Enforcement Actions

An American court ruled to forfeit more than $600,000 in USDT, stemming from a physical letter phishing scam targeting Ledger users. After receiving the disguised letter, the victims leaked their seed phrases, and their funds were stolen. The scammers tried to conceal the funds through multiple transfers and conversion methods, but the transparency of the blockchain helped the police track the path of the fund movements. They then successfully recovered the funds through a civil forfeiture proceeding.

Bitcoin (BTC) gives back this week’s gains, temporarily trading at around $66,780 on April 3. Bitcoin miner MARA cut 15% of its workforce, shifting its strategy toward energy and digital infrastructure. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic says North Korean hackers may exploit a vulnerability in the Drift Protocol to profit $286 million.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a lawsuit on April 3 against Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois, reaffirming its exclusive jurisdiction over event contracts and prediction markets, and seeking to have federal courts bar state-level interference with prediction market activities that comply with federal regulations.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as Acting Attorney General, and dissolved the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, issuing a memorandum to halt regulatory enforcement against the crypto industry. When Blanche signed this memorandum, he still held crypto assets, which allegedly violated ethical standards and sparked legal disputes; whether transferring his assets into his family’s name can eliminate the conflict of interest remains controversial.

The Trump administration has recently intervened in a lawsuit involving the CFTC and the regulators of gambling in three states, challenging the states’ authority to regulate prediction markets. The CFTC argues that, under the Commodity Exchange Act, it has exclusive jurisdiction over these markets, and accuses the states of overstepping their authority in an attempt to change the nature of the wagering event contracts. This lawsuit reflects regulatory actions by 11 states regarding prediction markets, each facing different legal challenges. If a federal court sides with the CFTC, it will help provide legal protection for prediction markets; otherwise, it will increase operational uncertainty.

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has once again slammed Circle and its CEO, Jeremy Allaire, following alleged inaction during the $280 million exploit tied to Drift Protocol. He described the entire fiasco as a critical delay in response as funds were actively moved across chains. Circle Under

The Trump administration is suing Illinois, Connecticut, Arizona, and their gaming regulators over the federal government’s right to regulate prediction markets. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the US Department of Justice filed separate lawsuits on Thursday against the three st

The Drift Protocol exploit on April 1, 2026, drained $285 million through admin control, triggering a sharp decline in Solana DeFi. Attackers manipulated oracle pricing and governance, leading to rapid asset withdrawals and cross-chain fund transfers, complicating recovery efforts.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the State of Illinois from regulating prediction markets, arguing that the state’s actions infringe on federal regulatory authority. This case marks the CFTC’s first legal action to challenge state-level gambling regulation. The dispute began when Illinois issued a cease-and-desist order to the prediction market Kalshi, alleging it violated the state’s gambling laws.

Gate News update: On April 2, according to market sources, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against the state of Illinois, its governor, and its attorney general, alleging that they tried to regulate prediction markets beyond their legal authority. The two federal agencies said the relevant regulatory measures in Illinois are ineffective because the state government has no jurisdiction over federally regulated prediction markets. The complaint documents emphasized that the move is intended to protect innovative financial instruments from overreaching interference by local governments.

Taiwan’s Executive Yuan approved the draft of the “Virtual Asset Services Act,” establishing regulatory requirements and penalties for virtual asset service providers and stablecoin issuers, emphasizing market stability and protection for traders. The draft clearly sets licensing requirements for industry operators, stablecoin issuance rules, and bans on market manipulation. In addition, it will promote the gradual opening of virtual asset derivatives, initially focusing on institutions with capital and risk-control capabilities.

Ledger wallet was scammed, US authorities recover over $600,000 The U.S. Attorney's Office in Connecticut has seized more than $600,000 in crypto from a scam targeting Ledger users, tightening on-chain cash flow risks. Ledger wallet appears at the center of a recent crypto scam just exposed by U.S. authorities

Resolv Labs updated users on the recent exploit that minted 80 million USR tokens. While whitelisted holders have largely redeemed their tokens, non-whitelisted users and RLP holders face delays. Investigations found no insider involvement, but recovery remains uncertain.

Li Xiong, a core member of the Taizi Group, has been escorted back to China on suspicion of multiple crimes. Since 2021, the Huiwang Pay company he established in Cambodia has been involved in large-scale cryptocurrency transactions, becoming the largest online illegal marketplace.

Chainalysis research reports that organizations linked to Russia and Iran have been buying low-cost drones and accessories through cryptocurrencies to bypass Western sanctions. Since 2022, pro-Russia groups have raised more than $8.3 million, and wallets associated with Iran show transactions with suppliers in Hong Kong. Although the anonymity of cryptocurrencies helps evade monitoring, blockchain transparency provides important leads for investigations.

Former FTX engineer Nishad Singh agreed to pay a $3.7 million penalty to the CFTC to resolve its regulatory issues stemming from the FTX collapse. This case highlights the growing accountability that regulators are demanding from the digital asset industry, as well as the importance of internal industry cooperation in reducing legal risk. Singh’s cooperation demonstrates the impact that transparency and compliance can have on the industry’s development, reminding executives that they must take legal responsibility seriously as they grow.

Li Xiong was extradited back to China from Cambodia, involving a cross-border money laundering case tied to the $4 billion Weiwang Group. The case has exposed the links between the Southeast Asian scam industry chain and crypto funds. Experts noted that the group, as a scam infrastructure provider, supports online scams and the movement of funds. Despite intensified international crackdown efforts, the money-laundering network remains highly adaptable, making it extremely difficult to trace.

Taiwanese investigators and prosecutors cracked the first Polymarket cryptocurrency election betting case, arresting two bettors. Because they admitted their wrongdoing, they were granted deferred prosecution, and authorities reminded the public not to place illegal bets. The case shows that identity can be verified through tracing the flow of funds, emphasizes the Election and Recall Law’s provisions and potential criminal liability, and calls on the public to comply with the law.

In 2026, Russia will accelerate cryptocurrency regulatory reforms to address fiscal pressure. It plans to ban citizens from trading on platforms without local authorization and to strengthen taxation on licensed entities. Regulators intend to restrict access to overseas platforms through technical means, but industry insiders are cautious about the policy’s fiscal impact.