The US Department of Justice has disbanded its crypto crime unit

Blanche noted that the previous White House administration resorted to “excessive measures” against crypto market participants, using the resources of the Justice Department for aggressive pressure. In particular, this concerned cases against platforms such as Tornado Cash, as well as cybercriminals associated with North Korea.

The disbanded NCET unit included experts in combating money laundering and cyberthreat specialists. These employees previously played a key role in high-profile cases against crypto services and decentralized applications that, according to the authorities, facilitated illegal activity.

Now the priorities of the Justice Department have changed. According to the new guidelines, the agency will focus on cases related to fraud and deception of investors, rather than actions against exchanges, mixers, or crypto wallet developers. Blanch linked this change to the executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January, which calls for the creation of “clear and understandable” regulatory rules for the crypto industry.

In parallel, another investigation has become known: the Justice Department is working on a case related to the sharp drop in the value of the Libra memecoin. The token gained popularity thanks to the support of Argentine President Javier Miley, but quickly lost value, causing a wave of indignation among investors.

Thus, the steps of the Justice Department reflect a softer and more orderly approach to regulating the crypto sphere. The new policy aims to strike a balance between protecting users and supporting innovation, consistent with the current administration's rhetoric.