PolicyShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailU.S. House Proposes New Task Force to Combat Crypto Theft
New bipartisan legislation aims to establish a federal task force for cryptocurrency theft investigations.
By Jesse Hamilton|Edited by Nikhilesh De Jun 11, 2026, 2:30 p.m. 3 min readMake preferred on
Representative Lance Gooden, a Texas Republican, is advocating for a federal task force to address crypto theft. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)Key Points:
- A proposed bill in the U.S. House aims to create a federal task force dedicated to crypto theft investigations.
- This legislation involves multiple federal agencies such as the FBI, DOJ, Treasury, and Homeland Security, and has bipartisan support, although its future remains uncertain.
The bipartisan bill introduced on Thursday proposes the formation of a new U.S. task force to tackle cryptocurrency theft, a growing issue in the digital asset sector. The Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Task Force would operate under the leadership of the U.S. attorney general and include participation from the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Treasury Department, among others.
Sponsored by Representative Lance Gooden, a Republican member of the House Judiciary Committee, alongside Representative Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from the House Financial Services Committee, the bill aims to address the increasing prevalence of crypto crimes. Gooden stated, "Crypto criminals are stealing billions from Americans, and Washington lacks a coordinated strategy to stop them. As digital assets shape the future of finance, this bill protects consumers, cracks down on thieves, and strengthens trust in the crypto ecosystem.”
This task force would serve as the central entity for coordinating efforts to prevent and investigate cryptocurrency theft, an ongoing problem that has plagued the industry. From elaborate fraud schemes to state-sponsored hacking, digital assets have become prime targets. Critics of the sector often cite these criminal activities as evidence of the inherent risks associated with cryptocurrencies.
Despite $11 billion lost to thefts and scams in the previous year, Gottheimer emphasized that "victims have nowhere to turn." He believes this legislation would establish "a single federal point of contact" for those affected.
The legislative initiative indicates that responses to theft incidents have varied across jurisdictions, including federal and state law enforcement agencies.
Dannis Porter, co-founder and CEO of the Satoshi Action Fund, remarked, "By housing a coordinating task force at the Justice Department, this bill gives victims, investigators, and local law enforcement the unified federal response they have been missing, all on a voluntary basis that respects local control."
Prior to the pro-crypto approach of President Donald Trump's administration, the DOJ had its own National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, which was disbanded under the new leadership that opted for regulation through enforcement.
In 2021, during President Joe Biden's administration, the Joint Ransomware Task Force was created to enhance coordination among federal agencies regarding ransomware attacks, which often involve crypto payments.
Furthermore, last year, the Treasury Department initiated a Scam Center Strike Force to collaborate with law enforcement on international scams targeting individuals for cryptocurrency. This initiative, led by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, reportedly seized over $700 million in cryptocurrency linked to these scams, frequently perpetrated by Chinese organized crime groups through intermediaries in Southeast Asia.
The path forward for this new task force legislation remains uncertain in a busy congressional session, as bills need to navigate either through a House committee or be attached to a significant legislative package.
The Digital Chamber, an organization advocating for cryptocurrency policy, stated that it is "critical that law enforcement agencies have the tools, training, and coordination necessary to investigate theft, trace illicit activity, support victims, and pursue bad actors."
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What to know:
- Japan's lower house has approved a bill that will regulate cryptocurrencies under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, aligning them more closely with stocks and other investment vehicles.
- The forthcoming regulations, expected to take effect next year, will categorize crypto assets as financial instruments, resulting in lower taxes and stricter trading protocols.