Cryptocurrency seizures top $580M as U.S. strike force acts

What the Scam Center Strike Force does against pig-butchering crypto scams

A newly formed Scam Center Strike Force in Washington, D.C. targets pig-butchering crypto scams through coordinated criminal prosecutions, asset recovery, and infrastructure takedowns. Its mandate centers on disrupting cross-border fraud pipelines and prioritizing victim protection.

The Strike Force applies criminal and civil forfeiture to identify, freeze, seize, and forfeit cryptocurrency tied to fraud. Investigators also pursue the online infrastructure scammers use, including domains and related services, to impede ongoing operations.

The effort pairs courtroom actions with coordination across financial institutions, telecoms, and technology platforms to improve detection, reporting, and prevention of scam activity. The goal is to increase friction for illicit actors while improving prospects for fund recovery.

Why it matters now: $580M seizures, OFAC actions, victim focus

Freezes and seizures of cryptocurrency tied to these schemes have surpassed roughly $580 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Officials link these actions to pig-butchering crypto scams that target Americans through long-game social engineering.

The scale of recent cryptocurrency seizures indicates both the growth of organized scam operations and a shift toward faster, data-driven enforcement. Authorities have also emphasized a victim-centered approach, noting that sophisticated manipulation, not victim error, drives losses.

Consumer advocates frame the campaign as both a fraud and national-security imperative. “A major win for consumers,” said John Breyault of the National Consumers League, commending a stronger focus on accountability and restitution.

Enforcement coordination and what victims should do next

How to report scams and pursue potential restitution

Effective case building typically depends on clear documentation, including transaction hashes, wallet addresses, payment confirmations, and records of communications. Consistent, time-stamped narratives of how contact was initiated and escalated can help investigators map networks and attribute wallets.

When authorities freeze or seize digital assets, subsequent forfeiture proceedings may create avenues for victims to be identified and considered for restitution. Timeframes and outcomes vary by case, and officials caution that recovery is not guaranteed.

How OFAC sanctions and DKBA designations disrupt scam centers

The Office of Foreign Assets Control designated the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army and related entities for connections to scam centers in Burma. Such sanctions can block property subject to U.S. jurisdiction and restrict dealings by U.S. persons, limiting access to financial rails.

Designations raise compliance risks for intermediaries, discouraging banks, payment platforms, and exchanges from facilitating transactions tied to listed actors. As screening intensifies, moving funds becomes costlier and more visible to investigators, complementing criminal and forfeiture actions.

At the time of this writing, Bitcoin  BTC +0.00% trades around $65,880 with high volatility near 9.08% and a neutral RSI reading near 42, while sentiment indicators skew bearish. This market context does not alter enforcement priorities described above.