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AML check on Bitcoin

How to screen a Bitcoin address before you accept BTC, which services cover Bitcoin, and what shows up most often in Bitcoin AML reports.

Address formatStarts with 1, 3, bc1q or bc1pbc1qw4f7k0v9m3x8d2c5h6j8n4p0r7s2t9u3y5a6leExample for illustration, not a real address.
Note

Bitcoin has no issuer that can freeze coins, but exchanges still screen deposits. Coins traced to mixers, darknet markets or ransomware are the usual reason for a hold.

Services that check Bitcoin

01ChainalysisEnterprise platformPrice on requestSupportedNot scored
02EllipticEnterprise platformPrice on requestSupportedNot scored
03Crystal IntelligenceEnterprise platformPrice on requestSupportedNot scored
04TRM LabsEnterprise platformPrice on requestSupportedNot scored
05BitOKTelegram botfrom $0.35 per checkSupported8.5
06ShardUse with careWeb app290 ₽ for 10 checks, down to 15 ₽ a check in a 1,000-check packSupported8.1
07MistTrackWeb appAPI from $0.20 per checkSupported7.9
08MetaSleuthWeb appFree web app · paid plans from $30/monthSupported7.6
09Quppy AML BotUse with careTelegram bot5 USDT for 11 checks, down to 0.23 USDT a checkSupported7.5
10Phalcon ComplianceEnterprise platformFree plan (3 checks a month) · credit packs $1.10–$1.90 a checkSupported6.4
11Cryptomus AML CheckerUse with careWeb app4.4 USDT for 10 checks, down to 0.40 USDT a checkSupported6.3
12PublicAMLUse with careWeb appFreeSupported6.2
13AMLCryptoTelegram bot$0.39–$1.00 per checkSupported6.1
14AnChain.AI Data APIAPI for businessAddress score $0.08–$0.10 in credit packs from $1,000Supported6.1
15GetBlock Crypto AMLWeb appFrom about $0.50 a check, prepaid creditsSupported6.1
16BestChange AML checkAggregator$0.50–$2.00 per checkSupportedNot scored
17Scorechain BotTelegram botPay per use, prices not publishedSupportedNot scored
18BitraceAPI for businessPrice on requestSupportedNot scored
19Merkle ScienceEnterprise platformPrice on requestSupportedNot scored
20Sumsub Crypto MonitoringEnterprise platformPrice on requestSupportedNot scored
21WebacyUse with careAPI for businessPrices shown after sign-inSupportedNot scored
22BitHide AML CheckUse with careTelegram botFirst check free, prices not publishedSupportedNot scored
23CoinKYTTelegram botNot published (resold on BestChange at $0.50)SupportedNot scored
24Scorechain AIWeb app€75 for 35 credits, down to €1.00 a checkNot verifiedNot scored
25AMLBotTelegram botPrices shown after sign-upNot verifiedNot scored
26Match SystemsUse with careAPI for businessAPI from $0.08 per check (volume)Not verifiedNot scored

For companies: screening tools that list Bitcoin

Enterprise KYT and wallet-screening platforms for exchanges, payment firms and other businesses. Prices are on request and they are not part of our score. “Screening” means the provider’s own page lists Bitcoin for screening or monitoring; “Not verified” means it is listed only for investigations or without detail. Compare business tools →

01Global Ledger[1]KYT (Know Your Transaction: transaction screening / real-time risk scoring); also KYB and Vision (investigations platform)Quote on requestScreening

How to check a Bitcoin address

  1. Get the public addressAsk your counterparty for the address they will send from — or copy it from the incoming transaction.
  2. Pick a service that covers BitcoinChoose one marked “Supported” in the list above. Paste the full address, including the bc1 / 1 / 3 prefix.
  3. Run the check and read itFor a deposit you already received, a transaction (TXID) check shows where those specific coins came from — not every service supports it.
A real AML check needs only a public address. Never share a seed phrase or private key.

Bitcoin specifics

  • Native SegWit addresses start with bc1q and use the Bech32 format. They are always 42 or 62 characters long and must be all lowercase or all uppercase, never mixed.[2]
  • Taproot addresses start with bc1p and use Bech32m, a variant with a different checksum constant. Old wallets that only implement Bech32 cannot validate them.[3]
  • TRM Labs attributed 12% of illicit crypto volume in 2024 to Bitcoin.[4]

Who can freeze funds on Bitcoin

  • In August 2025 Tether said it would not freeze the token contracts on its legacy networks, including Omni Layer. Users can still move the old tokens between wallets, but Tether has stopped direct issuance and redemption there.[5]
  • A Bitcoin payment cannot be reversed by any bank, issuer or network operator. The only way to get coins back is for the person who received them to send a refund.[6]
  • Freezes on Bitcoin happen at services, not on the chain. Under OFAC guidance, a U.S. person holding virtual currency that must be blocked has to deny all parties access to it and report it to OFAC within 10 business days.[7]

Scams seen on Bitcoin

  • The FTC reports a common Bitcoin ATM scam: the victim is told to feed cash into a machine and scan a QR code the scammer provides. The cash goes straight to the scammer's address.[8]
  • According to the FTC, most money lost through Bitcoin ATMs comes from people pretending to be a government agency, a company, or tech support.[8]
  • Bitcoin.org warns about fake giveaways that ask you to send a small amount of bitcoin first to "register". These offers are scams.[9]

