The case
Can circumstantial digital evidence identify the operator of a privacy service?
The government says Sterlingov operated Bitcoin Fog, a cryptocurrency mixer used to obscure the source and destination of bitcoin. The defense says the prosecution never produced a server, account, message, document, or device showing that he controlled the service—and that its attribution depended on disputed blockchain analysis, an old exchange transaction, and patterns of internet activity.
A jury convicted Sterlingov on four counts in March 2024. He received a 150-month prison sentence in November 2024. His appeal was argued before the D.C. Circuit on May 12, 2026.
Prosecutors say Sterlingov created and operated Bitcoin Fog, which processed funds tied to darknet markets and other crimes, and that financial and digital evidence connected him to the service.
Sterlingov maintains his innocence. His lawyers argue that the case lacked direct evidence of operation and relied on unreliable attribution methods, prejudicial evidence, and an improperly established venue.
Editorial note: This is defense-centered advocacy, not neutral case reporting. Government allegations, court outcomes, defense arguments, and personal testimony are labeled separately. Quotations from Roman and his attorneys derive from the EotS event transcript and should be checked against the final recording before publication.