Silk Road 2.0 Founder Blake Benthall and Former FBI Agent Vincent D'Agostino Reminisce About Their Common Past and the Future of Crypto

Blake Benthall, founder of Fathom(x) and former creator of the Silk Road 2.0, and Vincent D'Agostino, the former FBI agent who arrested Benthall in 2014

The founder of Silk Road 2.0 and the FBI agent who arrested him are now working together to make crypto safer.

What Happened: Blake Benthall, the founder of Fathom(x) and former creator of the Silk Road 2.0, and Vincent D’Agostino, the former FBI agent who arrested Benthall in 2014, joined the Web3 Deep Dive podcast, hosted by Rachel Wolfson.

During the podcast, Benthall discussed his creation of Silk Road 2.0 in November 2013. The dark web marketplace was used primarily for illegal drug transactions. About a year after launching Silk Road 2.0, Benthall was arrested by Agostino and the FBI.

Agostino offered some insight into the investigation, explaining how they were able to narrow down their search.

“Blake had a unique combination of skills and interests that made him stand out,” D’Agostino said.

He also discussed the decision to offer Benthall an opportunity to cooperate, recognizing his potential value as a technical asset to the FBI.

“We realized that Benthall had a deep understanding of cryptocurrency and technology,” D’Agostino explained. “Offering him the chance to cooperate with the investigation and use his skills for good was a decision that ultimately paid off.”

Benthall went on to serve time for his involvement in Silk Road 2.0 and later founded Fathom(x). The company is aimed at making cryptocurrency transactions more transparent and secure.

“It’s about using my skills for good now,” Benthall said. “We’re helping businesses prove their claimed assets and ensuring funds aren’t from illicit sources.”

Both Benthall and D’Agostino also emphasized the need for better education and tools in the crypto space.

“There’s this misconception that crypto is perfect for crime,” D’Agostino said. “In reality, its traceability makes it a terrible choice for illegal activities.”

“Our goal is to make scamming practically impossible on blockchains,” Benthall added.

The interview also covered the rapid evolution of the crypto industry.

“I remember when Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) was just $100,” D’Agostino said. “We thought we’d missed the boat then!”

Now, with Bitcoin’s value significantly higher, both guests stressed that it’s not too late to get involved.

“Bitcoin’s had an incredible run, but if you look at the broader crypto market, there’s still a lot of potential for growth,” Benthall said.

“We’re still early; there’s so much more to come in the crypto space,” D’Agostino added.

Looking to the future, Benthall expressed excitement about building openly in the crypto space.

“We’re at a turning point,” he said. “The technology is maturing, and we have the opportunity to shape its future.”

D’Agostino agreed, highlighting the increasing mainstream adoption.

“We’re seeing Bitcoin ETFs, politicians talking about crypto … it’s becoming part of the mainstream financial conversation,” D’Agostino said.

D’Agostino offered a final thought: “The crypto space is no longer the Wild West. It’s maturing, and with the right oversight and innovation, it has the potential to revolutionize finance as we know it.”

What’s Next: The upcoming Benzinga Future of Digital Assets event on Nov. 19 will delve into the institutional asset class and explore Bitcoin’s role.

Don’t Miss It: Silk Road 2 Creator To Launch New Crypto Venture Focused On Transparency, Security

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