Criminals should focus on proven methods, like Steam Gift cards.

I think the cat is entirely out of the bag on that one, I’m afraid.

There are no shortage of coins and no shortage of sketchy exchanges. The platforms do work with LEOs, when asked, but my understanding is that unless the perp was a serious nonce, chasing the transfers themselves is a fools errand.

But, then, how would Trump’s family and cronies get paid?

Are you earnestly under the impression that Trump does the things he does such that he can be paid later in secret bitcoin transfers?

Like is that your actual model? I’m curious

He may be referring to the fact that the Trumps have strong business ties and interests to crypto industry, and as we've seen in the last year this administration is a strong friend of the industry. Money is being made one way or the other and if you don't think so you are completely blind.