Press "Enter" to skip to content

10 Silk Road Facts – WMNews Ep. 31


drug trafficking illegal weapons sales

drug trafficking illegal weapons sales and crowdfunded assassinations were all

and crowdfunded assassinations were all

and crowdfunded assassinations were all just a click away but with the founder

just a click away but with the founder

just a click away but with the founder of this deep web Emporium now facing

of this deep web Emporium now facing

of this deep web Emporium now facing life in jail what’s next for Silk Road

life in jail what’s next for Silk Road

life in jail what’s next for Silk Road welcome to watchmojo.com –nt we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com –nt we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com –nt we’re counting down ten crucial facts you

counting down ten crucial facts you

counting down ten crucial facts you should know about the modern-day Silk

should know about the modern-day Silk

should know about the modern-day Silk Road number ten

Road number ten

Road number ten what is the Silk Road launched in

what is the Silk Road launched in

what is the Silk Road launched in February 2011 the modern Silk Road was a

February 2011 the modern Silk Road was a

February 2011 the modern Silk Road was a tour protected illegal drug Emporium

tour protected illegal drug Emporium

tour protected illegal drug Emporium it operated in the dark web from its

it operated in the dark web from its

it operated in the dark web from its inception until 2013 when the FBI took

inception until 2013 when the FBI took

inception until 2013 when the FBI took it down according to the FBI this online

it down according to the FBI this online

it down according to the FBI this online black-market was created and run by

black-market was created and run by

black-market was created and run by criminal mastermind Ross William

criminal mastermind Ross William

criminal mastermind Ross William Albrecht he managed the platform by

Albrecht he managed the platform by

Albrecht he managed the platform by assuming the online pseudonym Dread

assuming the online pseudonym Dread

assuming the online pseudonym Dread Pirate Roberts operating within the dark

Pirate Roberts operating within the dark

Pirate Roberts operating within the dark web which in turn is part of the Deep

web which in turn is part of the Deep

web which in turn is part of the Deep Web the Silk Road was hence a part of

Web the Silk Road was hence a part of

Web the Silk Road was hence a part of the worldwide web that is built on top

the worldwide web that is built on top

the worldwide web that is built on top of dark Nets these are networks that

of dark Nets these are networks that

of dark Nets these are networks that require specific access and

require specific access and

require specific access and authorization which made the platform

authorization which made the platform

authorization which made the platform extremely hard to get into users were

extremely hard to get into users were

extremely hard to get into users were able to anonymously and securely browse

able to anonymously and securely browse

able to anonymously and securely browse the Silk Road without fear that law

the Silk Road without fear that law

the Silk Road without fear that law officials would track their activities

officials would track their activities

officials would track their activities because the platform was protected by

because the platform was protected by

because the platform was protected by free software known as tor at the time

free software known as tor at the time

free software known as tor at the time of the services shut down it was

of the services shut down it was

of the services shut down it was estimated that it had earned over 1.2

estimated that it had earned over 1.2

estimated that it had earned over 1.2 billion dollars in revenue and 80

billion dollars in revenue and 80

billion dollars in revenue and 80 million dollars in commissions number 9

million dollars in commissions number 9

million dollars in commissions number 9 what is the original Silk Road the

what is the original Silk Road the

what is the original Silk Road the original Silk Road was a network of

original Silk Road was a network of

original Silk Road was a network of trade routes that spanned the Asian

trade routes that spanned the Asian

trade routes that spanned the Asian continent and linked the east to the

continent and linked the east to the

