Latest news with #Darknet
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A $31 million Bitcoin donation to Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht may have come from former ‘darknet' marketplace AlphaBay, according to Chainalysis
Ross Ulbricht, the former founder of the now-defunct drug trafficking site Silk Road, recently received an anonymous donation of 300 Bitcoins, worth around $31 million, according to reporting from WIRED. Following days of speculation, crypto investigation firm Chainalysis believes the donation came from someone associated with the now-defunct website known as AlphaBay, a platform that the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) previously called 'the largest marketplace on the Darknet.' 'Chainalysis has reasonable grounds to suspect the funds originated in AlphaBay,' a company spokesperson told Fortune. The news was first reported by WIRED. Chainalysis director of investigations Phil Larratt told that outlet that the number of Bitcoins 'suggest they came from someone who was possibly a vendor on AlphaBay back in the early days.' Ulbricht did not immediately respond to a request for comment made through the Free Ross campaign that advocated for his pardon. AlphaBay, similar to Ulbricht's Silk Road, was an online marketplace that dealt in illegal goods and services like drugs and stolen data. It operated between 2014 to 2017, before resurfacing again from 2021 to 2023. While the Silk Road is known as one of the first drug trafficking sites, AlphaBay is known as one of the largest, with 25 times more listings than the Silk Road, according to the FBI. AlphaBay was taken offline in 2017 after a global law enforcement operation seized the site's servers and arrested its creator, Alexander Cazes. It remains unclear who sent the donation to Ulbricht. It is also unclear why someone would give so much cryptocurrency to Ulbricht. Taylor Monahan, a security researcher at crypto firm MetaMask, told WIRED that people make donations for a number of reasons. 'People donate when they're deeply inspired by someone and/or grateful and/or have some sort of remorse for the situation,' Monahan said. Ulbricht was arrested by the FBI in 2013 and sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of drug trafficking, computer hacking and money laundering. On Jan. 21, one day after his inauguration, Trump announced that he had pardoned Ulbricht. Ulbricht spent nearly 11 years in prison. 'The scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in the modern day weaponisation of government against me,' Trump said on Truth Social in January. This story was originally featured on
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Carlow ‘active shooter' suspected of using stolen shotgun as van & properties combed for clues in latest probe details
TROUBLED shooter Evan Fitzgerald is suspected of using a stolen shotgun when he stormed a shopping centre at the weekend. The Irish Sun can reveal Advertisement 5 Evan Fitzgerald is suspected of using a stolen shotgun when he stormed a shopping centre Credit: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin 5 Gardai are probing if the weapon was taken the day before the 'terrifying' incident Credit: Gary Ashe - The Sun Dublin 5 Officers are also trying to establish his movements in the hours before the shooting Credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire Although Fitzgerald, 22, was from Portrushen, Kiltegan, Fitzgerald - who wasn't part of any organised He turned the gun on himself after cops identified themselves as 'armed gardai'. As the investigation continues, we can also reveal that officers seized a van as part of their bid to establish a motive for Fitzgerald's actions. Advertisement Read more in News One source said: 'A gun was reported missing before the incident and the matter is now being investigated. 'Fitzgerald was 'Gardai are also examining a van he had access to on the day of the incident.' The terrifying event saw Fitzgerald firing shots into the air during a 10-minute period of chaos. Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun At no time did he point his gun at gardai or terrified shoppers as they ran for cover. Officers are also trying to establish his movements in the hours before the shooting. HUNT FOR MOTIVE Searches of two properties linked to the 'active shooter' also continued yesterday. Officers are trying to find any evidence of his motive. Advertisement They are also examining electronic devices and trying to uncover evidence of his online activity. Detectives also believe he was acting alone and they have spoken with two friends of the deceased who have helped with their ongoing inquiries. MAIN THEORY Gardai are satisfied he did not intend to harm any members of the public, frontline gardai or emergency workers. The main theory is that he planned to take his own life in public. Advertisement Investigators will speak to his friends and family over the coming days as part of their efforts to establish his mindset in recent weeks. One theory is that he may have been struggling with his 13 firearms charges and a separate case of another close associate. 'VERY TROUBLED' The source added: 'The concern is that this young man was very troubled and a number of factors may have contributed to a fragile mental state. 'He was clearly firing shots into the air and had only intended to harm himself.' Advertisement Fitzgerald was described in Naas District Court as 'young and naive' after he was charged with possession of a handgun, an automatic rifle and over 40 rounds of ammunition. The items were bought on the Darknet. 'A HOBBY' At the time of his arrest in March 2024, the court heard how he was stopped in a car in an operation by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Emergency Response Unit. During the court hearing, Det Gda Gavin Curran said he believed the guns were to be used as 'a hobby' and fired in a wooded area. Advertisement He was stopped near Straffan in Co Kildare before gardai recovered a M1911 pistol, an automatic Koch G3 rifle and the ammo. He was also charged with possessing explosive substances. GARDA APPEAL Fitzgerald was due to receive his book of evidence at a court today. Meanwhile, Superintendent Anthony Farrell last night issued an appeal, saying: 'Gardai in Carlow wish to speak to anyone who is in the Fairgreen shopping centre or vicinity of its car park between 6pm and 6.30pm on Sunday last in connection with a serious shooting incident. Advertisement 'Whether people observed anything of relevance or not, please contact gardai in Carlow on 059 91 36620.' 5 Searches of two properties linked to the 'active shooter' also continued Credit: Gary Ashe - The Sun Dublin 5 Fitzgerald was charged with possession of a handgun, an automatic rifle and over 40 rounds of ammunition Credit: Garda/PA Wire
