Bitcoin Fog appeal tests DOJ theory that global crypto services fall under D.C. law
An appeals court is reviewing whether Bitcoin Fog's operator can be prosecuted in D.C. for a service allegedly run from abroad.Summary
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is hearing an appeal from Roman Sterlingov, the convicted operator of the crypto mixing service Bitcoin Fog. The case centers on whether the Department of Justice can establish venue in Washington, D.C., for global crypto services by having undercover agents interact with them locally. Defense attorney Tor Ekeland argues this approach creates an artificial legal link to any location, while prosecutors maintain that international services serving U.S. users must comply with domestic money transmission laws. The panel is also scrutinizing the scientific validity of the FBI’s IP analysis used to link transactions to Sterlingov, marking a significant moment in the legal debate over how U.S. statutes apply to crypto developers and privacy tools.
(Source：The Block)