Jon Southurst is head of content and marketing at blockchain data service Kaiko.com. His work has appeared in CoinDesk, NewAsianist, The Toronto Star (Canada), The Age, MacAddict and other technology magazines. In this piece, Jon takes aim at the mainstream media and their issues reporting on emerging technologies in the sector. Bitcoin is a spanking-new, highly-specialized topic. Even those deeply involved don’t agree on many points. So why trust a reporter who’s only given it an hour’s thought, max? My well-meaning, non-tech friends know I’m interested in bitcoin – since I’ve written about it every day since mid-2013 and bewilder them with it on Facebook. They often send me links to bitcoin articles, usually from the mainstream media. In a way, it’s a…
Nearly eight months after being sentenced to life in prison for his role in the operation of the now-defunct dark market Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht is seeking a new trial. In a new filing submitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Ulbricht’s defense – which declared its intent to appeal in June – argued that the court hid key evidence, particularly the actions of federal agents Carl Mark Force IV and Shaun Bridges amid the US government’s investigation of the Silk Road. The defense also questioned the legality of some of the searches and seizures conducted during the federal investigation and said that Ulbricht’s rights to due process and a fair trial had been denied. Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison in May…
There are times we feel like Bill Murray in the movie “Groundhog Day.” No matter what we do, we’re subjected to the same surroundings and events. Everywhere we look, we see the same thing over and over again. Things tend to become routine. It becomes mundane and to a degree, even a little irritating. Today is one of those days; a recently published article details a think tank’s findings regarding bitcoin and digital currency, and surprise! Those involved in the think tank believe that insurgencies and radical groups ranging from drug cartels to terrorist units will find further ways to misuse digital currency for the sake of evil. In a 100-page report, the think tank participants explain: “Deploying a virtual currency may be an attractive alternative for…
A Secret Service agent accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in bitcoin during the US government’s investigation of the now-defunct dark market Silk Road has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison. Shaun Bridges is set to spend the next five years and eleven months in federal prison after the court sided with the prosecution, which asked for the 71-month sentence in a memorandum filed on 30th November. Bridges was charged earlier this year with obstruction of justice and money laundering in connection with the theft of more than $820,000 in bitcoin from accounts connected to the Silk Road. According to a report by Ars Techina, US District Judge Richard Seeborg, who presided over the case, remarked that the case presents “an extremely serious…
US prosecutors have unsealed charges against who they believe is a former high-ranking employee of the Silk Road, the now-defunct online dark marketplace. Roger Thomas Clark was charged with conspiracy to traffic narcotics and conspiracy to launder money. He was arrested in Thailand on 3rd December, according to US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, which characterized Clark as a “senior advisor” to the site. The charges were originally filed under seal on 21st April, according to the filing. The government alleged that Clark provided material support to Silk Road operator Ross Ulbricht and the site, assistance that including hiring programmers, promoting sales and offering operational advice. The Silk Road was taken…