Not So Fast: MIT Students Challenge Bitcoin Subpoena

A group of MIT students is fighting back against a subpoena issued by the state of New Jersey related to their Bitcoin mining activities.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The group developed a program called Tidbit, which lets website visitors use a simple tool to mine bitcoins instead of viewing advertisements on the page. The state of New Jersey issued a subpoena requesting all available information, including the program’s source code, VentureBeat reported on Feb. 12.

    The students are now fighting the subpoena, saying they never actually mined bitcoins. Tidbit never progressed past the proof-of-concept stage, according to VentureBeat.

    “We were served right before finals,” Jeremy Rubin, one of the developers of Tidbit, told VentureBeat in an interview. “I think what was hardest is that I, and perhaps most MIT students, just want to build, make and tinker towards a better future.”

    To learn more about the latest Bitcoin-related news, read our most recent PYMNTS Bitcoin Tracker by clicking here.

    “What’s Hot” is aggregated content. PYMNTS.com claims no responsibility for the accuracy of the content published by the original source.

    Advertisement: Scroll to Continue