Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Enforcement and Coordination Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9276
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-29T18:01:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
## Purpose The legislation establishes a centralized Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Task Force within the Department of Justice to improve coordination among federal agencies in preventing, investigating, and prosecuting cryptocurrency theft and related crimes. It addresses fragmented responses by state and local authorities and provides support to those agencies.
## Key Provisions
- Task Force Creation: Forms the Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Task Force, chaired by the Attorney General or designee, with senior representatives from the Department of Justice, FBI, Department of Homeland Security (including Homeland Security Investigations), Department of the Treasury (including FinCEN), and other agencies as determined by the Attorney General.
- Duties: Serves as the main federal body for coordination; develops best practices for evidence handling, asset tracing, and victim support; offers training and technical assistance to state and local agencies; shares information across federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial levels; reports enforcement gaps to Congress; and coordinates with international partners on cross-border cases.
- State and Local Support: Requires outreach to state and local law enforcement for better referrals and coordination, with participation remaining voluntary.
- Definition: Defines "cryptocurrency theft" as the intentional unauthorized or unlawful use or transfer of cryptocurrency that violates federal criminal law under title 18 of the U.S. Code, including acts via hacking, phishing, or scams.
- Reporting: Mandates annual reports to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees covering task force activities, trends in theft, state and local coordination, and recommendations for improvements.
- Limitations: Explicitly states the Act does not regulate cryptocurrency markets, expand agency regulatory powers, create new criminal offenses, or establish private rights to sue.
## Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill creates a new coordinating task force but introduces no alterations to existing criminal statutes or regulatory frameworks. The rule of construction section reinforces that the measure operates solely under current authorities in title 18 and does not broaden or restrict any agency's powers.
## Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enhances collaboration among federal law enforcement entities, potentially streamlining investigations and prosecutions while providing structured guidance to state and local partners.
- Citizens: May improve response times and consistency for victims of cryptocurrency theft through better training and information sharing, though participation by non-federal agencies is optional.
- International Relations: Facilitates cooperation with foreign law enforcement on cross-border cases without altering treaties or diplomatic structures.
## Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies including the Department of Justice, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Treasury Department.
- State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.
- Victims of cryptocurrency theft and related digital asset crimes.
- Congressional committees overseeing judiciary matters.
## Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The legislation focuses enforcement on existing federal criminal laws without creating new offenses or regulatory oversight, preserving separation between criminal enforcement and financial regulation. It emphasizes voluntary coordination to avoid mandating state involvement, which aligns with federalism principles. Annual reporting requirements promote congressional oversight of emerging digital asset threats.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Federal Cryptocurrency Theft Enforcement and Coordination Act — issued 2026-06-11 — PDF (6 pages)