Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Enforcement and Coordination Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9276 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9276

To establish the Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Task Force, and for other
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 11, 2026

 Mr. Gooden (for himself, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Owens, and Ms. Wasserman
   Schultz) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To establish the Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Task Force, and for other
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Cryptocurrency Theft
Enforcement and Coordination Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Cryptocurrency theft and related digital asset crimes
        have increased in frequency, scale, and sophistication,
        resulting in significant financial harm to individuals,
        businesses, and communities across the United States.
            (2) Cryptocurrency theft has created a criminal justice and
        law enforcement challenge involving fraud, hacking, theft,
        conspiracy, and other violations of Federal criminal law.
            (3) Victims of cryptocurrency theft frequently encounter
        fragmented and inconsistent responses from Federal, State, and
        local authorities due to the absence of a centralized Federal
        coordination mechanism.
            (4) State and local law enforcement agencies often lack
        clear guidance, training, and Federal points of contact for
        responding to cryptocurrency theft incidents.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL CRYPTOCURRENCY THEFT TASK FORCE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established within the Department of
Justice a task force to be known as the Federal Cryptocurrency Theft
Task Force (in this Act, referred to as ``Task Force'').
    (b) Leadership.--The Task Force shall be chaired by the Attorney
General, or the Attorney General's designee.
    (c) Membership.--The Task Force shall include senior
representatives from--
            (1) the Department of Justice;
            (2) the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
            (3) the Department of Homeland Security, including Homeland
        Security Investigations;
            (4) the Department of the Treasury, including the Financial
        Crimes Enforcement Network; and
            (5) any other Federal law enforcement agency the Attorney
        General determines appropriate.
    (d) Criminal Law Focus.--The Task Force shall operate consistent
with the Attorney General's authorities under title 18, United States
Code, and other applicable Federal criminal statutes.

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE.

    The Task Force shall--
            (1) serve as the primary Federal coordinating body for the
        prevention, investigation, and prosecution of cryptocurrency
        theft and criminal activity directly related to such theft;
            (2) improve coordination among Federal law enforcement
        agencies involved in cryptocurrency theft investigations and
        prosecutions;
            (3) develop and disseminate best practices for Federal,
        State, and local law enforcement agencies related to evidence
        collection, analysis of seized digital evidence for
        cryptocurrency artifacts, investigative techniques, asset
        tracing, and victim engagement in cryptocurrency theft cases;
            (4) provide technical assistance, training, and guidance to
        State and local law enforcement agencies, including
        prosecutors, regarding cryptocurrency theft investigations;
            (5) facilitate information sharing among Federal, State,
        local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies;
            (6) identify and report to the Committees on the Judiciary
        of the House of Representatives and the Senate, any challenges
        and gaps in existing criminal enforcement authorities and
        measures related to cryptocurrency theft along with suggestions
        for reforms to address such challenges; and
            (7) coordinate, as appropriate, with international law
        enforcement partners on cross-border cryptocurrency theft
        investigations.

SEC. 5. STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT COORDINATION.

    (a) Outreach.--The Task Force shall conduct regular outreach to
relevant State and local law enforcement agencies to collect
information to improve investigative coordination and referral
processes related to cryptocurrency theft.
    (b) Voluntary Participation.--Participation by State, local,
Tribal, or territorial governments in activities under this Act shall
be voluntary.

SEC. 6. CRYPTOCURRENCY THEFT DESCRIBED.

    In this Act, the term ``cryptocurrency theft''--
            (1) means the intentional unauthorized or unlawful use or
        transfer of a person's cryptocurrency that constitutes an
        offense under title 18, United States Code; and
            (2) includes gaining access by fraudulent means, including
        hacking, phishing, tricking, or scamming.

SEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and
annually thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the
Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the
Senate that includes--
            (1) a summary of the activities of the Task Force;
            (2) trends and emerging threats related to cryptocurrency
        theft and criminal activity directly related to such theft;
            (3) an assessment of coordination with State and local law
        enforcement agencies; and
            (4) recommendations for legislative or administrative
        actions to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of
        cryptocurrency theft.

SEC. 8. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to--
            (1) authorize the regulation of cryptocurrency, digital
        asset markets, financial institutions, or financial products;
            (2) expand or limit the regulatory authority of any Federal
        agency;
            (3) create any new criminal offenses; or
            (4) create any private right of action.
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