Last week, Betabeat received an email from an anonymous source claiming to have leaked an internal FBI report about the virtual currency Bitcoin.The report, published April 24, revealed the agency is worried the currency could become a payment method for cyber criminals in the near future, and could be used to fund “illicit groups.” (Wikileaks, anyone?)The FBI also determined the currency to be an “increasingly useful tool for various illegal activities beyond the cyber realm,” and could become attractive to money launderers.The report, titled “Bitcoin Virtual Currency: Intelligence.Unique Features Present Distinct Challenges for Deterring Illicit Activity,” was the FBI’s first research report on Bitcoin.The report was not classified, but it was marked “for official use only.” Betabeat, Wired, and a number of blogs ran with the story without confirming the report’s authenticity, but today we got a call back from the FBI.“It is legitimate, but it was not leaked by the government,” an FBI representative told Betabeat.

It’s likely that the report was leaked by someone in law enforcement who got the report from the FBI.“FBI intelligence documents are meant for use primarily within the law enforcement community to provide situational awareness,” the spokesperson told us.“These documents are not for release beyond law enforcement and public safety personnel.We provactively gather intelligence and share information with our law enforcement and intelligence community partners related to a wide range of potential threats.” The report was disseminated to 11 agencies including the Australian Federal Police, New Zealand Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Serious Organised Crime Agency.It was prepared by the Domestic Threats Cyber Intelligence Unit, Technology Cyber Intelligence Unit, and the Financial Crimes Intelligence Unit of the FBI.The report contains a basic explanation of how Bitcoin works, noting that its decentralized nature presents some challenges for law enforcement.One of the biggest problems, the FBI noted, is the risk of people stealing Bitcoins from each other; also, the report notes the unauthorized use of computer equipment to mine Bitcoins.

The FBI estimates the Bitcoin economy is worth between $35 and $40 million.The FBI has seen this kind of threat before.The report notes that criminals may adopt Bitcoin alongside other virtual currencies such as WebMoney, “which they have little reason to abandon.” All in all, the report leaves little impression that the FBI is afraid of Bitcoin or considers it an extraordinary threat, though it does note that “If Bitcoin stabilizes and grows in popularity, it will become an increasingly useful tool for various illegal activities beyond the cyber realm,” citing child pornography, human trafficking, gambling and terrorism.litecoin rss feedSEE ALSO: Can Amazon’s Sweet Deal on Virtual Machines Free Companies From Phishing Threats?bitcoin vat ukObserver Delivered to Your Inbox Must Reads We noticed you're using an ad blocker.litecoin year graph

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Wirex is the first company to combine the speed and flexibility of blockchain finance with the acceptance of traditional currency — all in one account.Wirex offers secure bitcoin wallets linked to Visa and MasterCard debit cards, supported by online and mobile applications.Users can instantly exchange virtual currency for real-money USD, € or GBP which is then loaded onto a card.Wirex’s service already has over 500,000 members in 130 countries across the world.The service will extend to Japanese yen later this year.Wirex plans to use the new capital injection to fuel development of new features, licensing and security as well as support expansion plans.SBI established their FinTech Fund at the end of 2015 to invest in both Japanese and overseas companies in the FinTech field.Commenting on the deal, corporate partner Tim Bird says: "Wirex is an innovator in the FinTech sector and we are delighted to have advised them in this funding round.This is one of a number of advisory roles we have had recently in the FinTech and Blockchain space.

Our FinTech team comprising technology, regulatory and corporate lawyers and through supporting companies like Wirex, continues to be at the forefront of developments in the sector."Media contacts Media contacts Media contactsAmerica Roundup:Dollar falls after data on factory, services activity,US stocks advance,Oil creeps up from 10-month low, down nearly 4 pct on week-June 24th,2017 FITCH ON BELGIUM SAYS EXPECTS DEFICIT TO NARROW FURTHER TO 1.9 PCT OF GDP IN 2017, ON LOWER INTEREST PAYMENTS, 1.6 PCT IN 2018 AND 1.5 PCT BY 2019 FITCH SAYS ISSUE RATINGS ON BELGIUM'S SENIOR UNSECURED FOREIGN- AND LOCAL-CURRENCY BONDS ARE ALSO AFFIRMED AT 'AA-' FITCH ON BELGIUM SAYS COUNTRY CEILING IS AFFIRMED AT 'AAA' AND SHORT-TERM FOREIGN-CURRENCY AND LOCAL CURRENCY IDRS AT 'F1+' FITCH AFFIRMS BELGIUM AT 'AA-'; OUTLOOK STABLE QATAR TRANSPORT MINISTER: 'TRUST ORGANIZATION TO TAKE ACTION VERY QUICKLY' AFTER MEETING WITH UN AGENCY OFFICIALS QATAR ASKS U.N.AGENCY TO OPEN INTERNATIONAL AIR ROUTES OVER GULF WATERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY MANAGED BY UAE -QATAR MINISTER U.N.

AVIATION AGENCY TO HOLD SPECIAL JUNE 30 HEARING ON QATAR REQUEST TO RE-OPEN GULF AIRSPACE -QATAR TRANSPORT MINISTER ITALY TREASURY SAYS GOVERNMENT TO MEET DURING WEEKEND TO ADOPT NECESSARY MEASURES TO ENSURE VENETO BANKS FULL FUNCTIONING FOR THE WEEK, THE DOW ADDED 0.05 PCT, THE S&P ROSE 0.21 PCT, THE NASDAQ GAINED 1.84 PCT BRAZIL'S BOVESPA CLOSED AT 61,200.10, DOWN -0.12% CANADA'S S&P/TSX COMPOSITE CLOSED AT 15,320.93, UP +0.66% FOR THE WEEK, THE DOW ADDED 0.05 PCT, THE S&P ROSE 0.21 PCT, THE NASDAQ GAINED 1.84 PCT NASDAQ UNOFFICIALLY CLOSES UP 27.96 POINTS, OR 0.45 PERCENT, AT 6,264.64 S&P 500 UNOFFICIALLY CLOSES UP 3.69 POINTS, OR 0.15 PERCENT, AT 2,438.19 DOW JONES UNOFFICIALLY CLOSES DOWN 3.28 POINTS, OR 0.02 PERCENT, AT 21,394.01 CFTC-SPECULATORS INCREASE CBOT US 5-YEAR TREASURY FUTURES NET SHORT POSITION BY 83,959 CONTRACTS TO 136,761 IN WEEK ON JUNE 20 CFTC-SPECULATORS RAISE CBOT US 10-YEAR TREASURY FUTURES NET LONG POSITION BY 71,203 CONTRACTS TO 345,172 IN WEEK ON JUNE 20 CFTC-SPECULATORS INCREASE CBOT US 2-YEAR TREASURY FUTURES NET SHORT POSITION BY 32,702 CONTRACTS TO 112,867 IN WEEK ON JUNE 20 CFTC-SPECULATORS INCREASE CBOT US ULTRABOND TREASURY FUTURES NET SHORT POSITION BY 5,590 CONTRACTS TO 103,545 IN WEEK ON JUNE 20