The Immigration and Customs Administration, the leading US border security agency, wants to use “computer analytics software” from Coinbase.
Details of the planned contract between USCIS and Coinbase have been included in a document posted on SAM.gov. According to the notification of planned actions under the contract:
“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Procurement (OAQ) intends to place an order for the supply of computer analytic services. Coinbase, Inc. (DUNS number 081007539) is the only provider who can reasonably provide the services requested by the agency. The estimated total cost of services is $ 29,000 with an estimated time of execution of one year, starting from the date of the contract. ”
While the dollar value of the contract is relatively small, the very fact of the potential for a deal reflects the growth of Coinbase’s analytics business. Most of the firm’s business is now in institutional and retail cryptocurrency trading and brokerage services.
Last October, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase first presented a report on requests to it from law enforcement agencies in different countries about the transfer of user data. Agencies that contacted Coinbase for user information included the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This summer, the IRS also signed a contract with Coinbase to use Coinbase Analytics to track cryptocurrency transactions.
