"Crypto payments are playing a growing role in the fast-moving disappearance case of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of the 'Today' show host Savannah Guthrie. On Tuesday, there was activity in the Bitcoin account listed in a recent ransom note, TMZ reported. TMZ and two other local Arizona outlets, KGUN 9 and KOLD, previously reported receiving a ransom note, in which the purported kidnappers asked for Bitcoin in exchange for Nancy Guthrie."
"On Wednesday, another letter was sent to TMZ, demanding a Bitcoin payment in exchange for information about the kidnapper. This new note asked for 1 Bitcoin, equivalent to about $70,000, and cites a legitimate Bitcoin address. TMZ and the Pima County Sheriff's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI declined to share any new details about the case, in a note to Fortune."
"Such addresses consist of a long string of numbers and characters and can be viewed on Bitcoin's public blockchain using so-called explorer tools like this one. Any payment to the alleged kidnapper's address would be visible to anyone as would the address of the sender. A Bitcoin address on its own does not reveal who controls it, but blockchain forensics firms are typically able to find clues that point to the owner's location."
A ransom note demanded Bitcoin in exchange for Nancy Guthrie and listed a Bitcoin address. Follow-up correspondence demanded one Bitcoin, roughly $70,000, in exchange for information about the alleged kidnapper. The cited Bitcoin address can be inspected on Bitcoin's public blockchain and any payments or sender addresses would be publicly visible. A Bitcoin address alone does not reveal who controls it, though blockchain forensics firms can often find clues and trace transactions to third parties who may hold identity data. Authorities have not confirmed the wallet's connection to the alleged kidnappers. No suspect currently remains in custody.
Read at Fortune
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