DOJ Flags Three Crypto Cases in 'America First' Push Against Fraud
The U.S. Department of Justice’s 2025 Year in Review highlights increased enforcement against fraud involving cryptocurrencies, reflecting their growing role in traditional schemes. In 2025, prosecutors charged 265 defendants with intended fraud losses exceeding $16 billion—more than double the previous year. The Fraud Section, which includes units targeting various types of fraud, reports an uptick in crimes leveraging digital assets. Notable cases include a $1 billion Medicare scam involving medically unnecessary procedures and the seizure of over $7.2 million in assets, including crypto. The DOJ’s largest National Health Care Fraud Takedown resulted in 324 people charged and $245 million seized, including cryptocurrency. Additionally, Wolf Capital’s former CEO received a five-year sentence for a $9.4 million crypto investment scam. Lawmakers are responding with proposals like the bipartisan SAFE Crypto Act to combat crypto fraud, while officials and experts note rapid escalation—particularly via AI-enabled schemes and industrial money laundering networks—driving urgency for new regulation and faster enforcement.
