US Congress Highlights Rising Crypto Theft, Urges DOJ to Form a Dedicated Investigation Task Force
New U.S. Bill Wants Stronger Action Against Crypto Theft
Two U.S. lawmakers, Lance Gooden and Josh Gottheimer, have introduced a new bill called the Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Enforcement and Coordination Act. The bill would create a special Crypto Theft Task Force inside the Department of Justice (DOJ), led by the Attorney General or another chosen official.
If the bill is approved, this task force would become the government’s main team for preventing, investigating, and prosecuting cryptocurrency theft and related crimes.
This proposal comes only a few months after the DOJ shut down its previous crypto enforcement unit, called the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET). That decision was part of a policy change aimed at reducing pressure on the crypto industry.
The new task force would include officials from several major agencies, such as the DOJ, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Treasury Department. The Attorney General would also have the power to include other law enforcement agencies if needed.
Instead of regulating the crypto market, the task force would focus mainly on fighting crypto-related crimes. Its responsibilities would include:
- Finding better ways to collect and analyze digital evidence
- Tracking stolen cryptocurrency
- Improving investigation methods
- Helping victims of crypto scams and theft
The bill would also help state and local law enforcement agencies by providing training, technical support, and better information sharing. International cooperation would also be important, especially for crimes involving money moved across different countries.
The Bill Comes After NCET Was Shut Down
This new proposal appeared a little over a year after the DOJ shut down the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET).
In April, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche ordered NCET to close immediately. He said the government should stop what he called “regulation by prosecution,” meaning the DOJ should not pressure the crypto industry by constantly filing lawsuits.
After this change, prosecutors were told to spend less time investigating crypto exchanges, mixing services, and wallet providers. Instead, they should focus more on people who use cryptocurrency for crimes or scams.
NCET was created during President Biden’s administration and handled several major crypto crime investigations.
Some of its biggest cases included:
- The prosecution of Tornado Cash and co-founder Roman Storm, who was accused of money laundering and sanctions violations. This case caused controversy because many people in the crypto industry argued that software developers should not be blamed for how users misuse their technology.
- Investigations into North Korean money laundering networks connected to crypto theft
- The case against Avraham Eisenberg, accused of stealing $114 million from Mango Markets
Why Lawmakers Want This New Task Force
According to the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report, there were:
- 181,565 crypto-related crime complaints
- More than $11 billion in crypto-related losses
- Nearly $21 billion in total cybercrime losses overall
Lawmakers say victims of crypto crimes — such as wallet theft, phishing scams, and exchange hacks — often struggle because different agencies handle cases separately, creating confusion and delays.
The new task force would act as a central coordination hub, bringing experts together and improving cooperation between local, federal, and international authorities.
Importantlyd, the bill does not give the task force power to regulate cryptocurrency markets or financial institutions. It focuses only on fighting crime, while existing financial regulations and laws would stay the same.