continent and linked the east to the west it was active during the Han

west it was active during the Han

west it was active during the Han Dynasty of 206 BC until its

Dynasty of 206 BC until its

Dynasty of 206 BC until its disintegration in the 1450s the Silk

disintegration in the 1450s the Silk

disintegration in the 1450s the Silk Road name comes from the voluminous and

Road name comes from the voluminous and

Road name comes from the voluminous and extremely profitable Chinese silk trade

extremely profitable Chinese silk trade

extremely profitable Chinese silk trade that existed at the time which

that existed at the time which

that existed at the time which necessitated an extensive network as a

necessitated an extensive network as a

necessitated an extensive network as a selection of routes that spanned over

selection of routes that spanned over

selection of routes that spanned over 4,000 miles the Silk Road was credited

4,000 miles the Silk Road was credited

4,000 miles the Silk Road was credited with the expansion and devil

with the expansion and devil

with the expansion and devil element of civilizations in China the

element of civilizations in China the

element of civilizations in China the Indian subcontinent Persia Europe the

Indian subcontinent Persia Europe the

Indian subcontinent Persia Europe the Horn of Africa and Arabia along with

Horn of Africa and Arabia along with

Horn of Africa and Arabia along with silk the route also included the trade

silk the route also included the trade

silk the route also included the trade of other products and helped spread art

of other products and helped spread art

of other products and helped spread art religions technology and even diseases

religions technology and even diseases

religions technology and even diseases meanwhile its disintegration largely

meanwhile its disintegration largely

meanwhile its disintegration largely contributed to the development of

contributed to the development of

contributed to the development of alternative sea routes for Europe and

alternative sea routes for Europe and

alternative sea routes for Europe and eventually to the discovery of the

eventually to the discovery of the

eventually to the discovery of the Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean number eight who created the modern Silk

number eight who created the modern Silk

number eight who created the modern Silk Road American Ross William Albrecht has

Road American Ross William Albrecht has

Road American Ross William Albrecht has a master’s degree in material science

a master’s degree in material science

a master’s degree in material science and engineering before creating the Silk

and engineering before creating the Silk

and engineering before creating the Silk Road Albrecht had been CEO of a

Road Albrecht had been CEO of a

Road Albrecht had been CEO of a bookstore named good wagon books it was

bookstore named good wagon books it was

bookstore named good wagon books it was during this time that he discovered

during this time that he discovered

during this time that he discovered stock trading and Bitcoin the digital

stock trading and Bitcoin the digital

stock trading and Bitcoin the digital cryptocurrency as a libertarian albrecht

cryptocurrency as a libertarian albrecht

cryptocurrency as a libertarian albrecht believed in freedom of choice and

believed in freedom of choice and

believed in freedom of choice and conceived the idea of creating quote a

conceived the idea of creating quote a

conceived the idea of creating quote a website where people could buy anything

website where people could buy anything

website where people could buy anything anonymously with no trail whatsoever

anonymously with no trail whatsoever

anonymously with no trail whatsoever that could lead back to them

that could lead back to them

that could lead back to them good wagon books was closed in early

good wagon books was closed in early

good wagon books was closed in early 2011 and just a few weeks later Silk

2011 and just a few weeks later Silk

2011 and just a few weeks later Silk Road went live number 7 how did it

Road went live number 7 how did it

Road went live number 7 how did it flourish the Silk Road was able to

flourish the Silk Road was able to

flourish the Silk Road was able to rapidly expand due to its Tor protection

rapidly expand due to its Tor protection

rapidly expand due to its Tor protection as well as its basis within the Deep Web

