In a bold move that’s sending shockwaves through U.S. crypto policy, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has shut down its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET)—a group once at the heart of the government’s crackdown on the crypto space.

An internal memo dated April 7, leaked to crypto.news, confirms that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche—a former Trump lawyer—has officially disbanded the unit, signaling a dramatic rollback of what he called “regulation by prosecution.”

From Crackdowns to Criminal Focus

The NCET was behind some of the biggest legal moves in crypto—remember the $4.3 billion Binance settlement? That was them.

But under the new directive, DOJ will only investigate crypto use in major crimes like:

• Terrorism funding
  
• Drug or human trafficking
  
• Organized crime
  
• Cybercrime
  

No more going after devs, exchanges, or mixers just because users did something shady or because someone forgot to file the right paperwork.

Developers Can Breathe Again

In a big win for open-source builders, the DOJ will no longer charge developers for how people use their code—unless there’s proof of intent to defraud.

“It’s not a crime to write code,” Blanche said, according to the memo. “And we’re done treating it like one.”

He also emphasized that cases related to securities or banking rules should only move forward if there’s clear willful misconduct—a big pivot from the previous admin’s approach.

Trump’s Executive Order Changed Everything

The DOJ’s shift traces back to a recent Trump executive order, which affirms Americans’ right to use open blockchain networks without fear of government retaliation.

This comes as Trump openly courts the crypto crowd ahead of the election—and following reports that his family holds a 75% stake in blockchain startup World Liberty Financial.

Community Reaction: Devs Cheer, Critics Caution

Crypto Twitter is celebrating, especially builders and DeFi teams who’ve long feared legal blowback over protocol misuse. For many, this feels like a long-overdue win.

But not everyone’s convinced. Some policy experts warn this could open the door to scams and rug pulls, especially without new laws to fill the enforcement gap.

Where Does This Leave Crypto in the U.S.?

With the DOJ backing off, crypto in the U.S. is officially entering a new era. One with more room for innovation—but maybe fewer guardrails.

Is this the regulatory reset devs have been hoping for—or the calm before a new wave of chaos? Stay tuned.