Justice Dept. scales back crypto cases in line with Trump administration memo

The Justice Department has directed prosecutors to limit their pursuit of certain cryptocurrency crimes, the latest example of the Trump administration pulling back on white-collar criminal enforcement. In a memo sent to staff members Monday night, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department will no longer pursue cases that he described as better left to financial regulatory agencies. Instead, prosecutors should focus on investigating people who commit crimes using cryptocurrency, such as defrauding investors, dealing narcotics and enabling human trafficking, Blanche said. Blanche also announced the disbandment of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, a group of cryptocurrency, cybercrime and money-laundering experts established in 2022 to “address the challenge posed by the criminal misuse of cryptocurrencies and digital assets.” The team played a leading role in some of the government’s largest investigations of players in the crypto sector. Advertisement “The ... Read full article.