Intelligence agencies and cryptocurrencies relationship

Intelligence agencies and cryptocurrencies relationship

One of the most interesting crypto assets, which has been on the agenda for a long time, is the concept of crypto money. In order to better understand this process, first of all, it is useful to briefly touch on the question of ‘What is a cryptocurrency?’. Namely, there is a system called Blockchain and roughly defined as a ‘cryptocurrency wallet’. Virtual currencies are created through this system, and this commodity, whose producer or owner is unknown, is considered cryptocurrencies.

Blockchain, which is accepted as a blockchain that allows digital data to be distributed rather than copied, keeps data records scattered on millions of different networks, thus eliminating the possibility of information hacking.

According to experts, who stated that it would be possible to make every transaction through this network system in the next 50 years; all public services, marriages and even voting in elections can be done through this system.

Don’t be fooled by statements like “you can do it too” and “are you ready to earn thousands of dollars from crypto mining?” Because although it is introduced as such in theory, it should be said that it is not so in practice. There is a perception that anyone with a computer, internet and a little intelligence can do it, but this is not true. as follows;

As you solve certain questions, you progress and you earn a virtual currency by operating the system called data mining. For this, very powerful computers, a fast internet and indeed trained brains are required. All this leads us to the fact that the cryptocurrency world is not made for ordinary people.

If we open a little more; We still remember the manipulation news and official reports about this process in 2016, when Donald Trump was first elected. According to this report; 15 people working in Russia’s military intelligence agency GRU (Russian Chief Intelligence Agency, a military intelligence agency affiliated to the Russian General Staff) earned virtual money by mining Bitcoin, and this is how the actions related to the manipulation of the US elections were financed. The West claimed that these works were done with very different possibilities in Russia and claimed that Bitcoin mining was carried out in an old nuclear power plant, and that different works were funded with the income obtained from it.

Before we could learn the background of this business, a completely different event erupted from the USA this time. In the investigation into the raid of the Capitol Building, the FBI found some critical information. Accordingly, over $ 500 thousand in virtual money was sent to the activists and the chaos environment was financed through Bitcoin. Of course, let’s mention right away that the person who sent this money to the demonstrators died after taking a high dose of drugs in his hotel room in Paris. Whether this person really died from an overdose or was he killed in another way is now dark to us.

At this point, the most basic question that comes to mind is where the intelligence organizations, whose whole business is based on ‘confidentiality’, are in this process. First of all, let me reiterate that; Since cryptocurrencies are not owned, they cannot be traced. The printed coins we use can certainly be traced in some way. But with crypto money, the possibility of this permission is also eliminated.

For intelligence organizations, the blockchain network has some amazing features. The first one is of course confidentiality, there is neither the sender nor the producer of the money. Or there is no possibility of scandal such as having a mole inside, revealing the money you spent on operations. This is very important for intelligence units.

The intelligence agencies of the countries have budgets. These are considered ‘disguised allowances’. But sometimes intelligence agencies also have financing problems. Here is another advantage of this system. We mentioned that crypto currency mining requires very powerful hardware, a good budget and intelligence. All three of them exist in intelligence organizations. In other words, an intelligence organization can earn huge amounts of money by mining cryptocurrencies and finance their operations with these coins.

Another aspect of the business is the convenience of cryptocurrencies. As known; Every intelligence-based operation also has a financial dimension. Intelligence organizations have to bring large sums of money into the country in many different ways in order to finance their operations in the target country. Sometimes on the ship, sometimes in the stash of a truck or in other places. However, all of these mean risks and may end before the operation begins.

Today, it is possible to pass such a difficult obstacle in a very simple way using crypto money. Because the current cryptocurrency traffic flows outside the banking network. While this system provides an advantage in countries where banks are strictly controlled, it also provides a way of transferring money to the other party in countries where there is almost no banking system.

This, in turn, brings to light the relationship between illegal business and crypto money. The willingness of ransomware attackers, sea pirates to take hostage sailors, to pay in crypto is the most obvious indication that crypto money will exist wherever illegality exists.

Against all this, governments had to take some steps, of course. The changes made in the Central bank regulations published in the last weeks were the indicators of these. Should that be enough? No! So what else can we do?

Crypto mining should be on the radar of national security considerations. Otherwise, we may become a country open to the intelligence operations of the other party and we may be faced with the easy financing of such operations with cryptocurrencies. This process should be considered as a ‘counterintelligence’ activity and counter-plans should be made accordingly.

Of course, while these things are being done, some malicious minds will argue that the steps to be taken are incompatible with democracy. Don’t let anyone think of such a situation, because independent countries have the right to control financial activities within their borders and to tax them when it deems necessary.

Cryptocurrency issue will show itself very strongly in the form of a big wave in every field. The more prepared we are for this wave, the smaller its impact will be felt. For this reason, it is vital for our national existence and security that our institutions are channeled into this area in full coordination. It is presented with respect to our decision makers and bureaucracy.

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