Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026)

A research archive on Bitcoin compiled in October 2026: US federal and state law (FinCEN's virtual-currency record from 1999, the 2020 unhosted-wallet rule and its 2026 withdrawal, notes on all 50 states and DC), KYC/AML for buying and selling, banking, exchanges, wallets, payment processors, hacks and their causes, patents, the 2007–2011 origins, and the evidence on who Satoshi Nakamoto is. Every note dates and cites its claims and labels anything unverified, contested or fringe. Government, court and patent records are kept here in full; other sources are cited with a link to the original. Filter by case to pick a topic, such as fincen, states or notes. Download it all as a dataset. Research, not advice. These notes explain what happened and why; they are not recommendations to buy or sell. Statuses of bills and rules are as checked on the date each note gives.

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155 documents · case: fincen

Van Loon v. Department of the Treasury, No. 23-50669 (5th Cir.) (Tornado Cash immutable smart contracts not 'property' under IEEPA)

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2024-11-26

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. 2024-11-26. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: Case: 23-50669 Document: 123-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 11/26/2024 United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit ____________ FILED November 26, 2024 No. 23-50669 Lyle W. Cayce ________…

18 U.S.C. 1960 Prohibition of unlicensed money transmitting businesses

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2024

Office of the Law Revision Counsel via GPO. 2024 edition. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: § 1959 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Page 482 (3) ‘‘State’’ includes a State of the United (1) for murder, by death or life imprison- States, the District of Columbia, and any com- ment, or a fine under this title, or both; and monwealth, territory, or possession of the for kidnapping, by imprisonment for any term United States. of years or for life, or a fine under this title, (Added Pub. L. 9…

31 CFR 1010.100 General definitions (incl. (ff) MSB and (ff)(5) money transmitter), CFR edition of July 1, 2025

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2025-07-01

Office of the Federal Register / FinCEN. 2025-07-01 edition. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: § 1010.100 31 CFR Ch. X (7–1–25 Edition) Subpart H—Enforcement; Penalties; and (a) Accept. A receiving financial insti- Forfeiture tution, other than the recipient’s fi- nancial institution, accepts a tra…

31 CFR 1010.311 Filing obligations for reports of transactions in currency (CTR)

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2025-07-01

Office of the Federal Register / FinCEN. 2025-07-01 edition. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: Financial Crimes Enforc. Network, Treas. § 1010.311 [81 FR 29451, May 11, 2016, as amended at 82 tary instruments not physically ac- FR 45183, Sept. 28, 2017] companying a person entering or de- parting from the United States, may be…

31 CFR 1010.410 Records to be made and retained by financial institutions (Recordkeeping Rule (e), Travel Rule (f), $3,000)

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2025-07-01

Office of the Federal Register / FinCEN. 2025-07-01 edition. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: § 1010.400 31 CFR Ch. X (7–1–25 Edition) fraudulent beneficial ownership infor- fulness in criminal, tax, or regulatory mation, including a false or fraudulent investigations or proceedings. identifying photograph or document, to…

31 CFR 1010.810 Enforcement; delegation of examination authority (IRS examines non-bank MSBs)

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2025-07-01

Office of the Federal Register / FinCEN. 2025-07-01 edition. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: § 1010.717 31 CFR Ch. X (7–1–25 Edition) § 1010.717 Disclosing information. safety and soundness by FHLBB bank examiners; (a) Any part of any administrative ruling, including names…

31 CFR 1022.100 Definitions (MSB part)

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2025-07-01

Office of the Federal Register / FinCEN. 2025-07-01 edition. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: § 1021.620 31 CFR Ch. X (7–1–25 Edition) § 1021.620 Due diligence programs for 1022.420 Additional records to be maintained private banking accounts. by providers and sellers of prepaid ac- cess.…

31 CFR 1022.210 Anti-money laundering programs for MSBs

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2025-07-01

Office of the Federal Register / FinCEN. 2025-07-01 edition. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: § 1021.620 31 CFR Ch. X (7–1–25 Edition) § 1021.620 Due diligence programs for 1022.420 Additional records to be maintained private banking accounts. by providers and sellers of prepaid ac- cess.…

31 CFR 1022.320 Reports by MSBs of suspicious transactions ($2,000)

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2025-07-01

Office of the Federal Register / FinCEN. 2025-07-01 edition. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: § 1022.300 31 CFR Ch. X (7–1–25 Edition) an anti-money laundering program reports of transactions in currency for that complies with the requirements of money services businesses. this section on or before the later of…

