Bitcoin Fog Operator's Appeal Challenges DOJ Venue Theory in D.C. Court on May 6

According to The Block, on Tuesday, May 6, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard oral arguments in the appeal of Roman Sterlingov, the alleged operator of Bitcoin Fog, a crypto mixing service. The hearing centered on whether U.S. money transmission laws and venue rules extend to internet-based crypto platforms that operate internationally. Sterlingov was convicted in 2024 on money laundering and unlicensed money transmission charges tied to Bitcoin Fog, which prosecutors said moved hundreds of millions in darkweb-linked funds. Defense attorney Tor Ekeland argued the government artificially created D.C. venue by having undercover agents access Bitcoin Fog within the district, while prosecutor Jenny Ellickson countered that Bitcoin Fog knowingly served U.S. users and was subject to U.S. law. The panel also questioned the reliability of FBI testimony based on IP overlap analysis used to link transactions.