Cryptocurrencies
Everyone Lays Claim to $3.6 Billion Bitcoin Bag From Hack
- Exchange indicated it expects to receive the recovered funds
- Determination of who is entitled to restitution may take years
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Who walks away with the $3.6 billion in Bitcoin that the U.S. recovered from the Bitfinex currency exchange hack has become the cryptosphere’s favorite guessing game.
David Silver, a lawyer who specializes in financial and cryptocurrency-related fraud, said since the seizure was announced Tuesday he’s received dozens of calls from individuals saying they lost money in the 2016 online heist and they want to get their coins back. Twitter has been whipped into a frenzy as well, with posters asking how to claim lost crypto. Justice Department officials said they plan to establish a court process for victims to reclaim the stolen digital assets, which have since surged in value.