Law Enforcement Guide
Information for law enforcement agencies regarding Sia Wallet and our cooperation policies
Last updated: August 09, 2025
The Sia Foundation is committed to cooperating with law enforcement agencies within the bounds of applicable law while protecting user privacy and maintaining the decentralized nature of our services.
1. Overview
Sia Wallet is a non-custodial desktop application that enables users to generate cryptographic keys, manage wallets, and interact directly with the Sia blockchain. The Wallet does not operate as a hosted service, exchange, or custodial account provider. All sensitive information, including private keys, recovery seeds, and transaction signing, occurs locally on the user’s device and never passes through infrastructure controlled by the Provider.
Because of this design, Sia Wallet fundamentally differs from centralized financial services. We do not have the ability to hold, freeze, reverse, or otherwise interfere with user funds or blockchain transactions. There are no accounts stored on our servers, no custody of digital assets, and no central authority with control over user balances. Users remain entirely responsible for their own private keys and backups, and the Provider has no technical means to restore access in the event of loss or compromise.
This guide is intended to inform law enforcement and regulatory authorities about the architecture of Sia Wallet, the type of information that may or may not be available, and the procedures for submitting valid legal requests. While we are committed to cooperating with legitimate investigations within the limits of applicable law, it is important to emphasize that our ability to provide data is strictly limited by the non-custodial model of the Wallet and the decentralized nature of the Sia blockchain.
2. Service Model
Sia Wallet operates under a non-custodial architecture, which means that users retain full and exclusive control of their digital assets at all times. Private keys and recovery seeds are generated locally on the user’s device, and all transaction signing takes place before the data is broadcast to the Sia blockchain. At no point are wallet credentials or funds transmitted to, stored on, or accessible by the Provider. We do not operate accounts, manage balances, or hold cryptocurrency on behalf of users.
Because of this design, the Provider has no technical ability to freeze, suspend, or seize wallets, nor to reverse or cancel blockchain transactions once they have been confirmed by the network. Control of funds rests entirely with the user, and any mistakes such as lost keys, incorrect transfers, or forgotten backups cannot be corrected by us.
The Wallet connects directly to the Sia blockchain, which is a decentralized network where data storage contracts and financial transactions are validated through the network’s consensus mechanism. No single entity, including the Provider, has control over the network’s operation or the inclusion of transactions. All confirmed transactions are permanently recorded on the blockchain and visible through public explorers or direct node queries.
This service model creates both benefits and limitations. On the one hand, users enjoy direct control over their assets without reliance on custodians. On the other hand, it means that law enforcement should understand that traditional methods of asset seizure, account suspension, or custodial records requests are not applicable to Sia Wallet.
3. Data Availability
Because Sia Wallet is a non-custodial desktop application, our access to user information is extremely limited. The Wallet itself does not create accounts, transmit wallet data, or maintain centralized records. All private keys, recovery seeds, wallet passwords, balances, and transaction histories remain exclusively on the user’s device and under the user’s sole control. The Provider has no visibility into this information and cannot retrieve it under any circumstances.
Data We Do Not Collect
The following categories of information are never collected or stored by the Provider and therefore cannot be disclosed to law enforcement:
- Private keys, seed phrases, or wallet passwords.
- Wallet balances, addresses, or transaction history.
- Personally identifiable information linked to wallet usage.
- Logs of wallet activity, device fingerprints, or network traffic records.
- Financial records or customer accounts.
Data That May Be Available
The only information that may be available to the Provider arises from voluntary interactions outside the Wallet itself, such as:
- Emails or messages sent by users to request technical support.
- Bug reports, error submissions, or feedback voluntarily provided.
- Communications posted in public community channels (e.g., GitHub issues, Discord).
This information is typically minimal, self-reported, and not directly tied to wallet usage or blockchain transactions.
Public Blockchain Data
All Sia transactions are permanently recorded on the public blockchain, where they can be viewed through explorers, queried by running a node, or analyzed with third-party blockchain analysis tools. These records include transaction amounts, addresses, and contract data, but they do not contain personal identifiers. Law enforcement agencies have the same level of access to blockchain data as any other participant in the network.
Summary
In practice, this means that Sia Wallet cannot provide law enforcement with custodial-style records such as account histories, transaction logs, or identity information. The only data we may be able to share is voluntarily provided communication outside of the Wallet, combined with what is already visible on the public blockchain.
4. Legal Process Requirements
The Provider respects the rule of law and will cooperate with legitimate legal processes within the limits of our role as a non-custodial wallet developer. However, it is important to emphasize that because Sia Wallet does not hold user funds, private keys, or custodial records, the scope of information we can provide is inherently limited.
Valid Legal Requests
We will review and respond to legal requests that are properly issued and served under applicable law, such as:
- Subpoenas issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
- Search warrants or production orders supported by judicial authority.
- Court orders requiring disclosure of specific records within our control.
- International requests made through recognized treaty channels (e.g., MLAT).
Request Requirements
For a request to be processed, it must:
- Clearly identify the legal authority and jurisdiction under which it is issued.
- Provide specific details of the information sought (e.g., a particular support email address).
- Include a relevant case number or investigation reference.
- Provide contact details for the requesting officer or agency.
Requests that are vague, overly broad, or outside our legal jurisdiction may be rejected or returned for clarification.
Scope of Compliance
Even when requests are valid, the Provider can only produce information that it actually holds. This typically includes limited voluntary communications (such as support correspondence) and does not include wallet keys, transaction histories, or balances. Blockchain transaction data remains publicly accessible and is not controlled by the Provider.
