Mt. Gox Hackers Charged By U.S. Department Of Justice
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the other day that it has charged two individuals, Alexey Bilyuchenko and Aleksandr Verner, for their alleged roles in the 2011 hack of Mt. Gox, a now-defunct Bitcoin exchange.
The DOJ alleges that Bilyuchenko and Verner gained access to Mt. Gox's servers and stole approximately 647,000 Bitcoin from the exchange and its customers. The stolen Bitcoin were then laundered through a variety of methods, including through the use of shell companies and offshore bank accounts.
Bilyuchenko is also facing charges related to his alleged operation of the BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange. BTC-e was a popular exchange that was allegedly used by cybercriminals around the world to launder money. Bilyuchenko is purported to have been a key figure in BTC-e's operation.
The DOJ's charges against Bilyuchenko and Verner are a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the Mt. Gox hack, as they send a message to those who would seek to profit from Bitcoin theft that they will be held accountable.
The charges against Bilyuchenko and Verner are also a reminder of the need to protect one’s Bitcoin. While Bitcoin can be a convenient and secure way to make payments and store wealth, it’s also a valuable target for cybercriminals.
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