U.S. House bill would erect crypto-theft task force across law enforcement agencies
New legislation from a bipartisan duo would set up a multi-agency group under the U.S. attorney general to take a lead on cryptocurrency theft cases.
What to know:
- A new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives would stand up a federal task force that would be ready to coordinate and lead crypto theft investigations.
- The legislation — enlisting the involvement of several relevant federal agencies, including the FBI, DOJ, Treasury and Homeland Security — was introduced with bipartisan sponsorship, though it’s potential path as a viable effort isn’t yet clear.
The Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Task Force would be led by the U.S. attorney general, according to bill text reviewed by CoinDesk, and it would involve the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security and the Treasury Department, among others.
The legislation is sponsored by Representative Lance Gooden, a Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, and by a Democrat on House Financial Services Committee, Representative Josh Gottheimer.
“Crypto criminals are stealing billions from Americans, and Washington lacks a coordinated strategy to stop them,” Gooden, a Texas Republican, said in a statement to CoinDesk. “As digital assets shape the future of finance, this bill protects consumers, cracks down on thieves, and strengthens trust in the crypto ecosystem.”
The task force would become the main point of coordination for preventing and investigating the theft of cryptocurrency, which is a problem that plagues the young industry. From fraud and so-called pig butchering by complex criminal networks to state-backed attacks from hackers, digital assets have long been a target. Many of the sector’s most vocal political opponents often cite that undercurrent of criminal abuse as proof the sector is risky for consumers.
