The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced a policy change on April 7, focusing its cryptocurrency enforcement efforts on cases involving clear fraud and criminal activity. This shift aligns with President Trump's Executive Order 14178, which encourages federal agencies to support open access to blockchain networks and banking services for lawful crypto users. The DOJ's new directive instructs prosecutors to prioritize cases where individuals cause financial harm to digital asset investors and consumers or use digital assets to further other criminal activities, such as funding terrorism. This policy marks a departure from previous strategies criticized for regulatory overreach against digital asset companies. The Digital Chamber of Commerce has welcomed this move, applauding the DOJ's decision to stop targeting innovators over technical compliance issues. The focus now is on targeting bad actors rather than entrepreneurs navigating regulatory complexities. Simultaneously, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a new statement on disclosure requirements for crypto-related securities, providing clarity on how existing frameworks apply to digital assets. This comes as the SEC pulls back from broader crypto enforcement, leaving some litigators in limbo while states and Congress push forward with their own regulatory initiatives.
SEC Issues Crypto Securities Disclosure Statement as IRS DeFi Broker Rule Repealed https://t.co/F7pthlnILj #Securities #Government #Laws @KattenLaw https://t.co/rdZV8KEztC
DOJ Narrows Crypto Enforcement Focus to Fraud and Criminal Conduct https://t.co/Sh38QPoHb9 | by @SheppardMullin
really interesting story on the decline of white-collar law enforcement in the Trump era: https://t.co/r4c66RNQLB