Summary
The US government moved over 30,000 bitcoin linked to the Silk Road hack, with a small test transfer made to a Coinbase wallet. This process ensures security and compliance when large sums are moved. The government has used Coinbase for previous sales of confiscated bitcoin. Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, is serving a life sentence and his case continues to draw attention and calls for clemency.
Key Points
1. More than 30,100 bitcoin linked to the Silk Road hack and under the control of the US government appeared to be on the move Tuesday.
2. A wallet known to be owned by the US Department of Justice initiated a transfer of 0.001 BTC – around $65 as of Tuesday’s prices – to a Coinbase wallet. Given the small amount, on-chain sleuths speculate that it could have been a test transfer in preparation for a larger sale of the long-held coins.
3. When large sums of bitcoin are moved, especially amounts linked to high-profile cases, it often involves a series of calculated steps to ensure security and compliance. In such cases, a small test transfer is a common preliminary measure, used to confirm that the transfer pathway is secure and operational before moving the entire sum.