US DOJ Seeks $25M in Crypto Tied to International Scams

July 22, 2026 · Regulation · CryptoRefuge Team

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed five civil forfeiture complaints seeking more than $25 million in crypto allegedly tied to international investment, romance, and recovery scams targeting victims in Canada and the United States. The complaints aim to recover crypto funds linked to scams that have affected over 142,000 victims worldwide, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars.

$25 million in crypto is being sought by the US DOJ in the forfeiture complaints.

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A single crypto wallet processed over $122.5 million in crypto over a period of 10 months, highlighting the scale of the scams. The operation, which involved coordination with Interpol and Thai authorities, has led to the identification of over 200 victims of romance schemes and the tracing of $10.4 million to suspected victim transactions. The operation has also resulted in the interception of $283 million in illicit assets and the blocking of over 31,000 bank accounts.

Analysis: If the US DOJ is successful in its forfeiture complaints, it could set a precedent for future cases involving crypto and international scams. The recovery of millions of dollars in crypto could provide relief for victims who have lost significant amounts of money. The impact on the broader crypto market is likely to be limited, as the forfeiture complaints are focused on specific cases of fraud rather than the crypto market as a whole.

The US DOJ's efforts to combat international scams and recover crypto funds will likely continue, with the agency working closely with international partners to identify and prosecute those involved in such scams. As the use of crypto grows, regulators and law enforcement agencies will increase their focus on combating crypto-related crimes. The next step will be to watch how the forfeiture complaints proceed and whether the US DOJ is successful in recovering the crypto funds.