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Chainalysis Government Solutions has sued the U.S. government over an Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract worth up to $94.66 million that was awarded to rival blockchain intelligence company TRM Labs. The case was filed July 27 in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
The case challenges ICE’s award to TRM, which procurement records show was made through a sole-source process with one bid received. TRM has joined the case as a defendant-intervenor, while Chainalysis’s complaint remains under seal.
ICE Awarded TRM $94.66M Sole-Source Contract on July 1
ICE awarded TRM contract 70CMSD26C00000005 on July 1 for analytical support to the Homeland Security Task Force National Coordination Center Cyber Disruption Center. The contract runs through June 30, 2027.
The requirement covers cryptocurrency transaction tracing, blockchain analytics and open-source intelligence, alongside support for scam and cybercrime disruption, asset recovery, criminal-network mapping, incident response and sextortion investigations.
ICE had announced in June that it intended to obtain the services from a single source, saying only one provider was reasonably available for the required capabilities. Other companies were given until June 11 to submit capability statements.
Chainalysis Complaint and August 11 Motion Remain Sealed
Judge Stephen S. Schwartz granted Chainalysis permission on July 31 to keep its complaint under seal and entered a protective order governing confidential material in the case.
Chainalysis also filed its August 11 motion for judgment on the administrative record under seal, leaving its detailed legal arguments unavailable to the public. The court has not ruled that ICE acted improperly or overturned the TRM award.
September 2 Hearing Will Review ICE Contract Challenge
The government and TRM must file their cross-motions and responses by August 21. Chainalysis has until August 26 to respond, followed by final replies on August 31 and a joint appendix on September 1.
Oral argument is scheduled for September 2 at 10 a.m. EDT in Washington. The government has asked the court to issue a decision by September 10.
The case leaves Chainalysis and TRM directly opposed over a federal blockchain analytics contract worth up to $94.66 million. The next substantive public step is the government and TRM response due August 21.