as well as its basis within the Deep Web

as well as its basis within the Deep Web and more specifically the dark web

and more specifically the dark web

and more specifically the dark web as previously mentioned the dark web is

as previously mentioned the dark web is

as previously mentioned the dark web is content in the World Wide Web

content in the World Wide Web

content in the World Wide Web that exists only in dark Nets dark Nets

that exists only in dark Nets dark Nets

that exists only in dark Nets dark Nets can encompass small or large networks

can encompass small or large networks

can encompass small or large networks like Tor free net and IP – it’s widely

like Tor free net and IP – it’s widely

like Tor free net and IP – it’s widely believed that the dark net is a virtual

believed that the dark net is a virtual

believed that the dark net is a virtual shelter for criminal activity including

shelter for criminal activity including

shelter for criminal activity including but not limited to child porn illegal

but not limited to child porn illegal

but not limited to child porn illegal drugs and goods weapons and crowdfunded

drugs and goods weapons and crowdfunded

drugs and goods weapons and crowdfunded assassinations and hitmen the fact the

assassinations and hitmen the fact the

assassinations and hitmen the fact the Tor protected the Silk Road made it

Tor protected the Silk Road made it

Tor protected the Silk Road made it nearly impossible for government

nearly impossible for government

nearly impossible for government officials to track ohlbrecht numerous

officials to track ohlbrecht numerous

officials to track ohlbrecht numerous scientists as well as members of the

scientists as well as members of the

scientists as well as members of the u.s. naval research laboratory created

u.s. naval research laboratory created

u.s. naval research laboratory created tor which is a free software and abling

tor which is a free software and abling

tor which is a free software and abling anonymity in the mid 90s it has since

anonymity in the mid 90s it has since

anonymity in the mid 90s it has since become a valuable tool for political

become a valuable tool for political

become a valuable tool for political activists dissidents whistleblowers and

activists dissidents whistleblowers and

activists dissidents whistleblowers and eventually criminals to communicate

eventually criminals to communicate

eventually criminals to communicate online without fear of reprisal

online without fear of reprisal

online without fear of reprisal number six was it profitable the Silk

number six was it profitable the Silk

number six was it profitable the Silk Road was an extremely profitable

Road was an extremely profitable

Road was an extremely profitable platform and its transactions were

platform and its transactions were

platform and its transactions were semi-anonymous due to its exclusive use

semi-anonymous due to its exclusive use

semi-anonymous due to its exclusive use of Bitcoin often considered the first

of Bitcoin often considered the first

of Bitcoin often considered the first cryptocurrency Bitcoin is a

cryptocurrency Bitcoin is a

cryptocurrency Bitcoin is a decentralized virtual currency that is

decentralized virtual currency that is

decentralized virtual currency that is created through the act of mining this

created through the act of mining this

created through the act of mining this is an activity where computers execute

is an activity where computers execute

is an activity where computers execute difficult number crunching tasks and

difficult number crunching tasks and

difficult number crunching tasks and mathematically generate newly created

mathematically generate newly created

mathematically generate newly created bitcoins at the time of its closure in

bitcoins at the time of its closure in

bitcoins at the time of its closure in 2013 the Silk Road had generated revenue

2013 the Silk Road had generated revenue

2013 the Silk Road had generated revenue of nine point five million bitcoins

of nine point five million bitcoins

of nine point five million bitcoins equivalent to 1.2 billion dollars

equivalent to 1.2 billion dollars

equivalent to 1.2 billion dollars using the Bitcoin exchange rate of the

using the Bitcoin exchange rate of the

using the Bitcoin exchange rate of the time the platform involved over 145,000

time the platform involved over 145,000

time the platform involved over 145,000 buyers and over 3,500 vendors with a

buyers and over 3,500 vendors with a

buyers and over 3,500 vendors with a total of over 1 million transactions

total of over 1 million transactions

total of over 1 million transactions furthermore it has been estimated that

furthermore it has been estimated that

furthermore it has been estimated that if the company had been a legitimate

if the company had been a legitimate

if the company had been a legitimate startup it would have been valued at

startup it would have been valued at

startup it would have been valued at around 2.4 billion dollars number 5 how

around 2.4 billion dollars number 5 how

around 2.4 billion dollars number 5 how was the Silk Road shut down in early

was the Silk Road shut down in early

was the Silk Road shut down in early 2011 Gawker an online media company

2011 Gawker an online media company

2011 Gawker an online media company published an article about Silk Road the

published an article about Silk Road the

published an article about Silk Road the generated massive publicity and the

generated massive publicity and the

generated massive publicity and the attention of US federal officials it was

attention of US federal officials it was

attention of US federal officials it was at that point that an investigative

at that point that an investigative

at that point that an investigative government task force named Marco Polo

government task force named Marco Polo

government task force named Marco Polo was assembled it quickly became evident

was assembled it quickly became evident

was assembled it quickly became evident that tracking down the creator was

that tracking down the creator was

that tracking down the creator was crucial to shutting down the Silk Road

crucial to shutting down the Silk Road

crucial to shutting down the Silk Road and so a manhunt for Dread Pirate

and so a manhunt for Dread Pirate

and so a manhunt for Dread Pirate Roberts began the investigation led to a

Roberts began the investigation led to a

Roberts began the investigation led to a series of deliberately low profile Silk

series of deliberately low profile Silk

series of deliberately low profile Silk Road seller arrests as well as the

Road seller arrests as well as the

Road seller arrests as well as the interception of packages from the Silk

interception of packages from the Silk

interception of packages from the Silk Road eventually authorities were able to

Road eventually authorities were able to

Road eventually authorities were able to identify the overseas hosting company

identify the overseas hosting company

identify the overseas hosting company that was used by the Silk Road which

that was used by the Silk Road which

that was used by the Silk Road which allowed them to retrieve all of the

allowed them to retrieve all of the

allowed them to retrieve all of the website’s private messages finally in

website’s private messages finally in

website’s private messages finally in October 2015 the Federal Bureau

October 2015 the Federal Bureau

October 2015 the Federal Bureau permanently shut down the Silk Road

permanently shut down the Silk Road

permanently shut down the Silk Road number four who was arrested at the

number four who was arrested at the

number four who was arrested at the beginning of October 2013 the FBI

beginning of October 2013 the FBI

beginning of October 2013 the FBI arrested Ross William Albrecht in San

arrested Ross William Albrecht in San

arrested Ross William Albrecht in San Francisco to gather the information that

Francisco to gather the information that

Francisco to gather the information that led to the arrest involved the work of

led to the arrest involved the work of

led to the arrest involved the work of multiple factions of the United States

multiple factions of the United States

multiple factions of the United States government

government

government including the FBI DEA IRS DHS US Secret

including the FBI DEA IRS DHS US Secret

including the FBI DEA IRS DHS US Secret Service Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco

