The US is providing crypto assets to incentivise white-hat hackers to find state-sponsored actors and potential terrorists on the dark web.
The US government is giving bitcoin prizes for intelligence about the operations of hostile state-backed hackers or suspected terrorists.
The new “Rewards for Justice” platform from the United States State Department allows informants to submit anonymous tips and information in exchange for rewards in digital assets.
The platform was advertised at the Black Hat USA conference, which took place in Las Vegas from July 31 to August 5, with users able to submit tips over an unprotected Wi-Fi network called #Rewardsnotransoms. According to CNN, the open network was purposefully put up to attract guests to log in and browse the RFJ website.
In exchange for information on numerous terrorist suspects, extremists, and state-sponsored hackers, rewards of up to $10 million are being given. Informants can choose whether they want to be compensated in the form of crypto assets.
Informants offer sensitive information using an encrypted portal on the dark web, which is a layer of the internet that commercial companies and search engines do not have access to.
Former Director of the United States National Counterintelligence and Security Center, William Evanina, called the programme the United States government’s most visible excursion into crypto assets ever.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration accused Russian and Chinese hackers of compromising various US federal offices and departments. Following a cyber attack on the Colonial Pipeline system in early June, US officials collected approximately $2.3 million in cryptocurrencies used to pay a ransom.
The RFJ programme seeks information from hackers with relevant abilities and expertise in order to prevent these types of assaults.
Although the site has already received suggestions, one State Department official stressed that cyber-enforcement activities are “not a quick process.”
“We are getting tips. We are evaluating suggestions. We will pass along those suggestions to our interagency partners. They must then utilise that information to contact out and start their inquiry,” they explained.
Another official projected that the programme would serve as a model for future cyber-policing activities, stating:
“I think this offer of cryptocurrency is something that we will be using in the future for other types of rewards. It could encourage other types of sources to come to us with information who may not have wanted to come to us before.”
