The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan plans to reduce its focus on cryptocurrency-related crimes. This decision follows a series of major legal victories, according to Scott Hartman, co-chief of the securities and commodities task force at the Southern District of New York (SDNY). These include the high-profile conviction of Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of FTX.
Manhattan US Attorney to Focus Less on Crypto Fraud Amid Leadership Shift
The Manhattan US Attorney’s Office will now slow down on enforcing cases of cryptocurrency scams after it had increased its activity in the previous year. Scott Hartman made this admission during a conference held in New York stating that fewer prosecutors will now be focusing on these kinds of crimes.
He mentioned that the office had dealt with many of the severe fraud issues arising from the market volatility during the 2022 cryptocurrency winter.
Moreover, Hartman clarified that the reduced focus reflects the office’s strategic realignment. This shift comes as other regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), maintain their active roles in monitoring crypto regulations.
Ex-SEC Chair Jay Clayton To Lead Manhattan Attorney’s Office
The cuts in resources for crypto cases occur when there is likely to be a change in leadership at the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office. The new front-runner for the position of U.S. Attorney once Trump gets into office is former SEC Chair, Jay Clayton.
Clayton, who was director of the SEC from 2017 to 2021, took a less confrontational stance than current SEC Chair Gary Gensler did. Notably, the crypto community witnessed a heated debate over the SEC leadership criticizing the current administration approach. As such, several crypto enthusiasts including ex-SEC official John Reed Stark demanded that Gary Gensler resign.
The appointment of Clayton suggests a potential recalibration of priorities within the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office. As the office changes its leadership it is expected that it will shift its attention to other general issues concerning securities and commodities.
Even more so, the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office has hit success in several cases involving the crypto business, among them that of SBF, the former head of FTX. All these legal achievements have defined a significant stage in the fight against crypto fraud.
Hartman noted that the successful handling of major cases allowed the office to adjust its allocation of resources. Moving forward, fewer prosecutors will be tasked with investigating cryptocurrency crimes as the office prioritizes other enforcement.
Despite reducing its focus, the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office emphasized ongoing collaboration with agencies like the SEC and CFTC. Hartman acknowledged that these regulatory bodies ensure continued oversight and enforcement against unlawful activities. This cooperative approach aims to maintain accountability while enabling the office to concentrate on a wider range of legal priorities.
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