# How does DOJ seize bitcoin from scammers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 15, 2025, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-doj-seize-bitcoin-from-scammers/1023981 "2025-10-15T03:48:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 3
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-doj-seize-bitcoin-from-scammers/1023981/3 "2025-10-15T05:37:09Z")
We’ve had several conversations on this: > [@I thought bitcoins were untraceable? Colonial ransom partially recovered](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-thought-bitcoins-were-untraceable-colonial-ransom-partially-recovered/943790): > > Just saw that the Justice Dept reportedly has recovered about $2.3-million of the ransomware paid to Darkside by Colonial Pipeline. [https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/07/politics/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-recovered/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/07/politics/colonial-pipeline-ransomware-recovered/index.html) I thought bitcoins were supposed to be untraceable? Or is this a case of everything online is traceable if you look hard enough? What are the weaknesses that would allow you to trace the transactions back to a person? Converting it into a hard currency? DOJ release: [http…](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-seizes-23-million-cryptocurrency-paid-ransomware-extortionists-darkside) And this thread as well, though the ability to trace/track the funds starts around #50 > [@Bitcoins. Are they a net negative to human society?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bitcoins-are-they-a-net-negative-to-human-society/940889): > > I may have gotten a little carried away in the GQ thread about bitcoins, so I’m starting this one. The debate is if bitcoins are of net harm or net benefit to humanity as a whole. It seems as if we’re reaching a tipping point in the general awareness of bitcoins, at least here in the US. A few players set to be drafted into the NFL in a few days, including the likely #1 pick, have announced that they will be converting large sums of their pay into bitcoins. There was a top of the website art… --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-doj-seize-bitcoin-from-scammers/1023981)._