U.S. records a record surge in crypto-related crime

Key points:

• The U.S. Department of Justice has reported a sharp rise in fraud involving cryptocurrencies, with record-level damage to the economy.
• Digital assets are increasingly used in large-scale schemes, including healthcare fraud and investment scams.
• Authorities and lawmakers are stepping up pressure on the market by drafting new laws and regulatory measures.

The U.S. Department of Justice has released its 2025 report highlighting several major fraud cases in which cryptocurrencies played a central role. According to the agency, digital assets are now routinely embedded in traditional criminal schemes, prompting a significant escalation in enforcement efforts.

Source: X.com

Last year was a record-breaking one for federal prosecutors. Charges were brought against 265 defendants, with total losses exceeding $16 billion—more than double the previous year’s figure. Many of these cases involved the seizure of cryptocurrency alongside cash and other assets.

Cryptocurrency in major fraud schemes

The report stresses that cryptocurrency is increasingly present in large-scale fraud operations. One high-profile case involved a healthcare fraud scheme valued at roughly $1 billion. Prosecutors allege that the defendants carried out medically unnecessary procedures on elderly and terminally ill patients, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent Medicare payments. Authorities seized assets during the investigation, including cryptocurrency.

The report also references the sentencing of Travis Ford, former CEO of Wolf Capital. He was sentenced to five years in prison for a $9.4 million crypto investment fraud that affected around 2,800 investors, who had been promised consistent daily returns.

The tougher enforcement stance comes alongside new legislative efforts. In Congress, lawmakers have introduced the bipartisan SAFE Crypto Act, which calls for the creation of a federal task force to coordinate efforts to reduce cryptocurrency-related fraud.

FBI: Crypto fraud losses up 66% year-over-year to $9,3 billion

In 2024, the bureau received over 140 000 complaints

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At the same time, state officials are pushing for stricter rules. In New York, authorities warned that unlicensed crypto operations are fueling a shadow economy worth tens of billions of dollars.

Experts say the main challenge is the speed at which these crimes now unfold. According to TRM Labs, AI-driven fraud has surged by roughly 500%. Criminal groups no longer act randomly, instead relying on highly optimized systems that can steal and launder funds within hours. Analysts warn that these technologies will pose the greatest challenge for law enforcement in the years ahead.