Getting records from a crypto exchange
You want the exchange to reveal who holds the wallet.
Updated 2026-09-29 · Independent resource. Legal review pending.
Why an exchange changes the picture
A wallet address on its own reveals nothing about who controls it. Most scammers eventually need to convert stolen cryptocurrency into cash, and that usually means moving it through an exchange.
Exchanges are required to verify the identity of their users under regulatory rules, which most legitimate platforms already collect at sign-up. That stored identity information is what a records request is aimed at.
How the trail leads to an exchange
The public nature of most blockchains means the movement of funds between wallets can usually be followed, even without knowing who owns them. Tracing this path is a separate task from asking the exchange to reveal a name.
Once the funds are seen entering an exchange’s own wallet system, that exchange becomes the point where a request for identity information makes sense. Before that point, there is no third party holding a name to disclose.
What a records request actually asks for
A request, usually made through a court order rather than directly, asks the exchange to disclose who holds the linked account and any related transaction history. This works on a similar principle to a disclosure order against a bank.
Exchanges vary in how quickly and fully they respond. Larger, regulated platforms that cooperate with fraud investigations tend to move faster than smaller or newer ones with looser compliance.
Why location and size matter
An exchange based in Malaysia or a country with clear cooperation on fraud matters is usually more responsive than one in a jurisdiction with weaker enforcement ties. This affects timing more than whether a request is possible at all.
Cross-border cases add the same delays covered under international transfers, so patience alongside persistence tends to matter here.
What to do next
Save the wallet address, the transaction hash, and any details showing which exchange the funds passed through, before anything is lost or deleted. Report the scam to the police as a parallel step, since a police report often supports this process rather than replacing it.
From there, a first assessment can look at what you have found and give you a realistic view of what a records request is likely to achieve.
If you can see your funds reached a specific exchange, tell us what you have found and we can help you understand what a records request could realistically achieve.
Common questions
Can I just ask the exchange for the account holder's details myself?
Exchanges generally will not release another user's identity on a simple request, since this is personal information protected by their own policies. A court order is usually needed before an exchange will disclose who controls a linked account.
What if the exchange is based outside Malaysia?
It is still often possible, though it usually takes longer and depends on the exchange's own cooperation and its home country's rules. Larger, regulated exchanges tend to respond more consistently than smaller or less regulated ones.
What should I have ready before this process starts?
Save the wallet address, the transaction hash, and the name of the exchange if you can identify it from the transaction trail. These details are what any request to the exchange will be built around.
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Read thisIf you can see your funds reached a specific exchange, tell us what you have found and we can help you understand what a records request could realistically achieve.