U.S. Department of Justice on Monday said it has recovered 63.7 bitcoins (currently valued at $2.3 million) paid by Colonial Pipeline to the DarkSide ransomware extortionists on May 8, pursuant to a seizure warrant that was authorized by the Northern District of California.
The ransomware attack disrupted the pipeline company’s fuel supply, prompting the government to issue an emergency declaration. Colonial Pipeline paid the ransom of approximately 75 bitcoins ($4.4 million as of May 8) to regain access to its systems.
The FBI used the crypto-key to uncover evidence of the transaction and seize the assets stored in the wallet in question.