Belgium seeks EU crypto wallet records in piracy probe

Belgian authorities have requested cryptocurrency wallet records from registrars and crypto service providers across the European Union in recent weeks as part of an investigation into alleged piracy operations.

The requests ask firms to provide account registration details, know‑your‑customer documents, associated email addresses, IP logs and blockchain transaction histories tied to a list of wallet addresses identified by investigators.

Investigators contacted custodial wallet providers, cryptocurrency exchanges and services that register or manage wallet addresses using formal legal channels under EU cross‑border cooperation rules and mutual assistance mechanisms.

Belgian prosecutors are seeking records to determine who controlled the wallets and how funds moved between accounts suspected of financing or facilitating piracy. The inquiry focuses on transactions linked to distribution, hosting or monetization of pirated content, including payments for subscriptions, donations and advertising revenue.

While many blockchain transactions are visible on public ledgers, linking wallet addresses to real‑world identities typically requires off‑chain records held by service providers. That is why investigators requested KYC files, account metadata and internal logs that can associate addresses with names, phone numbers or bank accounts. Authorities are also pursuing information on whether proceeds were mixed, converted into fiat currency or routed through intermediaries.

Responses from contacted companies have varied. Some said they will comply with legally binding judicial orders. Others indicated they will assess requests against EU data‑protection rules, national privacy laws and their own policies before turning over customer information.

The probe involves coordination with authorities in several member states where the targeted providers operate. Prosecutors did not disclose the identities of the companies contacted, the number of wallet addresses under review or the names of individuals implicated, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.

Additional investigative steps include blockchain analysis and work with specialist firms that map transaction flows and flag patterns consistent with laundering, aggregation or the use of mixing services. Prosecutors plan to combine wallet records with server logs, financial records and forensic findings to build the case.

Privacy advocates have raised concerns about proportionality and the protection of personally identifiable information in cross‑border requests. Legal advisers note that providers asked to hand over customer data may challenge requests in national courts and that data protection authorities will weigh criminal investigation needs against privacy rights.

Law enforcement agencies globally have increasingly followed cryptocurrency flows to target the financial infrastructure of illegal online markets. While blockchain transparency aids tracing, identifying the people behind pseudonymous addresses typically depends on cooperation from exchanges, custodial wallets and other intermediaries that hold user records.