Express
US Federal Appeals Court Rules Blockchain Records Are Not Protected Under The Fourth Amendment
Summary: A federal appeals court supported a lower court's decision to accept blockchain transaction records as evidence against a defendent accused of using Coinbase-held Bitcoin to pay for child pornography, as reported by Coindesk. The defendant, Richard Gratkowski, had been convicted and sentenced last year. He appealed the decision arguing that his transactions were not admissible under ...
A federal appeals court supported a lower court's decision to accept blockchain transaction records as evidence against a defendent accused of using Coinbase-held Bitcoin to pay for child pornography, as reported by Coindesk.
The defendant, Richard Gratkowski, had been convicted and sentenced last year. He appealed the decision arguing that his transactions were not admissible under the Fourth Amendment's protection against search and seizure without a warrant.
The appeals court answered that the public aspect of Bitcoin's permissionless blockchain exempts users from reasonable expectation of privacy. The court added that the blockchain records were closer to bank records — which are not protected under the Fourth Amendment — than cell phone metadata.
By Emily Mason
Tags: Blockchain Privacy,Federal Appeals Court,Fourth Amendment
Link: US Federal Appeals Court Rules Blockchain Records Are Not Protected Under The Fourth Amendment [Copy]
