zlacker

>>mikeyo+(OP)
> “After the execution of court-authorized search warrants of online accounts controlled by Lichtenstein and Morgan, special agents obtained access to files within an online account controlled by Lichtenstein,” the press release said. “Those files contained the private keys required to access the digital wallet that directly received the funds stolen from Bitfinex, and allowed special agents to lawfully seize and recover more than 94,000 bitcoin that had been stolen from Bitfinex. The recovered bitcoin was valued at over $3.6 billion at the time of seizure.”

So most likely,

1) they didn't launder it properly, leading to police being able to trace it to their bank accounts. I wonder if tornado.cash was used.

2) then police had their names, leading to warrants for all online accounts - google account, apple account, etc.

3) they made the big blunder of keeping their private keys in their online account. Most likely a txt file in google drive. That is such a silly blunder. Without the private keys, the police has zero proof of anything. They could have made a hundred excuses for how they got money in their bank account, as long as the police didn't have the private keys. Who keeps their private keys in an online account?

Apparently the biggest criminals make too many silly mistakes. The old saying applies here: "you don't have to be smart, just don't be an idiot"

>>Alexan+Ub
While I do partially agree that some of it may be grandstanding. The whole:

"Thanks to the meticulous work of law enforcement, the department once again showed how it can and will follow the money, no matter what form it takes.”

and suggesting AEC and chain hopping is futile is an effective propaganda tool. I mean its possible something major changed, but I think your thoughts are closer to reality.

If true, this is interesting, because apparently fake identity accounts on exchanges are cheap ( partially 'thanks' to all the breaches over the years ).

edit: added '' to thanks

>>A4ET8a+Kg
I agree. Propaganda is very effective here. And it's actually good - it deters potential criminals.

But if someone who knew how crypto works wanted to commit a crime, they can. That's scary.

>>Alexan+qn
Sorry, yes. I used the term propaganda, but I briefly forgot its negative connotation. In this particular instance, I meant it more along the lines of 'shock and awe' your adversaries. I am hardly cheering on an alleged hacker/thief/launderer. The point stands, but thank you for pointing the perception issue out.