK Intelligence Agencies Are Investigating Cryptocurrency Transactions

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  • by NagrothAgain ( 4130865 ) on Friday February 25, 2022 @11:50AM (#62303225)

    The news suggests that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are being used in serious organised crime and terrorism, as well as domestic crime

    Uh, ya this has been a pretty well known fact for quite some time.

  • by splutty ( 43475 ) on Friday February 25, 2022 @11:50AM (#62303227)

    The news suggests that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are being used in serious organised crime and terrorism, as well as domestic crime.

    They use 'suggests'; I don't think they know what that word means. That's a 100% certainty ever since crypto currencies were developed.

    • Maybe, but just about every web service provider has had these requests. Are they facilitating the same thing?
  • Anybody with half a brain knows cryptocurrencies are being used for more bad than good, but then again this is \ cryptodot now.
    • > Anybody with half a brain knows cryptocurrencies are being used for more bad than good, but then again this is \ cryptodot now.

      You'd think so but it's been hashed out here since 2008 that electronic cash will be used for everything cash is used for. Yet the stories feign surprise to get reaction comments (ad views). I expect that from /. but the commenters are something else. It's like the Boomers are taking over or something.

  • by gweihir ( 88907 ) on Friday February 25, 2022 @11:53AM (#62303239)

    They do not even need to threaten legal action. All they have to threaten is regulation. Any exchange that wants to stay in business will carefully keep full records and hand them over when asked nicely.

    • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

      "The Security Service, also known as MI5, is responsible for preventing terrorism and espionage within the UK, while the Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6, is tasked with foreign intelligence. Neither organisation tackles ordinary crime, unless there is a threat to national security, and until now no cryptocurrency investigations have been confirmed."

      Saying the quiet part out loud:

      "The Security Service, also known as MI5, is responsible for policing speech within the UK, while the Secret In

    • Any exchange that wants to stay in business will carefully keep full records and hand them over when asked nicely

      That's already a thing, bucko.
  • They're most likely studying blockchain practices to see if there's anything useful there for MI6 for themselves. What's useful for criminals is often useful for spies too.
  • Yes...
  • by devslash0 ( 4203435 ) on Friday February 25, 2022 @12:11PM (#62303299)

    Is it a coincidence that they were asked to turn in information about their transactions at this very moment in time, when Russia is invading Ukraine? I think MI5 and MI6 may be trying to sniff out and cut off Russian money streams.

  • by tsqr ( 808554 ) on Friday February 25, 2022 @01:05PM (#62303539)

    You know. As opposed to the lighthearted variety.

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]

    This guy, "LegalEagle"... I love his channel. Always a good watch. This one concerns the Morgan/Lichtenstein laundering scheme.

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