Reported No formal allegation
The DOJ disbanded its national crypto enforcement team; the deputy attorney general who signed the memo disclosed personal crypto holdings
The April 7, 2025 Blanche memo said DOJ 'is not a digital assets regulator'; his OGE disclosure lists $159,000–$485,000 in crypto-related assets.
Events: 2025-04-07 · Published 2026-07-21 · Last verified 2026-07-21 · Record claim-reg-ncet-disband
On April 7, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a memo disbanding the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, effective immediately, writing that DOJ 'is not a digital assets regulator.' ProPublica reported that Blanche's own OGE disclosure lists between $159,000 and $485,000 in crypto-related assets, and quoted ethics experts arguing the policy decision conflicted with the federal conflicts statute and his ethics agreement. Senators Durbin, Hirono, and Warren formally objected to the disbandment.
What this establishes
- The disbandment of the DOJ's dedicated crypto enforcement unit, and the memo's stated rationale.
- That the official who signed the memo disclosed personal crypto holdings, per his public filing as reported by ProPublica.
What this does not establish
- That Blanche traded on non-public information or acted to benefit his own holdings.
- An adjudicated ethics violation; ProPublica's legal analysis is expert opinion, not a ruling.
Amounts
| What | Amount | Precision | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crypto-related assets disclosed on Blanche's OGE filing (ProPublica) | $159,000 – $485,000 | disclosure / reported range | ProPublica |
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Public response on record
“Blanche framed the disbandment as compliance with the President's January executive order on digital assets and a reallocation toward fraud and terrorism cases where digital assets are used as a tool. DOJ has not publicly addressed the ProPublica findings.”
— Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, per the memo as reported by The Guardian · source
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Direct right-of-reply status
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On the timeline
- 2025-04-07 Official acts DOJ disbands the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team
Adjacency on a timeline shows order in time only. It does not establish that one event caused another.
Correction status
No corrections have been issued for this record. Corrections are append-only and listed on the corrections page.