In response to a subpoena, Mike Schmidt, co-founder of Brink, provided personal information of attendees at a Bitcoin developer event linked to the investigation of Luke Dashjr’s Bitcoin theft. Schmidt received the subpoena from the FBI, which required him to submit details of participants from the October 2022 CoreDev Atlanta event. Schmidt complied with the FBI subpoena after a non-disclosure order expired, revealing that he provided the full names, GitHub usernames, and email addresses of event attendees as part of the investigation into Luke Dashjr’s announced theft of his bitcoins.
The FBI subpoenaed Mike Schmidt to seek his cooperation in providing information on attendees at a developer event associated with the investigation into the theft of Luke Dashjr’s Bitcoins. Schmidt mentioned that the original subpoena requested much information, but after pushback, the FBI agent agreed to a subset of information about the attendees. Despite complying with the subpoena, Schmidt stated that he did not have any details about the investigation or whether the subpoena was related to a targeted suspect or general information gathering in the investigation.
In a social media post, Schmidt highlighted the irony of the situation, pointing out that Luke Dashjr, a Core Bitcoin developer who wants to educate others on using Bitcoin, could not secure his own Bitcoin and, as a result, got everyone at a conference he attended doxxed by the FBI. Schmidt added a sarcastic comment in his post, saying, “Good job, Luke!” The screenshot of the email sent by the FBI was included in the post, emphasizing the consequences of Dashjr’s compromised PGP key and the theft of over 200 BTC valued at over $14.2 million.
Luke Dashjr revealed in 2023 that he lost almost all his Bitcoin holdings after his PGP key was compromised by hackers on Dec. 31, 2022. The theft of over 200 BTC took place as a result of the compromised key, leading to a loss of more than $14.2 million with the current Bitcoin price at $71,000. The incident brought attention to the importance of securing private keys, especially for cryptocurrency holders, to prevent unauthorized access and theft of digital assets.
The FBI’s investigation into the theft of Luke Dashjr’s Bitcoins led to a subpoena issued to Mike Schmidt, who provided personal information of attendees at a Bitcoin developer event. Despite concerns about privacy and the sensitive nature of the information requested, Schmidt complied with the subpoena to assist in the investigation. The incident highlighted the vulnerabilities associated with storing and securing cryptocurrencies, emphasizing the need for individuals to take proactive measures to safeguard their digital assets against potential threats.
The involvement of the FBI in the investigation of Luke Dashjr’s Bitcoin theft and the subsequent subpoena issued to Mike Schmidt underscored the risks and challenges faced by individuals and organizations in the cryptocurrency space. The incident served as a reminder of the importance of maintaining strong security practices, such as securing private keys and personal information, to protect against potential cyber threats and theft. As the popularity of cryptocurrencies continues to grow, it is essential for users to remain vigilant and implement robust security measures to safeguard their investments and assets in the digital realm.
