He got caught today. thanks for your service Sir!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russian-wanted-in-us-caught-in-greece-for-money-laundering/2017/07/26/13d912a2-71ef-11e7-8c17-533c52b2f014_story.html?utm_term=.dd36e8531833
Are you sure this is the bitmixer operator? I have read rumors that this was the btce owner. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russian-wanted-in-us-caught-in-greece-for-money-laundering/2017/07/26/13d912a2-71ef-11e7-8c17-533c52b2f014_story.html?utm_term=.dd36e8531833
He's probably just spreading FUD. It is much more likely to be the btc e guy but I've not seen anything concrete so I would disregard it as mere speculation based on rumour right now.
Interestingly enough, the indictment was filed under seal on June 21, and bitmixer was announced to be shutting down two days later. It makes me wonder if either bitmixer was either somehow involved (meaning they were being run by the US Government), or if they had advance knowledge about the indictment (meaning they received requests for information from the US government, and were potentially provided information about their service they did not like).
Thinking about it a little bit, I think it is more likely to be the latter. Blockchain analytics companies have the ability to trace (larger) amounts of bitcoin that flow through most mixers, and it is possible that, as part of a request for information from law enforcement, they were provided with certain stats about their service regarding how much flows through their service from things like DNMs and ransomeware.
A little bit less likely, but it is also possible that bitmixer was in fact part of this. The indictment has a couple of paragraphs redacted, one of which is regarding a related company to the Alex guy. I suspect that some of btc-e servers were seized by law enforcement, causing them to go offline, and it is possible that some of bitmixer's servers were also seized.
https://bitmixer.io/faqs.html
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What is a Bitmixer code?
After your first exchange you will receive a special Bitmixer code. This code makes sure that you will never receive any of the previous coins you have added to our reserves in any subsequent transactions you make with Bitmixer. In other words this ensures that you remain untraceable.
After your first exchange you will receive a special Bitmixer code. This code makes sure that you will never receive any of the previous coins you have added to our reserves in any subsequent transactions you make with Bitmixer. In other words this ensures that you remain untraceable.
Day 1: I mixed U$100 worth of bitcoins and received a Bitmixer code so that when I mix subsequent coins I won't received what I previously mixed back. Fine!
48 Hours Later: I mixed another U$100 worth of bitcoins and received bitcoins back which none were of what I've mixed two days prior. Fine!
36 Hours Later: I mixed another U$100 worth of bitcoins and received bitcoins back which none were of what I've mixed two transactions prior. Fine!
Question: How were the last two transactions achieved given the following? ...
http://themerkle.com/news/interview-with-the-owner-of-bitmixer-io-a-high-volume-bitcoin-mixer/
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Our servers are located in a country where US authorities cant get access to the server without a local court order. Bitcoin is not considered as money here, so we cant be a money-laundering service. We use encrypted disks. We delete all order data after 24 hours. We completely erase old bitcoin addresses from our wallet after coins are sent out. Even if the server is seized, they will find nothing.
Clearly, my Bitmixer code remains on file attached to bitcoin wallet addresses I've previously used, else there would be a strong possibility of me receiving some of the coins back that I may not want attached to me, but that would be an impossibility given that ALL order data is purged from your system within 24 hours, as stated above, resulting in the 3-LAs et al. finding nothing.
Further, I'll be paying you a fee to mix coins stemming from a nefarious act with the strong possibility that I'll be receiving coins stemming from a nefarious act tens of times worst than what I'm tryin' to hide. Surely, wouldn't that bring the feds to my door a knockin' a helluva lot quicker? It'll be pretty embarrassing for me to defend myself if accused of running a underage goat brothel when in fact I ONLY pimp out adult chickens and occasionally a matured goose (soon to pimp ducks - drakes and hens).
Humor aside, I look forward to your reply, devs.
Bruno
Nah, no updates, Quick. I guess we'll just sit back and see what transpire in the coming days.
Translated: HAHAHA