Senators Challenge DOJ’s Crypto Unit Shutdown Amid Ethics Concerns
Six U.S. senators have accused Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche of potential ethics violations following his April 2025 decision to disband the Justice Department's National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET). The lawmakers allege Blanche maintained substantial cryptocurrency holdings during the dissolution—a MOVE that coincided with high-profile cases involving Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao.
The NCET, established in 2022, spearheaded complex crypto investigations including Binance's $4.3 billion settlement for anti-money laundering violations. Senators argue the unit's closure creates enforcement gaps as crypto-related crimes surge 217% year-over-year according to Chainalysis data.
Blanche's financial disclosures revealed holdings in BTC, ETH, and SOL through Coinbase and Binance accounts—assets he claimed were divested before the NCET decision. Forensic blockchain analysts dispute the timeline.
