The government is hoping to prevent future attacks but also to uncover potential foreign involvement in or support of right-wing activities, the source said.
During a press conference on Tuesday on the investigation into the Capitol riot, acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin said the “scope and scale of this investigation in these cases are really unprecedented.”
One of the ways extremist groups have made money in recent years is online through cryptocurrency and crowdfunding.
Bitcoin, which was anonymously released online in 2009 as open-source software, exists only virtually.
It does not utilize a central bank or administrator to disburse funds, nor does any government control or distribute it.
Bitcoin wallet addresses are permanent, and the digital ledger of transactions, called the blockchain, is public and can’t be changed.
Chainalysis investigators relied on openly available information, or public bitcoin transactions, to investigate and map out the large transaction. »
