Good Read.
Quote:
Islamic State is a cash-based organization, semi-closed and isolated from the global economic system. It makes money by selling petroleum, through ransoms, looting antiquities and taxing the people in the land it’s captured. But having the wherewithal to transmit funds via cryptocurrency is difficult for the organization, says Potter.
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I feel Islamic State isn't using it because they know it is a lot easier to track the transfer of cryptocurrency over paper currency. Some Countries are even looking at combining cryptocurrency with paper currency due with cryptocurrency not being counterfeited as easy as paper currencies.
Look at it this way. With Snowden tell the world our "Secrets" on tracking people, now that same information being sent via carrier pigeons. Carrier Pigeons do take longer, but is it more secure? I can take a micro-SD Card or a Mini-SIM Phone Card; fill it with information and the pigeon is the mechanism for delivery not the internet. Cryptocurrency are computer based, paper currencies are pigeons based IMO.
Quote:
Many government agencies are not training their analysts in the intelligence or defense communities to think about the convergence of commerce, economics and threats. This skill gap represents a challenge confronting law enforcement and national security authorities.
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This is so true with Counter-Threat Finance side of things, we don't have Military Intelligence Analyst that can look at the Finance side. I did a product on analysis VBIEDs in a country, based off two "NEW" TTPs. I analysis more of the Dual-use IED Components procurement over the IED Production cell Networks. My way of looking at the "Problem" was to stopped or slowed down the "Auxiliary" and "Underground" facilitation support cells, Finance or Logistical LOCs, for the IED Production Networks. I got more question over WHY I went down this "road." Closed minded people IMO. We don't have enough Military Intelligence Analyst that can look at the Finance side of any Network system.
Joker - I like who gave the interview too.