Trump says DOJ has frozen nearly $1 billion in scam-linked crypto

President Donald Trump announced on October 21, 2026, that federal authorities have frozen nearly $1 billion in crypto tied to foreign scam operations. The precise figure comes from the Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force. As of October 15, 2026, it had restrained $938,460,156.82 in crypto. Trump made the announcement during a White House roundtable on cybercrime. He framed the freeze as one piece of a wider campaign against online fraud. What the government says it has done Beyond the frozen funds, Trump said federal authorities have prevented at least $1.6 billion in losses so far this year. He also said more than 500 fraudulent websites have been taken down. The Strike Force puts that website count at 503 fraudulent crypto investment sites seized or disrupted since its launch in November 2025. FBI Director Kash Patel said 20 scam compounds have been dismantled. The Strike Force has also warned people before the money left their accounts. Warnings have gone out to more than 10,000 Americans judged likely to become victims, while Patel cited an earlier figure of approximately 9,000. That early-warning approach has measurable results attached. As of March 2026, targete...