DOJ Strike Force Recovers $578M in Crypto Assets
The U.S. Department of Justice announced it has frozen and seized over $578 million in digital assets connected to Chinese transnational criminal organizations. The operation targeted widespread fraud that used websites and social media platforms to defraud U.S. residents. These actions were carried out by the District of Columbia’s Scam Center Strike Force, a specialized unit established in November under the direction of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
Pirro confirmed that the primary objective is to liquidate the seized assets and return the capital to the scams' victims. This indicates the funds will likely not be transferred to the U.S. government's strategic Bitcoin stockpile, which currently holds an estimated 328,372 BTC from prior criminal forfeitures.
Through the legal process, my Office will seek to forfeit these funds and return them to victims to the maximum extent possible.
— Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney
Seizure Follows 1,400% Rise in Impersonation Scams
This major enforcement action addresses a dramatic escalation in crypto-related crime. According to blockchain intelligence firm Chainalysis, the volume of impersonation scams, including pig butchering schemes, exploded by 1,400% year-over-year in 2025. The financial impact on victims also intensified, with the average amount stolen per incident climbing 600% during the same period.
Federal prosecutors and courts are imposing stricter penalties to combat the trend. In a related case earlier this month, a U.S. judge sentenced an individual to 20 years in prison for orchestrating a crypto scam that defrauded victims of more than $73 million, signaling a low tolerance for such criminal enterprises.