Response Timeline
We will make reasonable efforts to respond within standard legal timeframes::
- Emergency requests: typically 24–48 hours.
- Standard requests: within 30 days.
- Complex or international requests: up to 60 days, with notice provided if additional time is required.
5. Emergency Requests
We recognize that law enforcement agencies may, in rare cases, encounter situations involving an imminent threat to life or serious bodily harm. In such cases, requests for information may be submitted on an emergency basis.
Conditions for Emergency Requests
To be considered, an emergency request must:
- Be submitted directly by a verified law enforcement agency or authorized officer.
- Provide a clear and detailed explanation of the nature of the emergency.
- Specify the imminent risk to life or physical safety.
- Include official contact details for verification of the request.
Our Response Capabilities
Even in emergency circumstances, the scope of information available to the Provider is very limited due to the non-custodial design of Sia Wallet. We cannot:
- Access or disclose private keys, wallet passwords, or recovery seeds.
- Freeze, seize, or transfer funds on behalf of any party.
- Reverse or cancel transactions on the Sia blockchain.
What we may be able to provide, depending on the situation, includes:
- Voluntary user communications previously shared with us (such as support emails).
- Technical documentation or guidance to assist law enforcement in interpreting public blockchain data.
- Referral to publicly accessible resources, including blockchain explorers or node software.
Follow-up Requirements
Any emergency disclosure must be followed by a valid legal process within a reasonable timeframe. If proper legal documentation is not subsequently provided, continued cooperation cannot be guaranteed.
It is important for law enforcement to understand that emergency requests cannot expand the scope of data available. Our role remains strictly limited to the information we actually hold and the resources already available on the public blockchain.
6. Blockchain Analysis Resources
The Sia blockchain is a public ledger, meaning that all confirmed transactions are permanently recorded and accessible to anyone. Neither the Provider nor the Wallet maintains a private transaction database beyond what is already available on the blockchain itself. Law enforcement agencies have the same access to this information as any other participant in the network.
Public Resources
Law enforcement may directly consult the following publicly available tools:
- Sia Blockchain Explorer — provides searchable access to transactions, contracts, and blocks.
- Full Node Queries — by running Sia node software, investigators can query the blockchain directly.
- Open-Source Tools — a range of open-source projects exist for parsing and analyzing blockchain data.
Third-Party Analytics
Independent blockchain analytics companies and academic researchers may also offer tools for pattern analysis, clustering, or tracking activity across the network. These services operate independently of the Provider, and law enforcement may contract with them directly if advanced analysis is required.
Technical Assistance
While the Provider cannot provide wallet-specific transaction data, we may assist law enforcement in the following ways:
- Offering technical documentation on how the Sia protocol and blockchain function.
- Providing guidance on interpreting public blockchain data.
- Referring investigators to relevant community or academic resources.
- Sharing educational materials to improve understanding of decentralized technologies.
The Provider cannot create or supply additional transaction data beyond what is already published on the public ledger. All analysis and attribution must be performed independently by law enforcement or through third-party services.
7. Limitations of Assistance
It is essential for law enforcement agencies to understand the inherent limitations of what Sia Wallet can provide in response to investigations. Unlike custodial services, centralized exchanges, or hosted platforms, the Wallet does not maintain user accounts, identity records, or transaction databases.
What We Cannot Do
- We cannot freeze, seize, or transfer cryptocurrency from any user wallet.
- We cannot reverse, cancel, or block transactions once confirmed on the blockchain.
- We do not have access to private keys, recovery seeds, wallet balances, or transaction histories.
- We do not log wallet usage, device identifiers, or network activity.
What We Can Do
- Provide general technical guidance about how the Sia blockchain operates.
- Confirm the open-source nature of the Wallet, which allows independent review of its code.
- Share documentation and public resources that may assist in blockchain analysis.
- Respond to valid legal requests concerning voluntarily provided data (e.g., support emails).
Key Takeaway
Sia Wallet functions as user-controlled software, not a financial intermediary. Investigators should treat the Wallet as they would any open-source tool: transparent in design, limited in scope, and fundamentally outside the custodial model.
8. Compliance and Cooperation
The Provider is committed to cooperating with legitimate law enforcement investigations within the limits of applicable law and the technical design of Sia Wallet. Our approach is grounded in three principles: legal compliance, transparency, and protection of user privacy.
Our Commitments
- Compliance with Law — We will honor valid legal processes that are properly served under applicable jurisdiction.
- Cooperation with Investigations — We will engage with law enforcement agencies in good faith and provide any limited information that is within our control.
- Transparency — We are clear about what we can and cannot provide, ensuring that investigators do not waste time pursuing unavailable records.
- User Privacy — We safeguard user privacy by design. The Wallet never transmits private keys, recovery seeds, or transaction data to the Provider, so such information can never be disclosed.
Limitations
Law enforcement should understand that, because of the non-custodial architecture of Sia Wallet:
- We cannot freeze or seize assets held in user wallets.
- We cannot reverse or block blockchain transactions.
- We cannot access wallet contents or transaction logs.
- Our data retention is limited to voluntary communications (e.g., support emails).
Education and Awareness
We recognize that decentralized technologies may present challenges for investigations. Where appropriate, we are willing to provide educational materials, technical documentation, or high-level guidance on how the Sia blockchain functions, to support better understanding of the ecosystem.
The information provided by Sia Wallet regarding law enforcement cooperation is strictly educational and informational in nature. It should not be interpreted as legal advice or a guarantee of investigative outcomes. Law enforcement agencies remain fully responsible for conducting their own investigations and for interpreting blockchain data within their jurisdiction.