Goodbuy to Crypto Oversight: Trump Shifts Course

A central team within the U.S. Department of Justice, established under the Biden administration to combat cryptocurrency-related crime, has been disbanded.

This change comes as part of a new decision by the Trump administration, which seeks to ease regulatory pressure on players in the crypto industry and instead prioritize other forms of criminal activity.

According to an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press, the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team will no longer handle cases related to banking and securities regulation.

The decision, made by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, reflects a broader strategic shift within the Trump administration — with increased focus on issues such as illegal immigration, gang violence, and drug trafficking.

From Regulation to Freedom

Rather than overseeing the entire crypto market, the Department of Justice will now focus on specific threats — for example, cases in which digital currencies are used to finance organized crime or terrorism.

Technical expertise will still be maintained within the department’s Cybercrime and Intellectual Property section, which will advise and serve as a point of contact for the industry.

According to Reuters, a presidential executive order (EO 14178) underpins this shift. The document states that the government must protect both individuals and companies from prosecution when accessing “open blockchain networks.”

“The order is the latest step in a broader strategy where Trump aims to support the growth of the crypto industry and roll back Biden-era restrictions,” AP reported.

Political Currency

The timing of the decision is no coincidence. Just weeks earlier, Trump signed another executive order establishing a federal bitcoin reserve — a move that highlights the administration’s desire to make cryptocurrency a central element of the U.S. economy.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also scaled back its enforcement actions against crypto firms.

Several high-profile cases have either been paused or dropped altogether. This has drawn criticism from experts who argue that bad actors are being given breathing room.

It’s Not Just Politics

The Trump family’s ties to the crypto world are not new. According to Reuters, the family holds a 75% share of the profits from token sales tied to the private project World Liberty Financial — and the president himself has previously launched his own crypto token.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.