U.S. House Bill Seeks Federal Crypto Theft Task Force
A bipartisan House bill would create a federal task force led by the U.S. attorney general to coordinate cryptocurrency theft investigations across major law enforcement agencies. The proposal aims to give victims and investigators a clearer federal point of contact, though its path through Congress remains uncertain.
What happened?
A bipartisan House bill would create a federal task force led by the U.S. attorney general to coordinate cryptocurrency theft investigations across major law enforcement agencies. The proposal aims to give victims and investigators a clearer federal point of contact, though its path through Congress remains uncertain.
Why it matters
The legislation is sponsored by Representative Lance Gooden, a Texas Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, and Representative Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee. Gooden said the bill is intended to protect consumers, pursue thieves and strengthen confidence in the crypto ecosystem, while Gottheimer pointed to billions of dollars in thefts and scams and argued victims need a single federal contact point.
A bipartisan pair of U.S. House lawmakers has introduced legislation to create a Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Task Force for fraud, hacking and other crypto theft cases. The proposed group would be led by the U.S. attorney general and include agencies such as the Department of Justice, FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Treasury Department.
The bill matters because crypto theft remains one of the sector’s most persistent consumer-protection and trust problems. Supporters of the measure argue that victims, investigators and local law enforcement need a more coordinated federal response when stolen digital assets cross platforms, jurisdictions and borders.
The legislation is sponsored by Representative Lance Gooden, a Texas Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, and Representative Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee. Gooden said the bill is intended to protect consumers, pursue thieves and strengthen confidence in the crypto ecosystem, while Gottheimer pointed to billions of dollars in thefts and scams and argued victims need a single federal contact point.
CoinDesk reported that the proposal follows a period of shifting federal crypto enforcement structures. The Justice Department previously maintained a National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, but it was disbanded under the Trump administration, whose officials argued the department had been regulating the industry through enforcement.
The bill also arrives alongside other federal efforts tied to crypto-related crime, including ransomware coordination and Treasury’s Scam Center Strike Force, which has worked with law enforcement on overseas scams involving digital assets. Whether the new House proposal advances is unclear, as it would need a viable committee path or attachment to broader legislation in a crowded congressional session.