Legal professionals and organizations: Help defend constitutional rights and the future of cryptocurrency self-custody.
Case: United States v. Wright
Docket No. 25-3261 | U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
John Caleb Wright faces federal criminal charges for the simple act of moving his cryptocurrency to a self-custody wallet. This prosecution threatens to criminalize a fundamental security practice that millions of crypto users rely on to protect their assets.
The government's case is built on confusion they themselves created through inadequate notice procedures. They sent a levy notice to Caleb's lawyer referencing "Payward Ventures" — a corporate holding company name — without clearly identifying it as Kraken exchange. Nearly two years later, when Kraken closed his account for unspecified "security reasons," Caleb withdrew his crypto to self-custody, still unaware of any connection to the earlier notice.
Does a levy notice for "Payward Ventures" satisfy constitutional requirements for fair notice to a Kraken account holder? Can the government prosecute confusion they themselves created through inadequate notice procedures?
Can the government criminalize the standard security practice of moving cryptocurrency to self-custody? What precedent would this set for millions of crypto users who follow the principle "Not Your Keys, Not Your Coins"?
Does the Fourth Amendment protect an individual's right to control their own cryptocurrency? Can routine asset protection measures be reframed as criminal concealment without clear intent to defraud?
What chilling effect would this precedent have on legitimate cryptocurrency activities? How would criminalizing self-custody affect innovation, security practices, and user adoption in the digital asset ecosystem?
Under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 29, amicus briefs must be filed no later than 7 days after the principal brief of the supported party. Organizations interested in filing must act quickly to meet this deadline.
Legal teams interested in filing an amicus brief should contact our counsel immediately to coordinate efforts and ensure compliance with court requirements.
For amicus brief coordination and case materials:
legal@selfcustodyisnotacrime.comPlease include "Amicus Brief - Wright v. United States" in the subject line
Indictment, motions, and legal filings available upon request
We'll coordinate with multiple amici to avoid duplication
Strict court deadlines require immediate action
If your organization believes in protecting constitutional rights and the future of financial sovereignty, we need your voice in this critical case.
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