Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
Policy
Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
Most Influential: Todd Blanche
The crypto i
Policy
Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
Most Influential: Todd Blanche
The crypto i
Most Influential: Todd Blanche
Most Influential: Todd Blanche
The crypto industry praised a memo signed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche directing the Department of Justice to end “regulation by prosecution.”
By Nikhilesh De|Edited by Cheyenne Ligon
Updated Dec 15, 2025, 3:09 p.m. Published Dec 15, 2025, 3:00 p.m.
A four-page memo signed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche directed the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to exercise more discretion in prosecuting crypto cases by ceasing any cases that “superimpose regulatory frameworks on digital assets” until regulatory agencies craft new frameworks for the sector.
This feature is a part of CoinDesk's Most Influential 2025 list.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the State of Crypto Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Sign me up
It was a memo praised by the crypto industry, even as it raised concerns that the DOJ might go easy on fraud or other criminal activities. Attorneys said in April, after the memo was published, that they did not expect the DOJ to actually take it easy on clearly fraudulent actions, but rather, that the DOJ would wait for clarity from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or Commodity Futures Trading Commission to more clearly define how different crypto assets might fall under the definition of a security or commodity.
On a practical level, it’s difficult to gauge what sort of impact the memo actually had. It’s impossible to know how many cases the DOJ might have brought but for the memo, and in ongoing cases, prosecutors largely said the memo did not apply.
Defense attorneys representing Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill asked a judge to toss out the case against the Samourai Wallet developers, citing the memo; both ultimately pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and were sentenced to five and four years in federal prison, respectively. Prosecutors pursuing charges against Terra/Luna creator Do Kwon said the memo did not apply to their case; he later pleaded guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud charges and was sentenced last week to 15 years in prison.
In the one case where prosecutors acknowledged modifying their case due to the memo, the case against Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, the DOJ only dropped one part of one charge; Storm was still convicted on a conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitter business charge and will be sentenced in the coming months.
Still, Blanche’s memo signaled a shift in how the DOJ might approach crypto cases, reflecting a broader change within the federal government under current President Donald Trump, which became far more crypto-friendly than former President Joe Biden’s administration.
DOJTornado CashPresident TrumpCoinDesk Most Influential 2025
More For You
Protocol Research: GoPlus Security
Commissioned byGoPlus
What to know:
- As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
- GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
- Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.
View Full Report
More For You
Most Influential: Roman Storm
The Tornado Cash developer’s trial this summer is evidence that the crypto industry is still severely lacking regulatory clarity.
Read full story
Latest Crypto News
BONK Slides Toward Lower Range as Volatility Expands
Strive Hikes Preferred Share Dividend Rate as Bitcoin Treasury Companies Continue to Plunge
TON Extends Slide, Drops More Than Broader Crypto Market
Bitcoin Miner IREN’s 47% Slide Flagged as a Buying Opportunity by B. Riley
Prediction Markets Are Quietly Turning Into a New Asset Class, Citizens Says
Most Influential: Pavel Durov
Top Stories
Crypto's 'Best Days Are Ahead': Tom Lee's Bitmine Immersion Adds $320M of Ether
Michael Saylor's Strategy Made Second Consecutive $1B Bitcoin Purchase Last Week
JPMorgan Launches Tokenized Money Market Fund on Ethereum as Wall Street Moves Onchain
Bitcoin's Parabolic Arc Snaps: Trader Peter Brandt Eyes $25K Crash Floor
Doha Bank Issues $150M Digital Bond Using Euroclear’s DLT Platform
UK Plans to Start Regulating Cryptocurrency in 2027
Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact service@support.mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.
You May Also Like
Digitap Raises Over $4M: A Comparison with DeepSnitch AI
Both DeepSnitch AI and Digitap ($TAP) have been highlighted within some crypto communities for their distinct approaches. Although the two coins take a very different
Share
Crypto Ninjas2026/01/18 23:42
Crypto Executives Advocate for U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Legislation
Crypto execs, led by Michael Saylor, push for the U.S. to acquire 1 million BTC, establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Crypto executives, led by Strategy co-founder Michael Saylor, have gathered in Washington to advocate for a new piece of legislation. This bill, known as the BITCOIN Act, proposes the establishment of a U.S. Strategic […] The post Crypto Executives Advocate for U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Legislation appeared first on Live Bitcoin News.
Share
LiveBitcoinNews2025/09/18 05:00
The Economics of Self-Isolation: A Game-Theoretic Analysis of Contagion in a Free Economy
Exploring how the costs of a pandemic can lead to a self-enforcing lockdown in a networked economy, analyzing the resulting changes in network structure and the existence of stable equilibria.
Share
Hackernoon2025/09/17 23:00