The CIA Is Deep Into Cryptocurrency, Director Reveals

[STT]

I'm not totally surprised, part of war games strategy is to explore viable threats to USA via economic tactics to undermine a country.   Surely crypto is large enough to be part of currency flow and the ability to transact with entities across borders.   North Korea frequently fraudulently produces currency of other nations as part of its renegade state activities to self finance itself by any means available to them, they also involved in crypto use in various nefarious schemes I think and so to CIA is part of the counter to that I would guess.

[Fortify]

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Finally a serious remark from a credible source on the topic of whether intelligence agencies like the CIA are involved in cryptocurrencies.

I doubt they were involved with the initial development or deployment of bitcoin. It took many years for regulators and establishment personnel to take cryptocurrencies seriously. It seems they have finally decided to get serious. As is witnessed with crypto regulation being passed in recent US infrastructure bills.

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

It's likely just some sort of mapping system, much like they can map a web of phone calls, they'll have developed software that maps out payments that could be involved in particular activities - e.g. darkweb drug purchases and where the money originates or gets cashed out. Those are rather easy targets and many people are unlikely to understand that they can be traced when Bitcoin and anonymity are regularly touted. They'll basically be looking to trace criminal connected money and there is enough to keep busy - terrorists financing, ransomware attacks, etc. In some ways Bitcoin makes it easier to trace money than following bank transactions which may end up at dead ends.

[bitgolden]

I'm not totally surprised, part of war games strategy is to explore viable threats to USA via economic tactics to undermine a country.   Surely crypto is large enough to be part of currency flow and the ability to transact with entities across borders.   North Korea frequently fraudulently produces currency of other nations as part of its renegade state activities to self finance itself by any means available to them, they also involved in crypto use in various nefarious schemes I think and so to CIA is part of the counter to that I would guess.

This is exactly that scenario. They wouldn't want crypto to dominate over fiat, but in case if that ever happens, or in case another country uses it well enough, they need to be ready for it and can't just ignore it completely. I keep saying that China keeps on banning it all the time but they probably buy it lower after saying they banned it, I have seen them banning it 10 times already.

So, nations could be against it or support it but they are definitely doing something to be ready in case whatever happens. Those bad nations like NK would be taking advantage of this situation without a doubt, that is just how it is right now in the politics. So, I agree that it is very normal for CIA to be involved with it, probably FBI is even bigger involved considering the arrests.

[goldkingcoiner]

The fact that the CIA is deep into cryptocurrencies is of no surprise to anyone, I would think. Crypto, especially privacy coins like Monero can easily be used to buy weapons, mercenaries and fuel coups. But I am *sure* the CIA is "officially" worried about terrorists using crypto to finance their terror attacks. It would not surprise me if the ones behind Bitcoin were actually the CIA because they needed a new way to secretly topple governments without many people noticing a paper trail.

But everyone knows what they are up to, with or without crypto.