Service Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco

Service Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and even the US

Firearms and Explosives and even the US

Firearms and Explosives and even the US Postal Inspection all as part of the

Postal Inspection all as part of the

Postal Inspection all as part of the Marcopolo task force subsequently and in

Marcopolo task force subsequently and in

Marcopolo task force subsequently and in a strange turn of events both Carl Marc

a strange turn of events both Carl Marc

a strange turn of events both Carl Marc forced the fourth a DEA agent and Shawn

forced the fourth a DEA agent and Shawn

forced the fourth a DEA agent and Shawn bridges a Secret Service agent were

bridges a Secret Service agent were

bridges a Secret Service agent were arrested in March of 2015 the two agents

arrested in March of 2015 the two agents

arrested in March of 2015 the two agents were charged with money laundering and

were charged with money laundering and

were charged with money laundering and wire fraud while force was additionally

wire fraud while force was additionally

wire fraud while force was additionally charged with theft of government

charged with theft of government

charged with theft of government property and conflict of interest

property and conflict of interest

property and conflict of interest Bridges was accused of seizing over

Bridges was accused of seizing over

Bridges was accused of seizing over $800,000 of Silk Road bitcoins and of

$800,000 of Silk Road bitcoins and of

$800,000 of Silk Road bitcoins and of transferring them to a personal account

transferring them to a personal account

transferring them to a personal account rather than turning them over to the

rather than turning them over to the

rather than turning them over to the government meanwhile not only is force

government meanwhile not only is force

government meanwhile not only is force charged with taking hundreds of

charged with taking hundreds of

charged with taking hundreds of thousands of bitcoins but also with

thousands of bitcoins but also with

thousands of bitcoins but also with working as a paid informant for Silk

working as a paid informant for Silk

working as a paid informant for Silk Road under a pseudonym number three what

Road under a pseudonym number three what

Road under a pseudonym number three what was all brics defense Roz William

was all brics defense Roz William

was all brics defense Roz William Albert’s trial began on January 13 2015

Albert’s trial began on January 13 2015

Albert’s trial began on January 13 2015 in Manhattan New York at the beginning

in Manhattan New York at the beginning

in Manhattan New York at the beginning of the trial

of the trial

of the trial Albrecht admitted to having created the

Albrecht admitted to having created the

Albrecht admitted to having created the platform but asserted that he had given

platform but asserted that he had given

platform but asserted that he had given control of the company to other people

control of the company to other people

control of the company to other people shortly thereafter his lawyers contended

shortly thereafter his lawyers contended

shortly thereafter his lawyers contended that the person behind the pseudonym

that the person behind the pseudonym

that the person behind the pseudonym Dread Pirate Roberts was not Albrecht

Dread Pirate Roberts was not Albrecht

Dread Pirate Roberts was not Albrecht but Marc Karp Ellis the former CEO of

but Marc Karp Ellis the former CEO of

but Marc Karp Ellis the former CEO of the Japanese Bitcoin exchange company

the Japanese Bitcoin exchange company

the Japanese Bitcoin exchange company mount GOx instead prosecutors further

mount GOx instead prosecutors further

mount GOx instead prosecutors further alleged that Albrecht had hired

alleged that Albrecht had hired

alleged that Albrecht had hired assassins to murder several targets

assassins to murder several targets

assassins to murder several targets including a former employee but these

including a former employee but these

including a former employee but these charges were never made formal the trial

charges were never made formal the trial

charges were never made formal the trial has been considered a landmark as it’s

has been considered a landmark as it’s

has been considered a landmark as it’s one of the first time someone has been

one of the first time someone has been

one of the first time someone has been charged for building a website and the

charged for building a website and the

charged for building a website and the first time the government has extended

first time the government has extended

first time the government has extended the statute of money-laundering to

the statute of money-laundering to

