H.R. 9276 — Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Enforcement and Coordination Act

This section states congressional findings that cryptocurrency theft has increased in frequency, scale, and sophistication, resulting in financial harm and creating challenges involving fraud, hacking, and other federal crimes. It finds that victims face fragmented responses from federal, state, and local authorities due to the absence of a centralized coordination mechanism, and that state and local agencies lack guidance, training, and federal points of contact.

This section establishes the Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Task Force within the Department of Justice. The Task Force is chaired by the Attorney General and includes senior representatives from the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security (including Homeland Security Investigations), the Department of the Treasury (including the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network), and other federal law enforcement agencies designated by the Attorney General. It operates under the Attorney General’s authorities in title 18 of the United States Code and other applicable federal criminal statutes.

This section directs the cryptocurrency theft task force to serve as the primary Federal coordinating body for preventing, investigating, and prosecuting cryptocurrency theft and related crimes; improve coordination among Federal law enforcement agencies; develop and share best practices on evidence collection, asset tracing, and victim engagement with Federal, State, and local agencies; provide technical assistance and training to State and local law enforcement; facilitate information sharing across Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial agencies; report enforcement gaps and reform recommendations to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees; and coordinate with international partners on cross-border cases.

This section directs the Task Force to conduct regular outreach to state and local law enforcement agencies to improve investigative coordination and referral processes for cryptocurrency theft cases. It specifies that participation by state, local, tribal, or territorial governments remains voluntary.

This section defines cryptocurrency theft for purposes of the Act as the intentional unauthorized or unlawful use or transfer of a person’s cryptocurrency that constitutes an offense under title 18, United States Code, including gaining access by fraudulent means such as hacking, phishing, tricking, or scamming.

This section requires the Attorney General to submit an annual report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, beginning one year after enactment. The report must summarize Task Force activities, identify trends and emerging threats involving cryptocurrency theft and related crimes, assess coordination with state and local law enforcement, and recommend legislative or administrative actions to improve investigation and prosecution.

This section limits the interpretation of the Act by providing that nothing in it authorizes the regulation of cryptocurrency, digital asset markets, financial institutions, or financial products; expands or limits the regulatory authority of any Federal agency; creates any new criminal offenses; or creates any private right of action.