Miracle · June 7 2021

The Miracle of the Recovered Ransom

The wonder

On 7 June 2021, a month after the Colonial Pipeline attack, the Department of Justice announced it had seized 63.7 bitcoin, about $2.3 million and most of the ransom paid to DarkSide. By following the movements on the blockchain the FBI had traced the wallet holding them and obtained its private key. It was the first operation of the department's new task force against ransomware and digital extortion.

The miracle worker

The FBI, notably its San Francisco field office, and the US Department of Justice with its Ransomware and Digital Extortion Task Force.

Thanksgiving

For bitcoin brought back along the very chain they fled by, and for those who showed that even a blockchain leaves footprints, we give thanks. Amen.