James Harper, a Coinbase
$1.32B
user who argued that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) violated his privacy rights, will not have his case heard by the US Supreme Court.
Harper filed a lawsuit in 2020 after learning that the tax agency had collected information from Coinbase about users, including himself, through a “John Doe” summons.
Harper said this was a breach of his Fourth Amendment rights, which protect against unreasonable searches and seizures. He claimed the IRS took his private financial records without proper notice or a warrant.
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His case was dismissed by the US District Court for the District of New Hampshire in March 2021. When he appealed, the First Circuit also ruled against him. With the Supreme Court choosing not to review the case, those rulings will stay in place.
Coinbase supported Harper’s attempt by filing a legal brief in his favor. The company stated that the current rules would allow the government to examine people’s past and future crypto activity without limitations.
They warned that this kind of access could apply to more than just crypto, as it might also include bank accounts, phone records, internet services, and emails.
Meanwhile, Michael Zidell recently filed a lawsuit against Citibank for failing to notice signs of a scam that resulted in a $20 million loss. How did the case unfold? Read the full story.
Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.
