On Monday, federal authorities transferred nearly $2 billion worth of Bitcoin from the defunct Silk Road dark web marketplace to Coinbase, according to blockchain data.
The US government has moved almost $2 billion in #Bitcoin to a new address
12/2/2024
The movement of funds was flagged by Arkham Intelligence, which reported that the Bitcoin originated from the Silk Road and was routed through an intermediary wallet before landing at Coinbase, the largest digital asset exchange in the U.S. A total of 19,800 BTC—valued at $1.92 billion—was involved in the transaction.
Silk Road and the Seized Bitcoin
The Silk Road, an online black market primarily used for trading illegal drugs and services with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, was shut down by federal authorities in 2014.
A portion of the Bitcoin moved by U.S. authorities stems from a 2022 seizure related to James Zhong. Zhong, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud last year, exploited the Silk Road’s transaction system in 2012 to steal 50,676 BTC. The stash, confiscated nearly a decade later when Bitcoin’s value had surged, marked one of the largest Bitcoin seizures in history.
Recent Transaction Details
Arkham Intelligence reported that the 19,800 BTC moved on Monday was divided between two Coinbase wallets. The entire transaction incurred a nominal fee of just $3.34.
Market Impact
Bitcoin’s price has dipped more than 2% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinGecko, and currently sits at $95,250.
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