On Friday, the FBI released a 58-page filing outlining the various investigation techniques used to unearth the details that ultimately resulted in the closure of online black marketplace Silk Road and the capture of its alleged mastermind, Ross “Dread Pirate Roberts” Ulbricht. The filing, written by FBI agent Christopher Tarbell, was a response to a […]

Prosecutors have added three new charges to the case against Ross Ulbricht, the man the Feds believe to be “Dread Pirate Roberts,” the mastermind behind the now-closed online black marketplace Silk Road. Ulbricht, 30, will now face additional charges of narcotics trafficking, distribution of narcotics by means of the internet, and conspiracy to traffic in […]

The case against alleged Silk Road mastermind Ross Ulbricht is already causing a serious rethinking of what existing statutes mean in the age of cryptocurrency. While there is little doubt that the Silk Road was a haven for recreational drug sales and other decidedly illegal services, there are still many open questions about how existing […]

In the excitement about the U.S. Marshal Service’s auction of millions of dollars in bitcoin seized from the Silk Road, the situation of its alleged mastermind has gained less attention. Ross Ulbricht, the man the FBI claims ran the Tor-obscured website under the name “Dread Pirate Roberts,” has been awaiting trial since his arrest in […]

Last week, the IRS issued new tax guidance for bitcoin, stating that the virtual currency was a form of property rather than currency. While the decision is still controversial in bitcoin circles, at least one high-profile bitcoin user appears to be delighted with the policy: Accused Silk Road mastermind Ross Ulbricht. In a new filing […]