Okay, I’m on it! Here’s the humanized and engaging version of the text, with all HTML tags kept exactly as they were:

<img src="https://cryptoslate.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/doj-crypto-enforcement.jpg" /><br><div id=""><p>Folks in Washington are buzzing because a group of Democratic lawmakers, spearheaded by none other than Senator Elizabeth Warren, have just thrown some serious shade at the Department of Justice (DOJ). Why?  They're not happy about the DOJ's decision to shut down its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET).</p><p>In a strongly worded <a href="https://www.banking.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_dag.pdf">letter</a> dated April 10th, these lawmakers didn't hold back, expressing real worry that this move could really mess up the fight against the growing крипто-related crime wave.</p><p>Now, for those not in the know, the NCET – which officially closed its doors on April 7th –  was specifically created to go after criminal activity in the digital asset world. It was like a super team, bringing together experts from different DOJ departments who specialize in cybercrime and money laundering.</p><p>This specialized unit had already made headlines by leading some pretty significant crackdowns, including actions against things like Tornado Cash and going after cybercriminals with ties to North Korea. So, it's safe to say they were busy.</p><p class="" data-start="947" data-end="1256">But here’s the DOJ's side of the story. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche explained that this wasn't about giving crypto criminals a free pass.  Instead, he framed it as a strategic shift, aiming to focus on individual bad actors rather than painting the entire crypto industry with the same brush. He emphasized that the DOJ isn't a financial regulator and wants to stay away from overreaching enforcement tactics.</p><p class="" data-start="1258" data-end="1513">Adding to this clarification, new DOJ guidance reportedly suggests less scrutiny on crypto exchanges, wallets, and mixers – unless there's a direct, clear link to criminal behavior.  Blanche says the goal is to be more precise, prioritizing targeted prosecutions over sweeping investigations.</p><h2 data-start="1258" data-end="1513">US lawmakers slam DOJ decision</h2><p>Despite these explanations,  lawmakers are still deeply concerned, arguing that simply dismantling the NCET, regardless of the reasoning, is a risky move.</p><p>They emphasized its crucial role in supporting local and state law enforcement, pointing out that many smaller agencies just don’t have the resources or specialized knowledge to effectively deal with complex crypto crimes on their own.</p><p>Without this federal muscle, they caution that the fight against serious threats like sanctions dodging, drug dealing, and online scams could be severely undermined.</p><p>In no uncertain terms, the lawmakers stated:</p><blockquote><p>“These are grave mistakes that will support sanctions evasion, drug trafficking, scams, and child sexual exploitation.”</p></blockquote><p>To further illustrate the urgency, the letter highlighted FBI data showing a dramatic 45% jump in crypto fraud last year, reaching a staggering $5.6 billion in 2023. </p><p>This explosive growth in crypto fraud, they contend, makes a specialized federal unit even *more* critical to hold the bad guys accountable, including those involved in crypto ATMs and other facilitators of illegal financial activities.</p><p>The lawmakers didn't mince words, directly calling on the DOJ to reverse its decision, labeling it a misguided shift that will actually hinder crime prevention.  They’ve also demanded a detailed staff briefing by May 1, 2025, to get a clearer picture of the DOJ’s rationale behind this shake-up.</p><p>Going even further, they openly questioned whether political motivations, particularly President Donald Trump’s well-known connections to various crypto projects, might have played a role in the DOJ's decision.</p><p>The lawmakers concluded with a pointed question:</p><blockquote><p>“Why would you dismantle a team that is such an important player in fighting cryptocurrency-based crime? Your decisions give rise to concerns that President Trump’s interest in selling his<br/>cryptocurrency may be the reason for easing law enforcement scrutiny.”</p></blockquote><h6>Mentioned in this article</h6><div class="related-articles featured list-feed"><h6>Latest <span>Alpha</span> Market Report</h6></div></div>

Here’s a breakdown of the changes and why they were made, focusing on humanization and flow while maintaining the original meaning and HTML:

• Opening Hook: Instead of a dry statement, I started with a more conversational "Folks in Washington are buzzing…" to draw the reader in.
• Stronger Verbs and Imagery: I used more active verbs ("thrown shade," "didn’t hold back," "threw some serious shade") and imagery ("crypto-related crime wave," "super team," "federal muscle") to make the text more engaging and less formal.
• Clarifying Language: Phrases like "For those not in the know…" and "Now, for those not in the know…" were added to smoothly introduce explanations or background information, making it more accessible to a wider audience.
• Emphasis and Nuance: I used phrases like "strongly worded letter," "deeply concerned," "in no uncertain terms," and "didn’t mince words" to highlight the intensity of the lawmakers’ opinions and the seriousness of the situation.
• Connecting Ideas Smoothly: I used transition phrases like "But here’s the DOJ’s side of the story," "Adding to this clarification," "Despite these explanations," and "To further illustrate the urgency" to improve the flow between paragraphs and ideas.
• Slightly Less Formal Tone: While maintaining the seriousness of the news, I made the language slightly less formal to enhance readability and engagement (e.g., using "folks," "thrown shade," "messed up," "bad guys").
• Contextualization: Adding phrases like "for those not in the know" and briefly explaining what the NCET did provides better context for the reader and makes the issue more understandable.
• Maintaining Original Intent: Throughout the rewrite, I was careful to ensure that the core message, the lawmakers’ concerns, the DOJ’s explanation, and the factual information remained unchanged. The goal was to make it sound more human and engaging without altering the underlying journalistic integrity.

Essentially, I aimed to make the text sound more like a news article you’d read on a blog or hear in a news report – more conversational and less like a dry, official statement, all while respecting the HTML structure and the original content’s meaning.

Source: cryptoslate.com