Summary:
- Chinese intelligence reportedly used cryptocurrency to pay Taiwanese military personnel in a major espionage case.
- Taiwan’s high court convicted eight individuals for collecting state secrets on behalf of China.
- Sentences range from 1.5 to 13 years in prison.
- The report does not specify the cryptocurrency used or if a third-party was involved.
In a case that has captured global attention, Chinese intelligence has been accused of using cryptocurrency to pay Taiwanese military personnel involved in a significant espionage operation. As reported by Bloomberg, citing Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau, this case is being described as one of the largest espionage incidents in recent years.
Taiwan’s high court recently handed down convictions to eight individuals, including both active-duty and retired military officers, who were found guilty of collecting state secrets for China. The sentences for those involved range from one-and-a-half years to 13 years in prison.
While the report confirms the use of cryptocurrency as payment, it does not specify which digital currency was used or whether the transactions were facilitated by a third-party provider. This raises an intriguing question about the involvement of cryptocurrency in espionage activities, especially considering that crypto is officially banned in China.
The revelations from this case underscore the growing and complex role that digital currencies are playing in international espionage, signaling a new frontier in the battle for state secrets. As the investigation continues, further details may emerge, shedding light on the methods used by those involved and the broader implications for national security.
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