Bitcoin, while becoming more widely known and a little better understood among the general public, is still considered suspicious among rank and file security folk such as customs and airport agents. Security expert Matt Mitchell warns enthusiasts might want to cover up when it comes to stickers and other social advertisements announcing their crypto love.
Also read: Report: 15,000 Twitter Crypto Scam Giveaway Bots
Bitcoin Stickers Might Get You Heat
“Conferences, border crossing, airports, public places,” Tactical Tech’s director of digital safety, Matt Mitchell explained to Motherboard, “stickers will/can get you targeted for opposition research, industrial espionage, legal or investigative scrutiny.”
Enthusiastic Bitcoiners who travel know this all too well, and it has been going on for years in various forms. Indeed, back in 2014, well known ecosystem personality Davi Barker of Bitcoin Not Bombs, had a bizarre encounter with TSA agents in the United States. As luck would have it, he was wearing a Bitcoin Not Bombs hoodie, and also had merchandise related to crypto and various libertarian causes (he was on his way to a conference as an exhibitor).
After a very thorough pat down inspection and all his belongings rifled through, he was approached again but this time away from the TSA proper, and just before boarding his flight. Official looking people cornered him, and someone in an orange shirt began asking where he was headed and why. After giving these airport people vague answers, one of them suddenly asks, “‘What about Bitcoin?’ I was flabbergasted. This was above and beyond any scrutiny I had ever received from the TSA, and a little frightening that they were looking for Bitcoin. I said I didn’t understand the question. He continued, ‘We saw Bitcoin in your bag and need to
