Friday, August 22, 2025

Justice Department Disbands Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team

The US Justice Department has disbanded its cryptocurrency enforcement unit and directed prosecutors to limit their pursuit of certain digital asset crimes, according to an internal memo sent to staff on Monday.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced in the four-page memo dated April 7 that the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team “shall be disbanded effective immediately” as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to loosen oversight in the digital assets sector.

“The Department of Justice is not a digital assets regulator,” wrote Blanche, who previously represented Trump in his 2024 criminal trial. “The prior administration used the Justice Department to pursue a reckless strategy of regulation by prosecution, which was ill conceived and poorly executed.”

The memo instructs prosecutors to focus on “prosecuting individuals who victimize digital asset investors, or those who use digital assets in furtherance of criminal offenses such as terrorism, narcotics and human trafficking, organized crime, hacking, and cartel and gang financing.”

Related: Trump Goes Big on Crypto as SEC Repeals Restrictive Custody Regulations 

According to the memo, the Justice Department “will no longer target virtual currency exchanges, mixing and tumbling services, and offline wallets for the acts of their end users or unwitting violations of regulations,” a significant shift in enforcement strategy.

The department’s Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit has also been ordered to “cease cryptocurrency enforcement in order to focus on other priorities, such as immigration and procurement frauds.” Ongoing investigations deemed “inconsistent” with the new policy “should be closed,” the memo stated.

The policy change implements directives from Executive Order 14178, which calls for protecting and promoting “the ability of individual citizens and private-sector entities alike to access and use for lawful purposes open public blockchain networks without persecution.”

Trump and his family have launched their own cryptocurrency ventures over the past year. The Trump family created World Liberty Financial, a crypto exchange, and both the president and First Lady have released their own crypto tokens. Trump’s sons recently established a Bitcoin mining company.

Related: Asset Managers Rush to Launch Trump Crypto ETFs

Financial disclosures show Blanche himself holds cryptocurrency assets valued between $158,000 and $470,000. The Securities and Exchange Commission has also dropped multiple cases against crypto firms since Trump took office in January.


Information for this story was found via the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.

Video Articles

A Medical Breakthrough the Market Overlooked | David Elsley – Cardiol Therapeutics

Why Grade Beats Size in Silver Mining | Frank Basa – Nord Precious Metals

Are Investors Missing the Start of the Next Commodity Supercycle? | Morgan Lekstrom – NexMetals

Recommended

Emerita Resources Expands El Cura Drill Program By 10,000 Metres As Deposit Remains Open For Expansion

ESGold Signs MOU For Tailings Project In Colombia With Grades Up To 42 g/t Gold, 280 g/t Silver

Related News

Trump Administration Shuts Down Voice of America Operations, Cuts Funding to US Media Outlets

President Donald Trump has effectively shut down Voice of America (VOA), placing more than 1,300...

Monday, March 17, 2025, 10:03:00 AM

Economists Question Trump’s $10 Trillion Investment Claims

President Donald Trump’s claims of securing more than $10 trillion in new US investment commitments...

Monday, June 9, 2025, 12:59:00 PM

Consumer Costs Rise Sharply in Trump’s First Month

Consumer prices jumped 0.5% in January, the largest increase since August 2023, challenging President Donald...

Saturday, February 15, 2025, 11:42:00 AM

Trump Eyes Defense Production Act to Break China’s Rare Earth Grip

The Trump administration is weighing the use of the Defense Production Act to funnel loans...

Friday, June 13, 2025, 12:58:00 PM

Binance: DOJ Wants To Ban Changpeng Zhao From Leaving US After He Posted Bail That Allowed Travel

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has expressed concerns over the possibility that Changpeng Zhao...

Friday, November 24, 2023, 10:10:46 AM