Ross Ulbricht 300 Bitcoin payday unlikely ‘self donation’
Ross Ulbricht’s current receipt of 300 Bitcoin is from “questionable sources,” nevertheless it’s unlikely to be a case the place he donated it to himself, says blockchain researcher ZachXBT.
Ulbricht, who based the notorious on-line black market Silk Highway, acquired 300 Bitcoin (BTC), value $31.4 million, to his pockets that was soliciting donations, Blockchain analytics agency Lookonchain mentioned in a June 1 publish to X.
The funds got here from wallets utilizing a centralized mixing service referred to as Jambler, which led some social media customers to invest, with out proof, that the funds might be Ulbricht’s income from the Silk Highway, which he may need hidden away earlier than he was nabbed by authorities and despatched to jail.
Nonetheless, ZachXBT mentioned in a June 2 X publish that he was skeptical that that is the case as a result of “few entities commonly use Jambler in measurement,” and he discovered “a possible demix for the donation.”
“It doubtless doesn’t seem like a self donation as individuals had been claiming although it comes from a questionable sources as a result of flagged handle” he mentioned.
The newest Bitcoin donation got here from wallets utilizing the Jambler mixing service, however “regular privateness fans use decentralized mixers,” in response to ZachXBT.
ZachXBT mentioned one of many addresses concerned has alternate exercise relationship again to late 2014, whereas one other was lively in 2019 and beforehand flagged in compliance instruments.
“Each had been depositing in measurement to Jambler at related instances because the 300 BTC Ross donor acquired from Jambler. Each had dormant BTC from Nov 2019 till the mixer deposits created from April to Could 2025,” he mentioned.
He added in response to a consumer’s question that “Everybody was accusing Ross of a self-donation, so if something, this proves it was a donation and never his secret stash as a result of there was exercise when he was away in jail.”
Ulbricht-tied wallets nonetheless have Bitcoin
Ulbricht ran Silk Highway, which used Bitcoin for its funds, till 2013 when he was arrested and sentenced to a double life sentence plus 40 years in 2015. He served 11 years behind bars earlier than US President Donald Trump pardoned him on Jan. 21.
Coinbase director Conor Grogan mentioned in January he discovered 430 Bitcoin, value over $45 million, in wallets he claimed had been tied to Ulbricht. Based on Grogan, the wallets have been inactive for over 13 years and had been by no means seized by authorities.
Blockchain analytics agency Arkham Intelligence backed up Grogan’s evaluation, tracing 14 Bitcoin addresses linked to Silk Highway, with one holding over $9 million in Bitcoin.
Associated: Ross Ulbricht requires ‘Bitcoin Jesus’ Roger Ver to be freed subsequent
Ulbricht lately held an public sale of private belongings, which introduced in additional than $1.8 million value of Bitcoin.
The gathering included private results from earlier than his 2013 arrest, corresponding to a sleeping bag, backpack, a drum and jail memorabilia like a lock, pocket book, clothes and a number of other work created whereas incarcerated.
Journal: Coinbase hack reveals the legislation most likely gained’t defend you: Right here’s why