KickAss owner was using Coinbase as his bitcoin wallet!!!!!

[InvoKing]

Does anyone else find it really ironic that the owner of a torrent sharing website, was buying songs on iTunes?

well, i laughed when i read it for the first time, doesn't make a sence honestly
but the second awesome thing is the fact that using coinbase to store his coins while everyone is chasing him...that's rediculous 

[Xester]

It's kind of strange that Artem Vaulin had not atleast tried to stay anonymous while logging into their own website or onto other websites. Basically his IP addresses were handed over by Facebook and Apple (logging into iTunes using the same IP). Also according to Coinbase it's clear from their User Agreement that :

By opening a Coinbase Account, you confirm that you will not use Coinbase Services in connection with any of following businesses, activities, practices, or items:

• Intellectual Property or Proprietary Rights Infringement: Sales, distribution, or access to counterfeit music, movies, software, or other licensed materials without the appropriate authorization from the rights holde

Despite this, the owner shouldn't have used Coinbase to receive Bitcoin donations to a Coinbase wallet.

Maybe that kickass owner, as the author named it, was relying in the fact that bitcoin transactions was untraceable. Or maybe he was dumb in some ways. But this may serve as a warning to all illegal activities using bitcoins as exchange are not far from being caught. Let this be a lesson that wrongdoings always has a price to pay.

[ranochigo]

I highly doubt that the no fees was a reason for him to be using coinbase since he probably earns thousands per day from that site alone. I would believe that it would be more of a convenience. It was rather stupid for him to be using coinbase directly since Coinbase is a regulated exchange and would have obligations to hand their customer's information to the relevant authorities.

[kennyP]

How long had it been running for? Feels like forever to me. It's common human behaviour to become fat and careless when something's been running smoothly for long enough. And I guess enough pirates have decided in their own mind that they're not doing anything wrong.

you gotit, most people under 30 don't consider what they're doing is illegal, so it's not that surprising this guys privacy hygiene was lacking after so many years of 'getting' away with it

[~Bitcoin~]

Yeah I was pretty baffled as well when I read that article, he didn't even try to really hide himself.
Was just buying songs from Itunes using the same IP address (LOL).

You should know that the US will come after you when you're running a site like that.

Yes actually why he haven't tried to hide his identity is quite surprising because using coinbase as bitcoin wallet is just a foolish dicision. He could have used either electrum or simple paper wallet addresses.

[pooya87]

Seems that there is No privacy for coinbase users, they are spying on people, but if the KickAss owner was using hardware wallet like trezor and ledger can they still track him and their users? Btw how apple helped to track this guy?

Apple provided records that show that an iCloud (me.com) account was used to purchase something on iTunes, and that account's IP address also accessed the Kickass Facebook page. Also the iCloud account's email address was used to register a Coinbase account that contained Bitcoin donations from Kickass.

https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/21/kickasstorrents-apple-facebook-homeland-security/

What a combination lol, I thought apple protect their users data and dont send to other third parties in this case to facebook and coinbase, the mistake here seems to be on the end point in coinbase, if the kickass owner would create bitcoin address on hardware wallet it wouldnt be tracked?!

all services like Apple, Facebook, Coinbase, ... are protecting their user's information as best as they can but that doesn't mean that you can use them for illegal activities. it is in their TOS and they are legally bound to report any illegal activity to the authorities.

[yefi]

I'm surprised they haven't moved torrent sites like this on to a blockchain already. When it has no owner - who will they chase then?

[Herbert2020]

I'm surprised they haven't moved torrent sites like this on to a blockchain already. When it has no owner - who will they chase then?

they will continue chasing the releasing groups or individuals like what they did to YIFY group. and they will also continue harassing ISPs to force them to harass their users who download these things

but i would love to see how such system based on blockchain is going to work though.

[Kevin77]

What's funny is that he never really did try to hide his IP when he's buying song, and he's buying them, in contrast to owning a site for piracy. LMAO

This news might have a big effect on Coinbase, as it may be a proof that coinbase is indeed working with the government or is run by the government.

[ivanst776]

Seems that there is No privacy for coinbase users, they are spying on people, but if the KickAss owner was using hardware wallet like trezor and ledger can they still track him and their users? Btw how apple helped to track this guy?

Apple provided records that show that an iCloud (me.com) account was used to purchase something on iTunes, and that account's IP address also accessed the Kickass Facebook page. Also the iCloud account's email address was used to register a Coinbase account that contained Bitcoin donations from Kickass.

https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/21/kickasstorrents-apple-facebook-homeland-security/

What a combination lol, I thought apple protect their users data and dont send to other third parties in this case to facebook and coinbase, the mistake here seems to be on the end point in coinbase, if the kickass owner would create bitcoin address on hardware wallet it wouldnt be tracked?!

all services like Apple, Facebook, Coinbase, ... are protecting their user's information as best as they can but that doesn't mean that you can use them for illegal activities. it is in their TOS and they are legally bound to report any illegal activity to the authorities.

In this case we don't see how Apple has protected the kickass owner data, as far as I know he purchased something legal through Itunes and the IP was stated on their servers. This is like Facebook calls Apple and says that "Hey can you check if this IP is linked to any of your users!"

[randy8777]

What's funny is that he never really did try to hide his IP when he's buying song, and he's buying them, in contrast to owning a site for piracy. LMAO

This news might have a big effect on Coinbase, as it may be a proof that coinbase is indeed working with the government or is run by the government.

if governments force an exchange to release personal information about one of their customers, then the exchange must cooperate. that's why i always mix the coins that i withdraw from exchanges.

[Cuidler]

Yes actually why he haven't tried to hide his identity is quite surprising because using coinbase as bitcoin wallet is just a foolish dicision. He could have used either electrum or simple paper wallet addresses.

With electrum, paper wallet or any other desktop wallet you cant convert and withdraw USD, you would need to use local bitcoins as well which can become more complicated. Coinbase is easier solution, and it make sence to use Coinbase if you believe you doing nothing illegal. So lets see the court decision if he was right, I guess he had lawyer advices whether running such site is legal considering he was in such business so long and did not care to hide his identity.

[QuestionAuthority]

Coinbase official response to assisting the government: