An undated photo of Nancy Guthrie and Savannah Guthrie was provided by NBC in response to the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of the Today Show host. (Courtesy of NBC)
"Criminals increasingly request cryptocurrency in ransom and extortion cases because it is fast, global and does not rely on traditional banking rails that can delay or block payments," explained Ari Redbord, global head of policy at TRM Labs, a blockchain intelligence and crypto-forensics firm.
"Cases like the alleged crypto ransom demand in the Nancy Guthrie case highlight how this dynamic is playing out in the real world," added Redbord, a former federal prosecutor and senior U.S. Treasury official.
NANCY GUTHRIE DISAPPEARANCE: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ALLEGED RANSOM NOTE AND ITS DEMANDS
Bitcoin has become a routine tool of extortion—fast to move, global in reach and difficult to claw back once paid. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Getty Images)
He added that cryptocurrency has fundamentally altered the economics of ransom and extortion — often in ways perpetrators fail to fully appreciate.
"Crypto has changed the economics and incentives behind ransom and extortion by increasing speed and reach, but it has also given law enforcement and national security teams unprecedented visibility," he added.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the recovery of Guthrie or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. If you have any information concerning this case, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or submit a tip online.
Amanda covers the intersection of business and politics for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nancy-guthrie-case-why-criminals-turning-cryptocurrency-ransoms