In cash, but it was always risky. Couriers get intercepted, etc.
That said, I don’t think BTC is the best for CIA. It’s publicly traceable and that’s always been known. Of course if they have untraceable bank accounts and used those to buy the BTC, then it’s not particularly relevant. The spies can use their own tactics to hide their income.
LustyArgonianMana@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Spies are buying vehicles, drugs, guns. They can’t carry that much cash and large amounts must be declared at customs and can be seized via asset forfeiture laws and the person investigated as a spy. The entire point is to not be detected by the government or banks.
So no, not cash.
You can easily make new accounts and scramble crypto accounts and funds.
BTC is good for spies bc it has low volatility and can blend in with normal citizens who trade it bc it is so well known. They don’t need a bank account in the country they are spying in for it, they just transfer the BTC instead of giving cash.
That’s literally what’s being discussed lol, those specific tactics.