Charlie Shrem, the Bitcoin entrepreneur backed by the Winklevoss twins, has been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and helping funnel cash to an illegal online black market for drugs.
Mr Shrem is alleged to have conspired with Robert Faiella, a Florida citizen who used the online alias BTCKing, to sell more than $1m in Bitcoin to users of Silk Road, the online drugs market place that was shut down last year.
The 24 year-old Mr Shrem is one of the Bitcoin community’s most colourful characters and travels the world championing the virtual currency. He is vice-chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation and co-owns a Manhattan bar that accepts payment in Bitcoin.