Two former US special agents have been charged with stealing large amounts of Bitcoin while investigating the Silk Road marketplace.
It has been alleged by the US Department of Justice, that Shaun Bridges stole more than $800,000 (£540,000) of the digital currency, while his colleague Carl Force has been charged with money laundering and wire fraud.
Ken Westin, senior security analyst at Tripwire, said: "There is sometimes a fine line between cop and criminal, this can be particularly true with cyber related crimes, where often times those investigating have a better understanding of methods of evading law enforcement than others."
"The investigators in this case were knowledgeable and had a deep level of expertise with bitcoin and were in a position of authority to help themselves to a sizable amount of the crypto currency."
"Both of the agents went through multiple steps to hide their transactions and activities and abused their authority throughout to work the system. Believing that the anonymity of bitcoin would cloak their activities, it was when they tried to convert those funds and move them into bank accounts, some off shore that they were caught."
"Bitcoin has been a challenge for law enforcement investigating white collar crimes, as it is in bitcoin markets and forums where hackers and white collar criminals meet and are able to collaborate, where one group has the technical skills and the other knowledge of banking and finance as well as connections."
"When you add in the damage someone with law enforcement authority can do to this mix, it sets the stage for the perfect crime."
Shaun Bridges is alleged to have transferred more than $800,000 in Bitcoin into an account at MtGox. MtGox is a Japanese digital currency exchange which filed for bankruptcy in February, it has previously denied any involvement in Silk Road.
