No. 25-762

Ian Freeman, fka Ian Bernard v. United States

Lower Court: First Circuit
Docketed: 2025-12-29
Status: Pending
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: administrative-law agency-rulemaking congressional-intent financial-regulation regulatory-authority statutory-interpretation virtual-currency
Key Terms:
Environmental Securities Patent EmploymentDiscrimina JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2026-02-20
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Did FinCEN exceed its statutory authority by interpreting 'funds' in 31 U.S.C. § 5330 to require registration of virtual currency businesses before congressional amendment in 2021?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

Did the federal agency FinCEN exceed the authority granted in 2001 by Congress in 31 U.S.C. § 5330 to regulate money transmitting businesses when FinCEN interpreted one word in that statute – “funds” – as authority to require sellers of bitcoin and other virtual currencies prior to 2021 to register with FinCEN, when virtual currency was not invented until 2008 and when Congress did not amend the statute to capture virtual currencies until 2021, after they had become financial instruments of great political and economic significance?

Docket Entries

2026-01-14
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026.
2026-01-12
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2025-12-22
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 28, 2026)

Attorneys

Ian Freeman
Richard C. Guerriero Jr.Lothstein Guerriero PLLC, Petitioner
Richard C. Guerriero Jr.Lothstein Guerriero PLLC, Petitioner
Richard C. Guerriero Jr.Lothstein Guerriero PLLC, Petitioner
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent