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Criminals Are Watching the DOJ’s Crypto Shift. So Should We

Published

1 месяц ago

15 апреля, 2025

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The Department of Justice recently issued new guidance directing prosecutors to scale back their efforts to investigate and litigate cryptocurrency crimes. This subsequently disbands the government’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) in an effort to prioritize immigration and procurement issues over cryptocurrency enforcement. While the DOJ frames this as a move to streamline resources, threat actors are watching – and adapting.

While it’s too early to observe its impact on the cryptocurrency world, I believe this move is more than a bureaucratic shuffle – it signals an enforcement vacuum that cybercriminals will rush to fill.

When Regulations Relax, Fraud Follows

Cybercriminals are highly adaptable and thrive in moments of regulatory ambiguity. When criminal enforcement – whether of blue-collar or white-collar crime – becomes limited, threat actors take note and often shift their operations outside the lines of prosecutable conduct. The same is true of the cryptocurrency space.

In the digital economy, especially within the decentralized, unregulated, and fast-moving world of Web3 and crypto, this gray area is fertile ground for impersonation scams, fake airdrops, phishing campaigns, and spoofed tokens.

Even before this policy change, scams involving fake coins, phishing sites, and wallet siphons were already on the rise. According to the FBI’s latest Cryptocurrency Fraud Report, cryptocurrency fraud amounted to $5.6 billion in losses, a 45% increase since 2022.

Now, as the glare of federal scrutiny moves away from the crypto space, individuals, exchanges, and brands otherwise vulnerable to impersonation must prepare for a rise in cryptocurrency fraud. Cybercriminals will continue to exploit platforms and dupe investors, especially in spaces where technical complexity, anonymity, and lack of regulation already hamper detection and enforcement.

Reactions from the Field: Relief or Concern?

The administration’s decision to rethink crypto enforcement has already elicited mixed reactions from legal experts, who echo the sentiment that the move may elicit fraudulent activity.

In a statement to the Washington Post, Vanderbilt University Law Professor Yesha Yadav underscored the importance of the NCET in disrupting criminal activity across the crypto space, noting that the government may find it harder to prosecute the “incredibly nimble, very opportunistic actors in this space.”

Similarly, Kleptocracy Initiative director and anti-corruption expert, Nate Sibley, emphasized that “Dangerous US adversaries rely on cryptocurrencies to launder money and evade sanctions.”

However, a different tune can be heard within the industry. Advocacy group DeFi Education Fund, which is led by executives from organizations including Coinbase and Kraken, Executive Director and Chief Legal Officer Amanda Tuminelli stated that it was heartened to see that the DOJ announced it is redirecting resources to prosecuting the bad actors who are actually culpable for misuse of technology rather than the builders of our financial future.”

On one side, experts looking from the outside warn that the move may lead to an increase in cybercrime, while those within the industry argue that shifting focus to crimes relating to terrorism and drug cartels is a better use of resources. Only time will tell which side is correct.

Frictionless Fraud: AI Lowers the Bar for Bad Actors

Complicating matters is the increasing use of AI by attackers. With an arsenal of generative AI tools at the fingertips of anyone with an internet connection, fraudsters can now produce scams that go beyond phishing links – they’re full ecosystems of deception: fake social media accounts, copycat token launches, cloned websites, and AI-generated influencers pushing scams.

The result? Digital fraud is not only becoming more prevalent, it’s becoming more believable and harder to detect.

What does this mean for those trying to build a safer crypto ecosystem?

How the Crypto Community Can Respond

As the United States government reprioritizes its criminal focus, the responsibility of protecting investors and brand reputations will fall even more heavily on the private sector. Here’s how blockchain platforms, exchanges, brands, and investors operating in this space can respond:

Audit your brand perimeter: Regularly scan for unauthorized token listings, fake domains, and imposter accounts.

Use threat intelligence tech: AI-powered monitoring can detect spoofed websites and phishing campaigns across Web2 and Web3.

Engage with regulators early: Don’t wait for regulation to hit. Anticipate it, and build compliant, trustworthy systems before it’s too late.

Collaborate across the ecosystem: Whether you’re a small-time investor or an exchange with billions of dollars of assets under management, sharing information across platforms (i.e., between exchanges, social media platforms, and wallet providers) is key to identifying emerging fraud patterns.

The DOJ’s pivot may be strategic. But its ripple effects — especially in a fast-moving space like crypto — are already visible. If you’re building in web3, now’s the time to tighten your defenses. Because for every dollar the government pulls back, bad actors are investing tenfold.

At the heart of every financial system – traditional or decentralized – is trust. And, right now, trust is one of crypto’s biggest vulnerabilities. Widespread impersonation and scams, coupled with limited enforcement, have created a sense of skepticism that keeps the broader public on the sidelines.

If companies operating in the crypto space want digital assets to become mainstream, they must take ownership of building trust from the ground up. That means doubling down on transparency, accountability, and proactive protection. Because until trust becomes the norm, adoption will remain the exception.

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Bitcoin Nears Golden Cross Weeks After ‘Trapping Bears’ as U.S. Debt Concerns Mount

Published

4 часа ago

18 мая, 2025

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Bitcoin’s BTC price chart is echoing a bullish pattern that foreshadowed the late 2024 price surge from $70,000 to $100,000 amid mounting concerns over the sustainability of the U.S. debt.

The leading cryptocurrency by market value appears on track to confirm a «golden cross» in the coming days, according to charting platform TradingView. The pattern occurs when the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) of prices crosses above the 200-day SMA to suggest that the short-term trend is outperforming the broader trend, with the potential to evolve into a major bull run.

The moving average-based golden cross has a mixed record of predicting price trends. The impending one, however, is worth noting because it’s about to occur weeks after its ominous-sounding opposite, the death cross, trapped bears on the wrong side of the market.

A similar pattern unfolded from August through September 2024, setting the stage for a convincing move above $70,000 in early November. Prices eventually set a record high above $109K in January this year.

BTC's price chart: 2024 vs 2025. (TradingView/CoinDesk)

The chart on the left shows that BTC bottomed out at around $50,000 in early August last year as the 50-day SMA moved below the 200-day SMA to confirm the death cross.

In other words, the death cross was a bear trap, much like the one in early April this year. Prices turned higher in subsequent weeks, eventually beginning a new uptrend after the appearance of the golden cross in late October 2024.

The bullish sequence is being repeated since early April, and prices could begin the next leg higher following the confirmation of the golden cross in the coming days.

Past performance does not guarantee future results, and technical patterns do not always deliver as expected. That said, macro factors seem aligned with the bullish technical setup.

Moody’s amplifies U.S. debt concerns

On Friday, credit rating agency Moody’s downgraded the U.S. sovereign credit rating from the highest ”Aaa” to ”Aa1”, citing concerns over the increasing national debt, which has now reached $36 trillion.

The bond market has been pricing fiscal concerns for some time. Last week, CoinDesk detailed how persistent elevated Treasury yields reflected expectations for continued fiscal splurge and sovereign risk premium, both bullish for bitcoin.

Read: BTC Boom Likely as Bond Yields Surge

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XRP Price Surges After V-Shaped Recovery, Targets $3.40

Published

12 часов ago

18 мая, 2025

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Global economic tensions and regulatory developments continue to influence XRP’s price action, with the digital asset showing remarkable resilience despite recent volatility.

After experiencing a significant dip to $2.307 on high volume, XRP has established an upward trajectory with a series of higher lows, suggesting continued momentum as it approaches resistance levels.

Technical indicators point to a potential bullish breakout, with multiple analysts highlighting critical support at $2.35-$2.40 that must hold for upward continuation.

Technical Analysis Highlights

Price experienced a 3.76% range ($2.307-$2.396) over 24 hours with a sharp sell-off at 16:00 dropping to $2.307 on high volume (77.9M).
Strong support emerged at $2.32 level with buyers stepping in during high-volume periods, particularly during the 13:00-14:00 recovery.
Asset established upward trajectory, forming higher lows from the bottom, with resistance around $2.39 tested during 07:00 session.
In the last hour, XRP climbed from $2.358 to $2.368, representing a 0.42% gain with notable volume spikes at 01:52 and 01:55.
Price surged past resistance at $2.36 to reach $2.366, later establishing new local highs at $2.369 during 02:03 session on substantial volume (539,987).
Currently maintaining strength above $2.368 support level with decreasing volatility suggesting potential continuation of upward trajectory.

Disclaimer: This article was generated with AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk’s full AI Policy. This article may include information from external sources, which are listed below when applicable.

External References

«XRP price path to $3.40 remains intact — Here is why«, Cointelegraph, published May 16, 2025.
«XRP Price Watch: Bulls Eye $2.60 as Long-Term Trend Holds«, Bitcoin.com News, published May 17, 2025.
«XRP Price Explosion To $5.9: Current Consolidation Won’t Stop XRP From Growing«, NewsBTC, published May 17, 2025.

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SUI Surges After Finding Strong Support at $3.75 Level

Published

12 часов ago

18 мая, 2025

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Global economic tensions and shifting trade policies continue to influence cryptocurrency markets, with SUI showing particular resilience.

The asset established a trading range of 4.46% between $3.70 and $3.86, finding strong volume support at the $3.755 level.

A notable bullish momentum emerged with price surging 1.9% on above-average volume, establishing resistance at $3.850.

The formation of higher lows throughout the latter part of the day suggests consolidation above the $3.775 support level.

Technical Analysis Highlights

SUI established a 24-hour trading range of 0.165 (4.46%) between the low of 3.700 and high of 3.862.
Strong volume support emerged at the 3.755 level during hours 17-18, with accumulation exceeding the 24-hour volume average by 45%.
Notable bullish momentum occurred in the 20:00 hour with price surging 7.2 cents (1.9%) on above-average volume.
Resistance established at 3.850 with higher lows forming throughout the latter part of the day.
Decreasing volatility in the final hours suggests consolidation above the 3.775 support level.
Significant buyer interest appeared between 01:27-01:30, forming a strong support zone at 3.756-3.760 with exceptionally high volume (over 300,000 units per minute).
Decisive bullish reversal began at 01:42, establishing a series of higher lows and higher highs.
Breakout above 3.780 occurred at 01:55, followed by consolidation near 3.785 with decreasing volume.