Brothers Block Google Searches in $25M Crypto Trial
Anton and James Peraire-Bueno have asked a Manhattan federal judge to bar prosecutors from introducing their Google search history as evidence in a $25 million cryptocurrency trial. The brothers face charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering after allegedly exploiting Ethereum’s MEV-boost system to intercept private trades and move roughly $25 million in under 15 seconds. Their defense argues the searches—terms such as “top crypto lawyers” and “wire fraud statute of limitations”—were part of privileged communications with attorneys and not proof of intent to commit wrongdoing. They stress that Google search history entries were made during legal consultations, invoking attorney–client privilege. Prosecutors maintain the queries reflect consciousness of guilt. Judge Jessica G.L. Clarke will decide whether to exclude these searches from the trial record. The ruling could set a precedent for the use of digital evidence and Google search history in future crypto trials.
Neutral
This legal dispute centers on the admissibility of Google search history in a crypto trial and does not involve a new protocol release, regulatory ban or market manipulation event. Similar courtroom battles over digital evidence rarely shift token prices or trader sentiment unless a final verdict triggers large-scale liquidations or regulatory action. As the case proceeds, market participants are likely to remain focused on broader Ethereum developments and macroeconomic factors rather than this procedural ruling, yielding a neutral impact.