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U.S. DOJ disbands the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Unit: report

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U.S. DOJ disbands the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Unit: report

The U.S. Department of Justice is disbanding the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Unit, citing its ‘reckless strategy’ in prosecuting crypto firms in the previous administration.

According to a recent report by Fortune, a four-page memo issued by U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed the decision to disband the crypto-related investigation unit “effective immediately.” The decision is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to loosen oversight on the crypto industry.

““The Department of Justice is not a digital assets regulator. However, the prior Administration used the Justice Department to pursue a reckless strategy of regulation by prosecution,” stated Blanche in the memo.

Following the announcement, Blanche also urged DOJ staff members to spend less time pursuing cases against crypto exchanges, mixers and “offline wallets.” Instead, they are directed to focus on prosecuting “individuals who victimize digital asset investors.”

The National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Unit was established under Joe Biden’s presidency as a joint task force that consisted of prosecutors from the Justice Department’s money laundering, cybercrime units, as well as other district offices.

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The The National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Unit task force oversaw some of the largest crypto cases in the country. One in particular was the case against cryptocurrency mixing service Tornado Cash, which was prosecuted for money-laundering charges.

Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm stated on Jan. 26 that he faces up to 45 years of imprisonment for operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, conspiracy to commit money laundering and sanction evasion. Many crypto industry figures stood in support of Tornado Cash, viewing it as a case that criminalized software developers.

Most recently on March 21, the U.S. Treasury lifted sanctions against Tornado Cash, allowing Americans to access it once more.

The NCET also prosecuted Avraham Eisenberg, a hacker who exploited a crypto trading protocol Mango Markets for more than $114 million. Last January, the platform officially announced it was completely shutting down operations, giving users a deadline to close positions before they can no longer access the site.

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In addition, the joint investigation unit had also led investigations that scrutinized North Korean actors who helped launder funds stolen from crypto hacks.

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Crypto

SEC Sets Bullish Tone on On-Chain Markets as Blockchain Settlement Becomes Strategic Priority

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SEC Sets Bullish Tone on On-Chain Markets as Blockchain Settlement Becomes Strategic Priority
The SEC is signaling a decisive push to move U.S. financial markets onto blockchain infrastructure, framing on-chain settlement as a priority upgrade that could reshape post-trade systems and regulatory strategy under Chair Paul Atkins.
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Westlake police say cryptocurrency scam cost woman over $5,000

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Westlake police say cryptocurrency scam cost woman over ,000

WESTLAKE, Ohio – A convenience store clerk at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 26 alerted a police dispatcher that a female customer was feeding large amounts of cash into a cryptocurrency ATM at the store on Center Ridge Road at Dover Center Road.

The clerk said the customer would not believe the clerk’s warning that she was being scammed.

Officers arrived to find the 71-year-old still “anxiously depositing” cash into the machine. Officers told her to stop, but she did not believe the uniformed men. The officers talked to her for several minutes before she finally believed that there was an issue. She was still on the phone with the scammer at the time.

The incident started that morning when the victim received a pop-up message on her home computer instructing her to call a provided support phone number due to a supposed issue with the computer’s operating system. She called the number and was connected to a man who claimed he was a representative from Apple, according to a police department press release.

The man talked her into allowing him remote access to her computer while he asked for her bank information. The scammer talked the victim into believing that there was a problem with her accounts, and she was at risk of losing $18,000 in connection with pornographic websites out of China or Mexico.

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She was connected to a fake fraud department for her bank, and another scammer persuaded her to go to a bank and withdraw as much cash as they would allow. The scammer even told her to give the teller a story about needing cash to buy a car. The perpetrator kept the woman on the phone as she took out cash and traveled to the crypto ATM. The victim had deposited approximately $5,500 before officers persuaded her to stop. The Westlake Detective Bureau is attempting to recover the lost funds.

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Read more from the West Shore Sun.

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Youtube Expands Creator Monetization Using Paypal USD Stablecoin

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Youtube Expands Creator Monetization Using Paypal USD Stablecoin
Youtube has reportedly begun letting U.S. creators receive payouts in Paypal’s dollar-pegged stablecoin, Paypal USD (PYUSD), signaling a shift toward regulated digital currencies as mainstream payment tools and deepening stablecoins’ role in creator monetization.
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