US DOJ Targets $5M in Bitcoin Stolen via SIM Swap Attacks

Federal prosecutors strike at crypto crime—seizing millions in ill-gotten Bitcoin from sophisticated SIM swap schemes.

How They Did It

Attackers bypassed two-factor authentication by hijacking victims' phone numbers, then drained crypto wallets—racking up a cool $5 million in stolen Bitcoin before the DOJ stepped in.

Why It Matters

This isn’t just another seizure—it’s a signal. Regulators are closing in on crypto crooks, even as traditional finance still can’t tell a hardware wallet from a leather billfold.

Bottom Line: Crime might not pay, but at least it’s keeping the feds busy.

DOJ to Sell $6.5B Seized Silk Road Bitcoin After Court Ruling

The DOJ is consistently working towards managing Bitcoin-related crimes. It also recently cited the cryptocurrency’s price volatility as a key reason for seeking a prompt sale to mitigate risks from market fluctuations. A US federal judge on Dec 30 approved selling 69,370 seized Bitcoins ($6.5B) from the DOJ, ending ownership disputes over assets from the infamous Silk Road dark web site, known for drugs and hacking.

Also Read: crypto Industry Lost Over $163M in Hacks Last Month: PeckShield