31 CFR 1022.380 Registration of money services businesses (180 days; renew every 2 years; agent list)

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2025-07-01

Office of the Federal Register / FinCEN. 2025-07-01 edition. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: § 1022.380 31 CFR Ch. X (7–1–25 Edition) reveal the existence of a SAR, shall de- purposes of this section, ‘‘official du- cline to produce the SAR or such infor- ties’’ shall not include the disclosure of mation, citing this section and 31 a SAR, or any information that wo…

31 CFR 1022.410 Additional records to be made and retained by dealers in foreign exchange (MSB part)

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2025-07-01

Office of the Federal Register / FinCEN. 2025-07-01 edition. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: Financial Crimes Enforc. Network, Treas. § 1022.410 (G) The year in which the agent first Subpart D—Records Required To became an agent of the money services Be Maintained By Money business; and Services Businesses…

31 U.S.C. 5312 Definitions (BSA), US Code 2024 edition

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2024

Office of the Law Revision Counsel via GPO. 2024 edition. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: § 5312 TITLE 31—MONEY AND FINANCE Page 444 ‘‘(3) FEDERAL FUNCTIONAL REGULATOR.—The term (N) a dealer in precious metals, stones, or ‘Federal functional regulator’— jewels; ‘‘(A) has the meaning given the term in section (O) a pawnbroker; 509 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6809); (P) a loan or finance company; and ‘‘(B) includes any Federal regulator that exam- (Q) a travel agency; ines…

31 U.S.C. 5318 Compliance, exemptions, and summons authority (AML programs, SARs)

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2024

Office of the Law Revision Counsel via GPO. 2024 edition. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: Page 453 TITLE 31—MONEY AND FINANCE § 5318 section 5316 of this title has not been filed or contains (B) the State supervisory agency examines a material omission or misstatement.’’ the category of financial institution for 1984—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 98–473, § 901, added sub- compliance with this subchapter and regula- sec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c). tions prescribed under th…

31 U.S.C. 5330 Registration of money transmitting businesses ('value that substitutes for currency')

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2024

Office of the Law Revision Counsel via GPO. 2024 edition. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: Page 483 TITLE 31—MONEY AND FINANCE § 5330 or order)’’ for ‘‘coins or currency (or such other mone- lating to money transmitting businesses oper- tary instruments as the Secretary may describe in the ating in such State. regulation or order)’’. (4) FALSE AND INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.— 2001—Subsec.(a). Pub. L. 107–56, § 365(c)(2)(B), inserted The filing of false or materially incomplete in- ‘‘or nonfi…

Press release: FinCEN Issues Guidance on Virtual Currencies and Regulatory Responsibilities

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2013-03-18

FinCEN. 2013-03-18. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: FinCEN Issues Guidance on Virtual Currencies and Regulatory Responsibilities | FinCEN.gov Skip to main content An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know Here’s how you know The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site. The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmit…

Press release: Treasury Identifies Virtual Currency Provider Liberty Reserve as a Financial Institution of Primary Money Laundering Concern

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2013-05-28

FinCEN/Treasury. 2013-05-28. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: Treasury Identifies Virtual Currency Provider Liberty Reserve as a Financial Institution of Primary Money Laundering Concern | FinCEN.gov Skip to main content An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know Here’s how you know The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site. The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any i…

Press release: FinCEN Publishes Two Rulings on Virtual Currency Miners and Investors

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2014-01-30

FinCEN. 2014-01-30. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: FinCEN Publishes Two Rulings on Virtual Currency Miners and Investors | FinCEN.gov Skip to main content An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know Here’s how you know The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site. The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted sec…

Press release: FinCEN Fines Ripple Labs Inc. in First Civil Enforcement Action Against a Virtual Currency Exchanger

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2015-05-05

FinCEN. 2015-05-05. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: FinCEN Fines Ripple Labs Inc. in First Civil Enforcement Action Against a Virtual Currency Exchanger | FinCEN.gov Skip to main content An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know Here’s how you know The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site. The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide i…

Press release: FinCEN Fines BTC-e Virtual Currency Exchange $110 Million

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2017-07-27

FinCEN. 2017-07-27. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: FinCEN Fines BTC-e Virtual Currency Exchange $110 Million for Facilitating Ransomware, Dark Net Drug Sales | FinCEN.gov Skip to main content An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know Here’s how you know The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site. The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you pro…

Press release: FinCEN Penalizes Peer-to-Peer Virtual Currency Exchanger

Bitcoin Research — Law, Regulation, Markets & Origins (2026) · Fincen · snapshot 2019-04-18

FinCEN. 2019-04-18. Full text. Licence: US government or court record / US patent (public domain). Excerpt: FinCEN Penalizes Peer-to-Peer Virtual Currency Exchanger for Violations of Anti-Money Laundering Laws | FinCEN.gov Skip to main content An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know Here’s how you know The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site. The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide…