The Movie2k Case
Movie2K was a dominant force in the realm of online piracy during its peak. By February 2013, it had become the 240th most popular site worldwide and the 19th most popular site in Germany, even surpassing major platforms like Twitter, Amazon, Apple, and PayPal. The site provided users with a convenient interface to access the latest movies and TV shows, attracting significant traffic and consequently, the attention of anti-piracy authorities.
At the end of May 2013, Movie2K suddenly shut down without warning. Shortly after, Movie4K appeared, mirroring its predecessor in many ways. Despite the shutdown, German authorities continued to pursue those behind Movie2K.
Arrests and Seizures
In 2019, the Attorney General’s Office in Dresden announced significant breakthroughs in the case. On a Thursday in June 2019, two individuals were arrested in the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Bavaria. The arrested men, aged 44 and 37, were suspected former operators of Movie2K.
Extensive evidence was seized from the suspects, including computer equipment, cell phones, cash, and documents. Investigators reported that the men had distributed 880,000 copies of movies and TV shows between Movie2K's launch in the fall of 2008 and its closure in May 2013. Additionally, they were linked to operating another streaming site, Stream2K.com.
A third individual, a 37-year-old real estate entrepreneur, was arrested in Berlin. This man was suspected of money laundering offenses related to the Movie2K operation. It was alleged that he collaborated with the former operators starting in the fall of 2013, managing their revenues by making financial investments and acquiring real estate in Saxony, Brandenburg, and Berlin. Authorities claimed that through a Dutch mailbox company alone, he managed to launder over 5.1 million euros by mid-2016.
Financial Investigations and Bitcoin Seizure
Authorities uncovered that the suspects had generated several million euros through advertising and other methods via Movie2K. Following the closure of Kino.to, Movie2K stepped in to become one of the world's largest illegal streaming portals. The significant financial gains from these operations were partly invested in Bitcoin.
A notable aspect of the case was the seizure of around 50,000 Bitcoin by the Saxony State Criminal Police Office (LKA). At the time of the seizure in 2019, these Bitcoin were worth approximately five million euros. This reflects the immense financial scale of the operation, considering the relatively low value of Bitcoin during the site's operational period compared to its value at the time of seizure.
In an ongoing investigation into the operators of the illegal platform Movie2k.to, one of the suspects has transferred nearly 50,000 Bitcoin to the Federal Criminal Police (BKA) authorities' wallets. The Dresden Attorney General’s Office announced this development on January 30, 2024. This sum was provisionally secured in mid-January 2024.
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as fact or relied upon as financial advice. All data presented is subject to verification by the user. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. Users are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions
This website merely presents a neutral and unbiased perspective on the topic. The website is not intended to criticize the actions described above nor to politicize. Bitcoin is a free network, and everyone must decide for themselves whether to use it or not.
Wir benötigen Ihre Zustimmung zum Laden der Übersetzungen
Wir nutzen einen Drittanbieter-Service, um den Inhalt der Website zu übersetzen, der möglicherweise Daten über Ihre Aktivitäten sammelt. Bitte überprüfen Sie die Details in der Datenschutzerklärung und akzeptieren Sie den Dienst, um die Übersetzungen zu sehen.