Yes, the Secret Service has an NFT collection, and no, it’s not for sale

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The US Secret Service has finally shed more light on the strange collection of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) stored in OpenSea.

The NFT collection was first revealed at a Reddit AMA on May 16, where the agent answered questions from members of the r/cryptocurrency subreddit about his involvement in cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Until this time, not much has been said about the NFT collection or why it exists.

Officials at the Secret Service’s San Francisco office, known as the “Digital Asset Technology Alliance” (DATA) squad, told Cointelegraph they wanted to better understand how NFTs work.

Forensic financial analyst Andrew Frey, who led the Reddit AMA, said it was also a positive example of the agency’s interest in the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.

The DATA team is a sub-unit of the Secret Service San Francisco field office that specifically deals with crypto-related crimes.

Special Agent Alfonso Speed ​​said everyone on the DATA team has their own unique NFT, each specially personalized for each field agent.

“Anyone who owns an NFT has had the opportunity to submit where they would like to be represented throughout Northern California, and specifically the San Francisco Bay Area.”

The team shared a laugh when special agent Sean Bradstreet pointed out that Speed ​​was depicted standing over the infamous Alcatraz prison.

“You can tell a lot about people’s personalities and what they enjoy,” says Speed.

Some NFTs have received multiple offers ranging from 0.0028 ETH ($5) to around 0.02 ETH ($37), none of which have been accepted.

Agents said the NFT was never made for sale. Overall, DATA Task Force agents have a positive approach to cryptocurrencies, many of whom personally own cryptocurrencies and his NFTs.

Frey shared that while the NFT collection has been a fun and creative way of expression for the team, it also serves as a symbol of engagement and dedication to the wider crypto world.

“There is an overwhelming belief that law enforcement doesn’t know what they’re doing in the crypto space, ‘it’s not wrong,’” Frey said. “I think our NFTs are a great way to show that we are at the table and that we are seriously investing in exploring cryptocurrencies and digital assets.”

Related: Former U.S. Secret Intelligence Service Assistant.Director: Keep Your FTX User’s Personal Information Private

Frey reiterated that the NFT collection was also created to highlight the accessibility of the institution and make it more approachable to the general public, especially cryptocurrency enthusiasts.

“The spirit behind them is public education,” said Supervising Special Agent Ryan Cole.

Being able to interact directly with members of the cryptocurrency community through social media platforms such as Reddit has proven essential to solving crimes and returning funds to victims, Frey added.

“Through these interactions, I learned that there is a whole community that is concerned and warned about various types of fraud,” Frey said. “Most of the cases we see are specifically victim-based crimes, and one of the main goals of our investigative efforts is to put these victims back together. .”

The Secret Service has two primary mandates: protecting key political leaders and protecting America’s financial and critical infrastructure.

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