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Title: [2017-12-15]US prosecutors rush to millions of dollars worth of digital currency Post by: hugeblack on December 15, 2017, 10:54:12 AM Quote from: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-15/us-prosecutors-rush-to-sell-bitcoin-seized-in-drug-bust/9264098 US attorneys prosecuting a multi-million-dollar opioid drug ring are moving quickly to sell seized bitcoin that has exploded in value to about $US8.5 million ($11 million) since the alleged ringleader's arrest a year ago. Key points: Bitcoin is a digital currency known as a cryptocurrency The seized cache was worth less than $US500,000 a year ago The proceeds of the bitcoin sale will be held until the case is resolved In court documents pressing for a quick sale, the US Attorney's Office for Utah referenced the digital currency's volatility. The bitcoin cache was worth less than $US500,000 ($650,700) when Aaron Shamo was arrested on drug charges, but the value of the digital currency has skyrocketed since then. Bitcoin was created as a digital alternative to the traditional banking system, and is prone to swings in value based on what people believe it is worth. Bitcoin explained Can't tell a bitcoin from a blockchain? Read our explainer to see how the cryptocurrency works. For federal prosecutors in Utah, sales of seized assets like cars are routine, but bitcoin is new territory, spokeswoman Melodie Rydalch said. Read more (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-15/us-prosecutors-rush-to-sell-bitcoin-seized-in-drug-bust/9264098) Title: Re: [2017-12-15]US prosecutors rush to millions of dollars worth of digital currency Post by: secondgarlic on December 15, 2017, 11:05:06 AM Why rush to sell, though? The price is still going up. Other than that, what I immediately thought of when I read the news was, if this drug dealer hadn't been arrested, he would have been a millionaire now. If he is somehow able to track the bitcoin price in prison, I'm sure he's pretty angry about it.
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