Bear in mind that the connection between these addresses is tenuous at best. There's very little to suggest that the same person owns all of these transactions. The paths are fairly convoluted, it could be a normal user or a mixer or an internal wallet. You'd never know by design.<p>As I've mentioned before, this sort of thing is usually correct in that same way a broken clock is.
Bitstamp is domiciled in the UK. <a href="https://www.bitstamp.net/about_us/" rel="nofollow">https://www.bitstamp.net/about_us/</a><p>UK law prohibits handling stolen goods. <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/section/22" rel="nofollow">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/section/22</a>
I wonder if this is true (March 20, 2014):<p>"<i>is #bitstamp about to become another #mtgox ? Uk trader seeks high court injunction to cease Uk trading operations</i>"
<a href="https://twitter.com/frankieterrier/status/446638248761503744" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/frankieterrier/status/446638248761503744</a><p>"<i>#bitstamp getting sued for $1.2m Uk trader seeks freezing of assets in high court action. #bitstamp not processing withdrawls.</i>"
<a href="https://twitter.com/frankieterrier/status/446637903721287680" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/frankieterrier/status/446637903721287680</a>
Seems like people are clutching at straws here. We shouldn't go making fact-less accusations that the coins are being sold when we technically don't have any proof, the link is very weak at best. Given Mt Gox's collapse and surprising lack of security or due-care, it wouldn't surprise me if it were true, but there is a massive if there.
This seems a bit silly. Why is this made public? If this was a private conversation then they could set a trap. Now whoever is making these transactions will simply stop and wait for a new opportunity.
What if there was a way to tag bitcoins as stolen and declare them null and void? Would this not disincentivize thieves? Could we prevent abuse of such a system?