Check the history yourself

  • Bitcoin's ledger is public. Anyone can look up the balance and full transaction list of any address.[10]
  • On the mempool.space explorer, you look up an address by pasting it into the search box at the top right. The same box takes a transaction ID or a block number.[11]
  • A payment showing on an explorer with zero confirmations is not final. Bitcoin.org says an unconfirmed payment is only safe if you trust the payer.[6]

Sanctions and enforcement cases

  • On 2018-11-28 OFAC first listed digital currency addresses in sanctions designations. They were two Bitcoin addresses used by Iran-based exchangers linked to the SamSam ransomware. Treasury said over 7,000 transactions passed through them.[12]
  • On 2025-10-14 the U.S. Justice Department filed to forfeit about 127,271 BTC (about $15 billion) linked to Prince Group chairman Chen Zhi. The coins had sat in self-custody wallets whose keys he held. DOJ called it its largest forfeiture action ever.[13]
  • Ilya Lichtenstein, who hacked Bitfinex in 2016, was sentenced on 2024-11-14 to five years in prison for a money laundering conspiracy. He moved 119,754 BTC out of Bitfinex in more than 2,000 transactions.[14]

In numbers

  • The FTC reports that losses to Bitcoin ATM scams topped $65 million in the first half of 2024.[8]
  • Chainalysis reports that darknet markets took in nearly $2.6 billion in 2025. It names Abacus Market, which closed in July 2025, as the largest bitcoin darknet market for Western customers.[15]

Common risks on Bitcoin

MixerHighServices that pool and reshuffle coins to break the link between sender and receiver.Darknet marketHighMarketplaces for illegal goods reachable only through anonymity networks.RansomwareHighPayments extorted by locking or threatening to leak a victim’s data.Stolen fundsHighCoins taken in hacks of exchanges, protocols or personal wallets.ScamHighMoney taken through fake investments, phishing, impersonation and similar deception.SanctionsHighAddresses on government sanctions lists or owned by listed entities.

FAQ

Can Bitcoin be frozen like USDT?

Not at the protocol level — there is no issuer that can block an address. Freezes happen at the services that hold your coins: an exchange can hold a deposit while it reviews where the coins came from.

Why do bc1q and bc1p addresses look different?

They are different address types. bc1q is native SegWit (Bech32); bc1p is Taproot (Bech32m). Both are valid; an AML check works on either.

Can I get my bitcoin back if I paid a scammer?

Not through the network. A Bitcoin payment cannot be reversed; only the person who received it can send it back. Report the scam to the police and to the exchange or wallet you used, since a service may be able to hold funds that reach it.

How can I check if a Bitcoin address is on the U.S. sanctions list?

Use OFAC's free Sanctions List Search and enter the full address in the "ID #" field. It returns exact matches only, so paste the address carefully.

Is a Bitcoin payment final as soon as it appears in my wallet?

No. A transaction with zero confirmations can still be replaced or dropped. Bitcoin.org says it is only safe if you trust the payer. Wait for confirmations before you hand over goods or release funds.

How do I check a Bitcoin address for AML risk?

Copy the public address, open one of the services listed above that supports Bitcoin, and run the check. You never need a seed phrase or private key.

What does “Not verified” mean?

The service claims support somewhere — in marketing copy or a third-party page — but its own docs, pricing or FAQ do not list the network. Treat it as unknown.

Sources

  1. Global Ledger — Global Ledger — Bitcoin coverage. Checked 4 Oct 2026.
  2. Bitcoin BIPs — BIP-173: Base32 address format for native v0-16 witness outputs. Checked 4 Nov 2026.
  3. Bitcoin BIPs — BIP-350: Bech32m format for v1+ witness addresses. Checked 4 Nov 2026.
  4. TRM Labs — Category deep dive: overall 2024 figures and declining illicit crypto volume on TRON. Checked 4 Nov 2026.
  5. Tether — Tether provides update on transition plan for legacy blockchains (29 Aug 2025). Checked 4 Nov 2026.
  6. Bitcoin.org — Some things you need to know. Checked 4 Nov 2026.
  7. U.S. Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control — OFAC FAQ 646: How do I block digital currency?. Checked 4 Nov 2026.
  8. U.S. Federal Trade Commission — New FTC Data Shows Massive Increase in Losses to Bitcoin ATM Scams (3 Sept 2024). Checked 4 Nov 2026.
  9. Bitcoin.org — Avoid scams. Checked 4 Nov 2026.
  10. Bitcoin.org — Protect your privacy. Checked 4 Nov 2026.
  11. mempool.space — mempool.space FAQ. Checked 4 Nov 2026.
  12. U.S. Department of the Treasury — Treasury Designates Iran-Based Financial Facilitators of Malicious Cyber Activity and for the First Time Identifies Associated Digital Currency Addresses (sm556) (28 Nov 2018). Checked 4 Nov 2026.
  13. U.S. Department of Justice — Chairman of Prince Group Indicted for Operating Cambodian Forced Labor Scam Compounds Engaged in Cryptocurrency Fraud Schemes (14 Oct 2025). Checked 4 Nov 2026.
  14. U.S. Department of Justice — Bitfinex Hacker Sentenced in Money Laundering Conspiracy Involving Billions in Stolen Cryptocurrency (14 Nov 2024). Checked 4 Nov 2026.
  15. Chainalysis — Drugs and Darknet Markets: 2026 Crypto Crime Report (19 Feb 2026). Checked 4 Nov 2026.