DOJ ends crypto enforcement team, shifts focus to terrorism and fraud
Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on April 18, 2022.
Kent Nishimura | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
The U.S. Justice Department abruptly shut down its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, signaling a major shift in how the federal government will handle crypto-related crimes going forward, according to a memo obtained by NBC News Tuesday.
The memo, sent Monday night by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, outlines a decentralized approach in which U.S. Attorneys’ Offices will now take the lead on digital asset cases, focusing primarily on crimes involving terrorism.
The memo said efforts would focus on “prosecuting individuals who victimize digital asset investors, or those who use digital assets in furtherance…
