--- title: "Feds Smashed Armored Vehicle Through Wall During Bitcoin Raid" description: "The Bitcoin business called Bitcoin Embassy in the small libertarian town of Keene, New Hampshire, was raided by federal agents back in March" date: "2021-08-04" modified: "2021-08-04" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/feds-raided-bitcoin-raid" categories: - "Bitcoin" - "Blockchain" - "Cryptocurrency" - "Future Society" tags: - "bitcoin" - "cryptocurrencies" - "the digest" --- # Feds Smashed Armored Vehicle Through Wall During Bitcoin Raid ![The Bitcoin business called Bitcoin Embassy in the small libertarian town of Keene, New Hampshire, was raided by federal agents back in March]() *\Image: Futurism\* ## Crypto Bust It's no secret that the cryptocurrency world has a [criminality problem](). The technology is regularly being used to launder money, buy illegal contraband, and even [demand ransom](). In a sense, that's a core premise of blockchain tech: a hyper-libertarian dream of exchanging money and other assets without any form of government intervention. Now, [*The Verge* reports]() that a libertarian cryptocurrency group that embraced those ideals was raided by federal agents back in March. The group, Bitcoin Embassy in Keene, New Hampshire, shines a light on blockchain-based cryptocurrencies run by libertarian die-hards — and the government's wariness of their activities. ## Bitcoin Libertarianism After ramming an armored personnel carrier into the side of an organizer's residence, according to *The Verge*, federal agents stormed inside and seized $180,000 in cash, a 100 ounce Swiss silver bar, and physical Bitcoins worth more than $4 million at today's prices. Ian Freeman, a local libertarian activist involved in organizing the Bitcoin Embassy, along with an associate named Aria DiMezzo, are now facing [unlicensed money transmittal]() charges and are out on bail. Conditions of the bail won't allow them to leave their homes, trade Bitcoin, or communicate with other co-defendants, according to *The Verge*. To Freeman and his fellow libertarian supporters of Bitcoin, crypto is the future — despite the government's efforts to crack down on money being exchanged anonymously. "They can’t control Bitcoin," he told *The Verge*. "That’s why they hate it." **READ MORE:** [THE SACKING OF A CRYPTO MECCA]() \[*The Verge*\] **More on Bitcoin:** *[Bitcoin Price Suddenly Shoots Up]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()