The US Congress Propels Establishment of Cryptocurrency Theft Enforcement and Coordination Task Force

BlockBeats News, June 16th - The U.S. Congress is pushing to establish a dedicated cryptocurrency theft task force to address the enforcement gap following the DOJ's dissolution of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) in April 2025. The bill, proposed by Representatives Lance Gooden and Josh Gottheimer, seeks to create a Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Enforcement and Coordination Task Force within the DOJ, led by the Attorney General and bringing together representatives from the FBI, DHS (including HSI), the Treasury Department (FinCEN), and other agencies. The task force will focus on evidence collection, asset tracing, victim support, technical training, and coordination at the federal-state-local-international levels, explicitly excluding cryptocurrency market regulation and any alteration of existing criminal laws or private litigation rights.

The background of the bill lies in the DOJ's shift towards a "no longer regulating through prosecution" policy, amid a rise in cryptocurrency theft, hacking, fraud, and ransomware incidents. Supporters argue that a permanent coordination mechanism is needed to assist local law enforcement and victims in dealing with complex issues such as blockchain tracing. However, the bill does not specify funding, staffing, or response timelines, and its effectiveness remains to be seen. Currently in the proposal stage, the goal is to enhance crime response capabilities without interfering with market rules.