the statute of money-laundering to include digital currency number two what

include digital currency number two what

include digital currency number two what was the sentence in February 2015

was the sentence in February 2015

was the sentence in February 2015 Albrecht was convicted of seven charges

Albrecht was convicted of seven charges

Albrecht was convicted of seven charges by the jury including drug trafficking

by the jury including drug trafficking

by the jury including drug trafficking criminal enterprise computer hacking and

criminal enterprise computer hacking and

criminal enterprise computer hacking and money laundering then on May 29 2015

money laundering then on May 29 2015

money laundering then on May 29 2015 despite his lawyers attempts to prove to

despite his lawyers attempts to prove to

despite his lawyers attempts to prove to the judge and jury that Ross William

the judge and jury that Ross William

the judge and jury that Ross William Albrecht had

Albrecht had

Albrecht had not been in charge of the Silk Road

not been in charge of the Silk Road

not been in charge of the Silk Road leading up to his arrest he was handed

leading up to his arrest he was handed

leading up to his arrest he was handed five sentences including two for life

five sentences including two for life

five sentences including two for life imprisonment Claire I want to have had a

imprisonment Claire I want to have had a

imprisonment Claire I want to have had a substantial positive impact on the

substantial positive impact on the

substantial positive impact on the future of humanity by the time even with

future of humanity by the time even with

future of humanity by the time even with the arrests of two federal government

the arrests of two federal government

the arrests of two federal government agents on corruption charges in March

agents on corruption charges in March

agents on corruption charges in March the judge has refused a retrial for

the judge has refused a retrial for

the judge has refused a retrial for Albrecht number one will the Silk Road

Albrecht number one will the Silk Road

Albrecht number one will the Silk Road resurfaced again when the Silk Road was

resurfaced again when the Silk Road was

resurfaced again when the Silk Road was shut down it was the largest platform of

shut down it was the largest platform of

shut down it was the largest platform of its kind as it had over 13,000 drug

its kind as it had over 13,000 drug

its kind as it had over 13,000 drug listings and accounted for over seventy

listings and accounted for over seventy

listings and accounted for over seventy percent of the online drug market yet

percent of the online drug market yet

percent of the online drug market yet just a few months later in November 2013

just a few months later in November 2013

just a few months later in November 2013 Silk Road 2.0 launched although it only

Silk Road 2.0 launched although it only

Silk Road 2.0 launched although it only lasted a little while before it was

lasted a little while before it was

lasted a little while before it was taken down however as of mid-2015

taken down however as of mid-2015

taken down however as of mid-2015 multiple websites offering the same ease

multiple websites offering the same ease

multiple websites offering the same ease of purchase and products as Silk Road

of purchase and products as Silk Road

of purchase and products as Silk Road continued to exist such as Agora and

continued to exist such as Agora and

continued to exist such as Agora and nucleus while the harsh sentencing of

nucleus while the harsh sentencing of

nucleus while the harsh sentencing of Ross William Albrecht was partly meant

Ross William Albrecht was partly meant

Ross William Albrecht was partly meant to serve as a deterrent to others hoping

to serve as a deterrent to others hoping

to serve as a deterrent to others hoping to get into the industry it seems to

to get into the industry it seems to

to get into the industry it seems to have made little to no impact on the

have made little to no impact on the

have made little to no impact on the community at least so far did these

community at least so far did these

community at least so far did these facts surprise you to vote for which

facts surprise you to vote for which

facts surprise you to vote for which news story is covered next

news story is covered next

news story is covered next head over to watchmojo.com slash suggest

head over to watchmojo.com slash suggest

head over to watchmojo.com slash suggest and be sure to hit that subscribe button

and be sure to hit that subscribe button

and be sure to hit that subscribe button for more newsworthy top 10s published

for more newsworthy top 10s published

for more newsworthy top 10s published every week

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *