The CIA Is Deep Into Cryptocurrency, Director Reveals

[savetheFORUM]

Would anyone care to take a guess as to which recent cryptocurrency projects the CIA might be involved with.

It's probably ethereum, because it has 70% premine, it's mostly run on AWS and other cloud servers, and it is one of the most popular cryptocurrency, that is perfect conditions for them.
They are probably running or they infiltrated many fake dex exchanges like uniswap and they are collecting all information, IPs and addresses.
This is just my theory and I can't prove any of my claims, but it's likely they would be involved in something where most people are.

I would guess that they are not interested in something that is already big. Sure it was premined and that’s fine but that happened in 2014 and I doubt that they were the ones who did it because I doubt they were interested in crypto all that much back in those days. I feel like they are actually involved in a "project" as in like they are trying to understand it better and not just investing into it or creating it.

Consider these "projects" as "how could we stop it if we need to?" or "how can we take over it if we want to?" type of brainstorming projects, that makes a lot more sense. If they ever invested in anything then I am not sure if they would be able to actually invest too much money, probably just the ones they confiscated from people. Famously FBI still has a ton of bitcoin, this could be something similar as well and they just probably didn't sell.

[Leonardo7]

It will be foolish for anyone to think the CIA wasn't dip into cryptocurrency. I have for long suspected them to have something to do with bitcoin but that doesn't matter today as bitcoin is now bigger than any department or states. The CIA would need develop projects to tracking some activities beyond the norm,

[uneng]

I don't think CIA is behind any popular crypto currencies. When they say they are deep into crypto currency it might refer to the fact they are closely watching it and developing new strategies to track and stop criminal activity dealing with crypto currencies, such as the ransomware attacks, used by hackers to invade and block victims' data and devices, asking for a payment in crypto currencies right after, in order to free the access to the compromised data.

It seems to be the main concern of CIA to fight this kind of wrongdoing, since ransomware attacks were heavily mentioned on the article in OP. All the rest looks conspiracy theories boosted by social influencers, because it generates engagement for them on twitter and youtube platforms.

[laredo7mm]

I don't think CIA is behind any popular crypto currencies. When they say they are deep into crypto currency it might refer to the fact they are closely watching it and developing new strategies to track and stop criminal activity dealing with crypto currencies, such as the ransomware attacks, used by hackers to invade and block victims' data and devices, asking for a payment in crypto currencies right after, in order to free the access to the compromised data.

It seems to be the main concern of CIA to fight this kind of wrongdoing, since ransomware attacks were heavily mentioned on the article in OP. All the rest looks conspiracy theories boosted by social influencers, because it generates engagement for them on twitter and youtube platforms.

I am also assuming that their activity is related to criminal activity and drug deals through crypto. I would not be surprised if they are doing an investigation about some top crypto influencers that they think might involve in a pump dump activity with some project.

My other thinking is that they are monitoring and doing their research about any certain project that they think involves illegal activity.

[Gyfts]

Do you all recall what happened to the silk road bitcoin wallet owned by Ross Ulbricht?

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54833130

It was safe to say the US government and whatever 3 letter agencies (there's too many to count) are deeply involved, and have been for years. They're in the business of seizing Bitcoin, so who's to say they're not also monitoring transactions of individuals they're interested in? Perhaps monitoring ordinary citizens? I don't happen to believe the CIA are only interested in bitcoin related ransomware attacks -- they're interested in maintaining the solvency of USD, it's how they're funded.

[dothebeats]

This makes me wary of the services, coins, and platforms that I'm dealing with. It might be just me being paranoid of something that isn't happening, but we know how the CIA works. Personally, I'm not dealing huge amounts in cryptocurrencies, nor have I tried to dabble with any illegal activities in the past. But to think that someone knows whatever the hell you're doing with crypto, your deals, your trades, etc. is enough to give me the creeps.

It's possible that they are involved for years now, and it's only now that they disclosed it because they have already established their control on these projects.

[Reid]

Here they go claiming anything that is good and dumping everything that is trash. They even said they created a lot of cryptocurrencies and I bet those are stablecoins that having been popping out like mushrooms trying to confuse people of where their money should go.
But I highly doubt they are the ones behind Bitcoin or Satoshi is in their midst. This is all just something to shake things up although I doubt it still work nowadays. Human eyes are already opened because of the internet and they will go deep just to get the facts and not rely on what the government said.

[Argoo]

I don't think CIA is behind any popular crypto currencies. When they say they are deep into crypto currency it might refer to the fact they are closely watching it and developing new strategies to track and stop criminal activity dealing with crypto currencies, such as the ransomware attacks, used by hackers to invade and block victims' data and devices, asking for a payment in crypto currencies right after, in order to free the access to the compromised data.

It seems to be the main concern of CIA to fight this kind of wrongdoing, since ransomware attacks were heavily mentioned on the article in OP. All the rest looks conspiracy theories boosted by social influencers, because it generates engagement for them on twitter and youtube platforms.

Indeed, I completely agree with this point of view. By how quickly the cryptocurrency is developing and spreading around the world, the special services should have long understood that it poses an increased danger for them and the state as a whole. After all, the financial structure of global control over the finances of citizens by states, created over the centuries, is completely violated. But it has long been known that whoever owns finances owns real power. Therefore, the intelligence services of different countries are forced to deal with cryptocurrency in order to know how to deal with it in the future.

[wxa7115]

I don't think CIA is behind any popular crypto currencies. When they say they are deep into crypto currency it might refer to the fact they are closely watching it and developing new strategies to track and stop criminal activity dealing with crypto currencies, such as the ransomware attacks, used by hackers to invade and block victims' data and devices, asking for a payment in crypto currencies right after, in order to free the access to the compromised data.

It seems to be the main concern of CIA to fight this kind of wrongdoing, since ransomware attacks were heavily mentioned on the article in OP. All the rest looks conspiracy theories boosted by social influencers, because it generates engagement for them on twitter and youtube platforms.

Indeed, I completely agree with this point of view. By how quickly the cryptocurrency is developing and spreading around the world, the special services should have long understood that it poses an increased danger for them and the state as a whole. After all, the financial structure of global control over the finances of citizens by states, created over the centuries, is completely violated. But it has long been known that whoever owns finances owns real power. Therefore, the intelligence services of different countries are forced to deal with cryptocurrency in order to know how to deal with it in the future.

It is going to be interesting what happens from now on, it is obvious those agencies will be very  interested in stopping bitcoin, but at least for the time being it seems they have failed, which makes me to ask myself if they actually have a long term plan about how to deal with cryptocurrencies?

Because so far everything they have tried has failed, some argue that quantum computers could be the answer for the government but there are already algorithms that could beat those computers, so I do not see how those agencies will be able to beat bitcoin regardless of the level of interest they have on it.

[pinggoki]

Here they go claiming anything that is good and dumping everything that is trash. They even said they created a lot of cryptocurrencies and I bet those are stablecoins that having been popping out like mushrooms trying to confuse people of where their money should go.
But I highly doubt they are the ones behind Bitcoin or Satoshi is in their midst. This is all just something to shake things up although I doubt it still work nowadays. Human eyes are already opened because of the internet and they will go deep just to get the facts and not rely on what the government said.

High possibility that it's really the case for them, pretty sure that they want to try their hands on market manipulations, given that countries are trying their hands on cryptocurrencies, CIA will try their best to get into that too, we all know how the war is conducted in this day and age, with manipulation and deceit. They're unlikely the people behind bitcoin, you would hate CIA or any government agencies if you're going to create something that bypasses the current authority in some way.

[Ozero]

Here they go claiming anything that is good and dumping everything that is trash. They even said they created a lot of cryptocurrencies and I bet those are stablecoins that having been popping out like mushrooms trying to confuse people of where their money should go.
But I highly doubt they are the ones behind Bitcoin or Satoshi is in their midst. This is all just something to shake things up although I doubt it still work nowadays. Human eyes are already opened because of the internet and they will go deep just to get the facts and not rely on what the government said.

High possibility that it's really the case for them, pretty sure that they want to try their hands on market manipulations, given that countries are trying their hands on cryptocurrencies, CIA will try their best to get into that too, we all know how the war is conducted in this day and age, with manipulation and deceit. They're unlikely the people behind bitcoin, you would hate CIA or any government agencies if you're going to create something that bypasses the current authority in some way.

We must proceed from the fact that the CIA is called upon to protect the interests of the state from global threats. Cryptocurrency under certain circumstances can become a global threat to any state and the CIA should take this into account. Therefore, their interest in cryptocurrency may relate to the problem of combating its distribution or its use in their special operations. In any case, this structure cannot be interested in cryptocurrency only for the sake of conducting trading operations and making a profit.

[istiak2277]

I also saw CIA director William Burns talking about CIA involvement in various project focused on crypto currencies. The main focuses is to give us government what is happening in the crypto industry. Recently there are a lot of criminal activity by using ransomware and criminals demands payments by crypto currencies like monero. So they are trying to find out how these criminals using those network to moving these funds.

[paxmao]

I would not expect anything less from the CIA, they are after anything that does not look controllable and frankly, is probably being used worldwide to move funds around without raising suspicions. I would say that bitcoin is not precisely the most anonymous stuff out there. Monero kind of does the trick, other such as grin or perhaps some others that I am not aware of may be even better.

There may be also a possibility of the CIA paying informants as well with crypto.

[barbara44]

I would not expect anything less from the CIA, they are after anything that does not look controllable and frankly, is probably being used worldwide to move funds around without raising suspicions. I would say that bitcoin is not precisely the most anonymous stuff out there. Monero kind of does the trick, other such as grin or perhaps some others that I am not aware of may be even better.

There may be also a possibility of the CIA paying informants as well with crypto.

Monero would be the least thing that would come to their mind. I know that Monero and some other altcoins are believed to be more anonymous than bitcoin, but the question is who even makes use of these coins? Nobody cares about these coins and you wouldn’t even see anyone using them to send and accept transactions. The only coin that is being widely accepted around the world is bitcoin.

There are many people who are making use of bitcoin and there are also many stores where it is being accepted. If there is any cryptocurrency that would likely draw their attention, it is bitcoin and not Monero. Another on would be ETH.

[Kakmakr]

Well, I seriously doubt that the CIA has anything to do with the development of Bitcoin... Why would they approach Gavin Andresen back in the day to find out more about Bitcoin.. if they invented it.  

I do believe that they are working with Cryptographers and Blockchain forensic companies to gather information about criminal activities that are being done with Crypto currencies and also to follow money that was used in criminal activities.  

[Haunebu]

This isn't really surprising considering the fact that popular cryptocurrencies like BTC, ETH, LTC, Ripple, Tether etc are basically goldmines and dealing with them helps improve their financial prospects.

I feel that they trade less popular cryptocurrencies in order to stay under the radar. Some of them are probably crypto millionaires currently thanks to investing in certain crypto projects during their initial stages.

I don't think they helped develop any crypto technology though and are just interested in dealing with some of the assets themselves.

[eaLiTy]

~
I do believe that they are working with Cryptographers and Blockchain forensic companies to gather information about criminal activities that are being done with Crypto currencies and also to follow money that was used in criminal activities.  

The CIA have their own analytic team and products which are not available elsewhere and they always hire the best in countering all the activities and there is no doubt they are well equipped in monitoring each and every transaction and they might be responsible for busting criminal activities that we hear in the news every now and then. The front action might be taken by the FBI but all the data analysis and monitoring and sharing of information will be done by the CIA.

[stomachgrowls]

~
I do believe that they are working with Cryptographers and Blockchain forensic companies to gather information about criminal activities that are being done with Crypto currencies and also to follow money that was used in criminal activities.  

The CIA have their own analytic team and products which are not available elsewhere and they always hire the best in countering all the activities and there is no doubt they are well equipped in monitoring each and every transaction and they might be responsible for busting criminal activities that we hear in the news every now and then. The front action might be taken by the FBI but all the data analysis and monitoring and sharing of information will be done by the CIA.

Yeah and this would be a good explanation in regarding the difference between the two:
https://militarybenefits.info/fbi-agent-vs-cia-officer/

Whenever what government agency they belong as long there would be things that interest out then theyll surely be engaging and accumulating informations
in regarding into it.Nothing surprising considering that they've been dealing with a decentralized one and we know on how
people would use it negatively.

[RealMalatesta]

I would not expect anything less from the CIA, they are after anything that does not look controllable and frankly, is probably being used worldwide to move funds around without raising suspicions. I would say that bitcoin is not precisely the most anonymous stuff out there. Monero kind of does the trick, other such as grin or perhaps some others that I am not aware of may be even better.

There may be also a possibility of the CIA paying informants as well with crypto.

Monero would be the least thing that would come to their mind. I know that Monero and some other altcoins are believed to be more anonymous than bitcoin, but the question is who even makes use of these coins? Nobody cares about these coins and you wouldn’t even see anyone using them to send and accept transactions. The only coin that is being widely accepted around the world is bitcoin.

There are many people who are making use of bitcoin and there are also many stores where it is being accepted. If there is any cryptocurrency that would likely draw their attention, it is bitcoin and not Monero. Another on would be ETH.

If you used black market then you would see who uses those coins. The reality is that people like you and me do not have a need to hide it too well, if it is in bitcoin that is hidden as much as we need and we do not need it too much. However, people who need to hide their money does use those coins, it is a smart way to hide yourself and your wealth. Think about the drug lords, they end up buying and selling crypto however they want and they can sell drugs with it and they use monero to hide that.

If they used crypto and coinbase, they would be out in a second because of KYC, this is why they use things that could hide their income. They could still cash that out and say that they invested to make a profit and they did and they made profit, but at least they would be hiding where it came from and that is how they make a profit from doing something bad and hiding it from the government.

[suzanne5223]

I would not expect anything less from the CIA, they are after anything that does not look controllable and frankly, is probably being used worldwide to move funds around without raising suspicions. I would say that bitcoin is not precisely the most anonymous stuff out there. Monero kind of does the trick, other such as grin or perhaps some others that I am not aware of may be even better.

There may be also a possibility of the CIA paying informants as well with crypto.

Monero would be the least thing that would come to their mind. I know that Monero and some other altcoins are believed to be more anonymous than bitcoin, but the question is who even makes use of these coins? Nobody cares about these coins and you wouldn’t even see anyone using them to send and accept transactions. The only coin that is being widely accepted around the world is bitcoin.

There are many people who are making use of bitcoin and there are also many stores where it is being accepted. If there is any cryptocurrency that would likely draw their attention, it is bitcoin and not Monero. Another on would be ETH.

Bitcoin is just a pseudonymous coin and it is never anonymous. It only privacy coins that have the potential to make an anonymous transaction.
Yeah, Bitcoin is the widely used Cryptocurrency but that doesn't mean there's no one that's interested in making use of privacy coin like Monero, Grin, Crypton, etc.
Privacy coin or not, the CIA will always pay attention to every decentralized crypto but it is hard to know which crypto they focus on recently if they have made a public announcement about it.