Belgian public prosecutors have ordered the COIV to store the seized bitcoins. Bitcoins are a virtual currency that can only be stored digitally.

It was Theo Jacobs who broke the news of the seizure on the microblogging website Twitter. Where the bitcoins come from and why they are being seized is not yet clear.

Bitcoins have been round for some five years and allow people to pay for goods and services digitally. This somewhat complex method of payment is based on complicated cryptographic techniques. The EU has already warned of the dangers of using this virtual currency. Several cases of fraud have emerged and bitcoins are an easy target for hackers.

The FSMA, the Financial Services and Markets Authority, has already issued a ban on the sale of financial products investing in bitcoins.