I must have missed this, but how did the FBI get to Ross's bitcoins? Did he voluntarily give them up?
I think so, I heard they did a deal with him that they could sell the bitcoins, but if he wins the trial he gets the money from the sale.
From the order:
http://www.usmarshals.gov/assets/2014/dpr-bitcoins/order.pdfWHEREAS, the Government and Ulbricht agree that, due to the volatile market for bitcoins, the Computer Hardware Bitcoins risk
losing value during the pendency of the forfeiture proceedings;
WHEREAS, the Government and Ulbricht agree that the Computer Hardware Bitcoins are to be liquidated or sold by the Government
before the conclusion of the forfeiture proceedings, with the net proceeds of the sale to be held as substitute res pending further order of this Court;
I am surprised that they are only selling a small portion of the coins and only after such a long time (and after the price has fallen so much).
It sounds like the government ripped Ross off because they will likely be able to sell the SR1 coins, which no one ever claimed ownership in at a higher price then this batch of coins