1. Does Bitcoin.com control the Bitcoin network or any other digital asset network?
No. Bitcoin.com does not control Bitcoin or any digital asset network. Bitcoin is a decentralized network, which allows its participants to transact value (in the form of Bitcoin) peer-to-peer without the need for a third-party. For more information on Bitcoin, please refer to our Learning Center.
Bitcoin.com is an informative website about Bitcoin and other digital assets. We also provide software in the form of a digital wallet, which allows users to receive, store, and send various digital assets (the “Wallet”). The Wallet is a non-custodial wallet. A non-custodial wallet is a type of cryptocurrency wallet where the user holds the private keys to their funds. This means that the user has full control over their funds and can access them at any time. In contrast, a custodial wallet is where the wallet provider holds the private keys to the user's funds. This means that the wallet provider has control over the user's funds and can access them at any time.
The distinction between custodial- and non-custodial wallets is relevant for law enforcement because the use of non-custodial wallets makes it more difficult to track and seize cryptocurrency. Law enforcement cannot simply request the private keys from the wallet provider. Instead, law enforcement would need to track down the user and obtain the private keys from the user.
2. I have a Bitcoin address or transaction ID. Can Bitcoin.com correlate this information with any personally-identifying user information?
Generally speaking, Bitcoin.com does not know its wallet users':
- Legal names
- Mailing addresses (unless used for 2-factor ID)
- Social security or national ID numbers
Bitcoin.com can, however, deliver certain industry-standard log information associated with the wallet including creation date, login time, device ID, operating system, associated email address or telephone numbers (if used for 2-factor ID), together with any encrypted wallet file backed up using Bitcoin.com’s servers.
3. I have the name, address, telephone number, or other personally-identifying information of an individual. Can Bitcoin.com correlate this information with other personally identifying information?
No, Bitcoin.com does not collect or store any personal data from Wallet users.
4. Can Bitcoin.com freeze or deliver virtual currency from a user’s wallet?
No, Bitcoin.com cannot access a user’s wallet because the wallet is non-custodial. A non-custodial wallet is a type of wallet that allows users to hold and own their private key while having full control of their funds. Keys are held in encrypted storage, which Bitcoin.com cannot access or decrypt.
5. What can law enforcement do if they need to investigate a non-custodial wallet?
If law enforcement needs to investigate a non-custodial wallet, they will need to track the movement of cryptocurrency from the user's wallet. This can be done by analyzing the blockchain, which is the public ledger of all cryptocurrency transactions. However, this can also be a difficult task, as the blockchain is a very large and complex data set.
6. How can law enforcement seek information from Bitcoin.com?
Bitcoin.com will comply with any duly issued subpoena served on us through the proper legal channels. If you are issuing your subpoena from a foreign jurisdiction, this may require you to obtain letters rogatory and subsequent approval from our local jurisdiction before service can be made. We do not consent to service of a subpoena by any other method. We will consider whether to respond to all other law enforcement inquiries on a case-by-case basis, and any such response is voluntary and made in our sole discretion. You expressly consent and agree that any and all communications made to Bitcoin.com become the sole property of Bitcoin.com and that Bitcoin.com shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to publish, or disseminate any such communications, regardless of the content of the communications.
7. What if my request involves imminent risk of death or serious bodily harm?
If you are a law enforcement agent requesting information from Bitcoin.com that is likely to prevent death or serious bodily harm, you may contact us on an expedited basis. Together with the appropriate documents listed above, send an email to support@bitcoin.com with "IMMINENT RISK" in the subject line. In the body of the email, include a brief attestation describing the imminent risk, and Bitcoin.com will endeavor to respond on an expedited basis. We expressly reserve all rights in considering whether or not to respond, which is on a voluntary basis and at our sole discretion, except in instances where we have been served a duly issued subpoena that has been issued through the proper legal channels.
Disclaimer
The information and data supplied in response to requests will be collected and provided to the fullest and most accurate extent possible. However, nothing in such information and data can be ensured to contain no errors, mistakes, misrepresentations or failures etc. Such errors, mistakes, misrepresentations or failures etc. can be the result of human agency, program or process imperfections. THEREFORE, NEITHER BITCOIN.COM NOR ANY OF OUR RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR OUTSOURCED ADVISORS MAKES ANY REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY OR GUARANTEE WHATSOEVER WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION AND DATA AND, IN PARTICULAR, AS TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION AND DATA.
Nothing in this section shall be deemed or construed as non-willingness to provide the requested information and data.