Digital Currency Crimes Coordinator: DOJ has no broad agenda against bitcoin

Bitcoin and blockchain technology is gradually gaining acceptance among masses. But, despite its expanded use, it continues to be widely used for illegal activities, particularly dark web market places.

Kathryn Haun has been appointed as the first Digital Currency Crimes Coordinator by the Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California (DOJ) this June. The position finds Haun heading up a multi-agency task force in San Francisco that includes representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Secret Service (USSS), among several other federal and state organizations.

Speaking to CoinDesk, Haun clarifies some of the common misconceptions among the cryptocurrency enthusiasts. She emphasized that the DOJ and others involved in policing financial crimes have finite resources, and are not engaged in pursuing a broad agenda against bitcoin. She suggested that the department she works for and the cryptocurrency community share a common ground, arguing that a safer environment for consumers, with clear regulations to separate bad entities, is in the best interest of all.

Haun told CoinDesk, "Everyone benefits from clarity. The players in the ecosystem, the businesses, the government – everyone benefits from knowing which laws and regulations apply for digital currency and how those laws apply."

She said the task force started as an informal group of government agents who needed to better understand how to navigate the complexities of investigating and prosecuting crimes in this environment. Early questions focused on subjects ranging from how Tor mail accounts worked to best practices for seizure warrants for cases involving bitcoin.

Haun is also trying to bring together law enforcement officials with members of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. However, she stressed that such professional outreach aims to unite participants in both fields toward common goals for the public good.

Haun concluded: "We have to be able to do our job irrespective of whether we face criticism. We can't shy away from prosecutions that might be unpopular. Our job is to pursue justice and enforce the law."