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AML check on Cosmos Hub

Cosmos Hub (ATOM) is a Cosmos SDK blockchain linked to other Cosmos chains via IBC. Its addresses start with cosmos1, and tokens from other chains appear as ibc/ names.

Address formatStarts with cosmos1 · Bech32; other Cosmos chains use their own prefixes (osmo1…, kava1…)cosmos1cah30apd9aqdfjr3fwlf8za7v8vr6p2jxwnzuuExample for illustration, not a real address.
Note

The same asset can appear under different address prefixes and ibc/ names across Cosmos chains, so confirm your checker supports the exact chain you are using. When sending ATOM to an exchange, copy both the address and the memo it gives you.

Services that check Cosmos Hub

01EllipticEnterprise platformPrice on requestSupportedNot scored
02TRM LabsEnterprise platformPrice on requestSupportedNot scored
03Merkle ScienceEnterprise platformPrice on requestNot verifiedNot scored

How to check a Cosmos Hub 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 Cosmos HubChoose one marked “Supported” in the list above. Check the prefix first: cosmos1 means a Cosmos Hub account, while a different prefix means a different Cosmos chain that your checker has to support separately.
  3. Run the check and read itIf a token shows up as ibc/ followed by a long code, find out which chain and original token it came from (for example USDC from Noble) before judging its risk.
A real AML check needs only a public address. Never share a seed phrase or private key.

Cosmos Hub specifics

  • Circle announced on 10 September 2026 that it is ending support for USDC on Noble, the chain where it issues native USDC for Cosmos: new minting stops on 13 October 2026 and the Noble USDC contract will be fully paused on 12 January 2027, after which remaining balances go through a manual redemption process.[1]
  • When a token moves to another Cosmos chain over IBC, the receiving chain shows it under a name that starts with "ibc/" followed by a hash of the route it took and its original name, so the original ticker is hidden.[2]
  • Every blockchain built with the Cosmos SDK picks its own address prefix when it launches and cannot change it afterwards, which is why addresses on other Cosmos chains look different from cosmos1 addresses.[3]
  • Staked ATOM is not instantly available: after unstaking, a delegator has to wait 3 weeks to get their ATOM back.[4]
  • If a validator misbehaves, part of its stake can be slashed (destroyed), and that includes the ATOM its delegators staked with it.[5]
  • Binance asks users to provide both a deposit address and a memo for ATOM deposits on the Cosmos network.[6]

Common risks on Cosmos Hub

Stolen fundsHighCoins taken in hacks of exchanges, protocols or personal wallets.ScamHighMoney taken through fake investments, phishing, impersonation and similar deception.DeFi protocolLowEstablished on-chain lending, swaps and liquidity pools.High-risk exchangeMediumExchanges with weak or no customer checks.

FAQ

Why does my exchange ask for a memo when I deposit ATOM?

Exchanges such as Binance credit ATOM deposits using both a deposit address and a memo. Copy both exactly as the exchange shows them.

What is a token called ibc/… in my Cosmos wallet?

It is a token that arrived from another Cosmos chain over IBC. The receiving chain names it "ibc/" plus a hash of the route it took and its original name.

Which USDC is the official one in the Cosmos ecosystem?

Since September 2023 Circle has issued native USDC for Cosmos on the Noble chain. On 10 September 2026 Circle announced it is ending USDC on Noble: new minting stops on 13 October 2026 and the Noble USDC contract will be fully paused on 12 January 2027. Circle asks holders to move USDC off Noble before then.

How do I check a Cosmos Hub address for AML risk?

Copy the public address, open one of the services listed above that supports Cosmos Hub, 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. Circle — Circle is Discontinuing Support for USDC and CCTP V1 on Noble (10 Sept 2026). Checked 4 Oct 2026.
  2. Cosmos (ibc-go documentation) — ADR 001: Coin Source Tracing. Checked 4 Oct 2026.
  3. Cosmos SDK documentation — Address Encoding. Checked 4 Oct 2026.
  4. Cosmos Hub documentation — Delegator FAQ. Checked 4 Oct 2026.
  5. Cosmos Hub documentation — Delegator FAQ. Checked 4 Oct 2026.
  6. Binance — Existing Deposit Addresses & Memo on Cosmos Network (ATOM) to Be Retired (24 May 2022). Checked 4 Oct 2026.