H.R. 9276

[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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