Why Bitcoin Provides a Trail to Track Criminal Actors
The disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has drawn fresh attention to how crypto can be tracked, after investigators received alleged ransom messages seeking payment in Bitcoin. Guthrie was last seen on February 1. Authorities believe she was taken from her home that day. As the search enters its second week, officials are reviewing several messages that reportedly demand cryptocurrency in exchange for her safe return. Crypto has long carried a reputation for being tied to unlawful activity, a perception that grew after the 2013 shutdown of Silk Road, an illegal marketplace where users purchased illicit drugs and other contraband using…





