{"id":21318,"date":"2025-04-09T14:17:01","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T14:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/?p=21318"},"modified":"2025-04-09T14:17:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T14:17:01","slug":"cryptocurrency-enforcement-team-disbanded-as-doj-alters-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/?p=21318","title":{"rendered":"Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team Disbanded as DOJ Alters Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"307\" data-end=\"540\">In a move that could raise eyebrows across Washington and Silicon Valley, the U.S. Department of Justice has officially pulled the plug on its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET). If that sounds like a big deal, it is.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"542\" data-end=\"807\">The DOJ says it\u2019s shifting focus. Instead of going after crypto broadly, it\u2019s now aiming more narrowly at people using digital assets for \u201cserious\u201d crimes, such as drug trafficking, terrorism financing, or hacking\u2014not everyday developers building blockchain projects.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">BREAKING: US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DISBANDS CRYPTO ENFORCEMENT UNIT &#8220;EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY&#8221; TO COMPLY WITH TRUMP ORDER<\/p>\n<p>THE WAR ON <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BITCOIN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">#BITCOIN<\/a> IS OVER <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/1f525.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udd25\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em; max-height: 1em;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/4lAS937NmS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/4lAS937NmS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The Bitcoin Historian (@pete_rizzo_) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/pete_rizzo_\/status\/1909551808344645813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">April 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"809\" data-end=\"1172\">Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche made it clear this isn\u2019t about going soft\u2014it\u2019s about being strategic. He criticized past tactics as overly aggressive, saying the DOJ won\u2019t continue what he called \u201cregulation by prosecution.\u201d From now on, if someone\u2019s caught up in a crypto-related case without clear criminal intent, the department\u2019s stance is: don\u2019t bother.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"1174\" data-end=\"1211\"><strong data-start=\"1174\" data-end=\"1211\">DOJ Crypto Enforcement Team Cancelled: Implications for Crypto Platforms<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1213\" data-end=\"1559\">This change could be a breath of fresh air for crypto platforms and developers who\u2019ve spent the last few years nervously checking their inboxes for subpoenas. Under the new approach, tools like crypto mixers, cold wallets, or DeFi platforms won\u2019t be punished just because bad actors used them\u2014unless there\u2019s proof the developers knowingly helped.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1561\" data-end=\"1756\">That\u2019s a pretty big shift. It suggests the government is finally drawing a clearer line between tech infrastructure and criminal intent\u2014something the crypto community has been demanding for years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1758\" data-end=\"2001\">But it\u2019s not without risk. Critics argue this opens the door for shady operators to exploit the space, knowing enforcement is being dialed back. For now, it\u2019s a balancing act between encouraging innovation and maintaining basic accountability.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1758\" data-end=\"2001\"><strong>EXPLORE:\u00a0<a class=\"general-link\" href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/news\/xrp-price-jumps-11-after-sec-crypto-unit-tease-xrp-etf-progress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">XRP Price Jumps 11% After SEC Crypto Unit Tease XRP ETF Progress<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2003\" data-end=\"2039\">The Politics Behind the DOJ\u2019s Move to Disband the Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2041\" data-end=\"2102\">Let\u2019s zoom out briefly; this isn\u2019t happening in a vacuum.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2104\" data-end=\"2454\">The policy change aligns neatly with President Trump\u2019s broader agenda to loosen regulations around crypto. And yes, it\u2019s worth noting: the Trump family has skin in the game. Through ventures like World Liberty Financial and the launch of their own tokens ($TRUMP and $MELANIA), the family\u2019s crypto involvement has caught the attention of lawmakers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2456\" data-end=\"2720\">Democrats in Congress have asked the SEC to preserve any records related to those ventures, suggesting potential conflicts of interest. Whether or not those concerns lead anywhere, they fuel an already politically charged debate over crypto oversight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2722\" data-end=\"2956\">Meanwhile, at the SEC, Acting Chairman Mark Uyeda has been easing off the gas pedal, too\u2014dropping lawsuits against big-name exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken. The message from Washington is clear: the regulatory mood has changed.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2958\" data-end=\"2990\">How the Crypto Industry is Reacting to the DOJ Shutting Down Its Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2992\" data-end=\"3262\">Not surprisingly, reactions have been mixed. Some in the crypto world are celebrating the shift as long-overdue breathing room for builders and innovators. But others worry that too much leniency could make the space more vulnerable to scams, money laundering, or worse.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3264\" data-end=\"3533\">One case in particular stands out: Roman Storm, developer of the crypto mixer Tornado Cash. Storm\u2019s been battling charges for allegedly enabling money laundering, but under the DOJ\u2019s new lens, his defense, that he built a tool, not a crime ring\u2014might gain more traction.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3555\" data-end=\"3828\">The DOJ\u2019s shift signals a new chapter in how the U.S. handles crypto crime. Whether this leads to a more balanced and effective framework or just more confusion remains to be seen. For now, the crypto world is watching closely, knowing the rules of engagement just changed.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">DISCOVER:\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/cryptocurrency\/next-crypto-to-explode\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/B7Uk6agkqj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways\">\n<h3 class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__title\">Key Takeaways<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list\">\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n        The DOJ has officially shut down its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), shifting away from broad enforcement across the crypto space.    <\/li>\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n        Focus will now be on serious crimes like terrorism financing, drug trafficking, and cyberattacks\u2014not everyday developers or infrastructure builders.    <\/li>\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n        Deputy AG Todd Blanche criticized the prior approach as \u201cregulation by prosecution,\u201d signaling a softer, more strategic enforcement strategy.    <\/li>\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n        Crypto mixers, wallets, and DeFi platforms won\u2019t be targeted unless developers knowingly facilitated illegal activity.    <\/li>\n<li class=\"nnbtc-key-takeaways__list-item\">\n        Critics warn this could open the door for bad actors to exploit the reduced scrutiny.    <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/news\/cryptocurrency-enforcement-team-disbanded-as-doj-alters-strategy\/\">Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team Disbanded as DOJ Alters Strategy<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/99bitcoins.com\/\">99Bitcoins<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a move that could raise eyebrows across Washington and Silicon Valley, the U.S. Department of Justice has officially pulled the plug on its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET). If that sounds like a big deal, it is. The DOJ says it\u2019s shifting focus. Instead of going after crypto broadly, it\u2019s now aiming more narrowly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[3,4,5],"class_list":["post-21318","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-crypto","tag-doge","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21318","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21318"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21318\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}