BTCs Given by Colonial Pipeline as Ransom Payment Were Recovered

The ransom paid for the attack on the largest US oil pipeline was recovered by the FBI.

The BTCs given by Colonial Pipeline as ransom payment were recovered. While successive cyber attacks were on the agenda of the USA, the ransom paid for the attack that stopped the flow of the country's largest oil pipeline in May was also saved by the FBI. The ransom payment was made with cryptocurrency upon the request of the hackers who carried out the attack. U.S. officials have recovered millions of dollars worth of cryptocurrency paid for in the attack that halted oil transfer flows in the east coast of the country. Joseph Blount, CEO of the pipeline of the Colonial Pipeline company, where the cyber-attack was made in May, said in his speech to the US media last month that they had to pay the ransom because all oil flow had stopped and the authorities did not give information about how long this process would take and at what level. The company had paid hackers with $4.4 million worth of cryptocurrencies.

FBI Immediately Started Tracking

Despite paying the ransom, Colonial Pipeline informed the US Federal Bureau of Investigation in a short time, a follow-up on the blockchain was started. Authorities recovered cryptocurrencies by tracking the cryptocurrency wallet used by those who carried out the cyber attack. According to court documents, 63.7 of the 75 BTC paid by the company were recovered. However, the Ministry of Justice and other institutions have not yet shared information on the subject.

Putin Is Accused

The cyber-attack of JBS occupied a large place on the US agenda. While the media said that "Putin is testing Biden", it is stated that the Biden administration will seriously discuss the issue and develop a defense mechanism. Some officials and press members state that banning cryptocurrencies is the definitive solution.