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US government leaks names of potential Bitcoin buyers | US government leaks names of potential Bitcoin buyers |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A list of potential bidders for an auction of government-seized bitcoins has been accidentally leaked. | A list of potential bidders for an auction of government-seized bitcoins has been accidentally leaked. |
The US Marshals Service inadvertently revealed the email addresses of all interested parties while emailing them about the process. | The US Marshals Service inadvertently revealed the email addresses of all interested parties while emailing them about the process. |
It apologised for the mistake, which it said "was in no way intentional". | It apologised for the mistake, which it said "was in no way intentional". |
The US government plans to auction about 30,000 bitcoins - currently valued at about $17.4m (£10.2m) - on June 27. | The US government plans to auction about 30,000 bitcoins - currently valued at about $17.4m (£10.2m) - on June 27. |
The crypto-currency was seized by the FBI during a raid in October on the internet marketplace Silk Road. | The crypto-currency was seized by the FBI during a raid in October on the internet marketplace Silk Road. |
The seized bitcoins are part of the civil forfeiture and criminal action brought against Silk Road owner Ross William Ulbrich. | The seized bitcoins are part of the civil forfeiture and criminal action brought against Silk Road owner Ross William Ulbrich. |
Clerical error | Clerical error |
The "gaffe" was revealed by CoinDesk, an online website dedicated to bitcoin news. It said that it has a list of people who inquired about the auction. It includes Fred Ehrsam, co-founder of Coinbase, a UK payment processor. | |
"The US Marshals Service (USMS) sent an email to individuals who had enquired about bidding in the Silk Road Bitcoin auction informing that a new FAQ had been published on the USMS website. However, the recipient list was accidentally exposed because it was copied rather than blind copied," reporter Joon Wong told the BBC. | |
The information revealed is not the definitive list of registered bidders so in that respect it is not a significant breach, said Mr Wong. | The information revealed is not the definitive list of registered bidders so in that respect it is not a significant breach, said Mr Wong. |
"It is more significant in terms of giving us an insight into the agency handling this auction," he said. | "It is more significant in terms of giving us an insight into the agency handling this auction," he said. |
"The USMS is the first government agency to conduct a crypto-currency auction. Its clerical error has compromised the anonymity of individuals who contacted it, so this doesn't inspire confidence." | "The USMS is the first government agency to conduct a crypto-currency auction. Its clerical error has compromised the anonymity of individuals who contacted it, so this doesn't inspire confidence." |
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