Based on a brand new lawsuit filed within the U.S. District Court docket, Western District of Texas. On Thursday, six customers of the Ethereum blockchain and cryptocurrency mixer Twister Money sued the U.S. Division of Treasury, alleging that its latest designation of 44 Twister Money sensible contract addresses to the Specifically Designated Nationals (SDN) listing of the Workplace of International Asset Management (OFAC) is “not in accordance with legislation.”
Since Aug. 8, U.S. individuals and entities have been prohibited from interacting with the sanctioned Twister Money sensible contract addresses, blockchain or business-wise, underneath the specter of legal or civil penalties for non-compliance. The plaintiffs search to annul the designation based mostly on three arguments. First, they argue Twister Money doesn’t meet the definition of a property, a international nation, or a nationwide thereof, nor an individual and subsequently can’t be added to the SDN listing.
Second, they declare a violation of their First Modification (freedom of speech) rights underneath the U.S. Structure:
“Twister Money permits Plaintiffs to interact in vital, socially precious speech. Nonetheless, because of the designation, plaintiffs can’t use Twister Money to make donations to assist vital, and probably controversial, political and social causes.”
Thirdly, the plaintiffs say that due to the Treasury designation, they might not entry the Ether saved in Twister Money swimming pools. They argued that such alleged lack of correct pre-deprivation course of was in-violating authorized procedures.
Later that day, cryptocurrency trade Coinbase publicly supported the lawsuit. The agency hailed the transfer as “defending privateness in crypto,” and pledged to fund the lawsuit. “The sanctions exceed Treasury’s authority, hurt harmless individuals, take away privateness and safety choices for crypto customers, and stifle innovation,” mentioned Coinbase. It then raised particular person examples of purported advantages of Twister Money:
“One individual used Twister Money to donate cash to Ukraine anonymously. Afterward, his pockets obtained probably malicious airdrops. However as a result of he anonymized his crypto earlier than donating, he averted assaults towards his private accounts. He has funds trapped in Twister Money.”
“Builders are fearful that they may very well be held accountable for one thing they’d nothing to do with and no skill to regulate,” mentioned Coinbase in an argument claiming the Treasury’s transfer will stifle innovation. The U.S. Division of Treasury claims that over $7 billion price of crypto has been laundered by way of Twister Money since its inception. Stablecoin issuers, comparable to Circle, have taken steps to freeze blacklisted Twister Money sensible contract addresses because of the ban. Others, comparable to Tether, have avoided such a transfer till they obtain directions from legislation enforcement.
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This morning, Brian Armstrong shared why Coinbase is funding and supporting a problem by six people (together with two CB workers) towards the Treasury Division and OFAC’s novel sanctions of open supply software program related to Twister Money. https://t.co/8l5iKAjVZg— paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) September 8, 2022