Written by Turner Wrightstaff writerReviewed by Robert Lakinstaff editor

Written by Turner Wrightstaff writer

Reviewed by Robert Lakinstaff editor

US Senator blasts AG pick for ‘dismantling’ crypto unit, Trump’s CZ pardon

Latest NewsPublishedJul 15, 2026

President Donald Trump’s pick for US Attorney General faced criticism from members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on his approach to crypto enforcement and the pardon of former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao.

Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche faced backlash Wednesday over the Justice Department’s (DoJ) enforcement of crypto-related crimes and other actions as President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney appeared before a Senate hearing considering his nomination to lead the agency.

The ranking Democrat, Senator Dick Durbin, used part of his opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to criticize Trump’s AG pick for what he described as “dismantling DoJ’s enforcement team and shutting down ongoing criminal investigations of the crypto industry.”

Blanche was reportedly behind the disbanding of the Justice Department’s crypto enforcement unit in April 2025 as deputy attorney general.

Todd Blanche speaking at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Source: Associated Press

The Illinois lawmaker stated that Blanche’s order dismantling the DoJ’s crypto unit enable Trump to earn $1.4 billion from his ties to the industry, including his family’s business World Liberty Financial.

He also accused former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao of “broker[ing] a deal to channel $2 billion” into World Liberty, which led to a presidential pardon. The former CEO agreed in 2023 to plead guilty to one felony charge related to the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regime at the exchange.

“Every smarmy, suspect deal in this administration has cryptocurrency behind the curtain,” stated Durbin.

Senate Republicans need a simple majority of lawmakers present to confirm Blanche as AG should his nomination advance in the judiciary panel. With Senator Mitch McConnell still hospitalized after what his team described as a fall that led to pneumonia, the party has a slim 52-47 margin to confirm Blanche, who faces pushback over the DoJ’s actions on immigration and its crypto policies, claims that he would facilitate Trump’s attacks on perceived enemies and the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Related: Three US senators oppose CLARITY Act on ethics grounds with vote expected soon

Blanche also faced crypto-related questions from Republican Senator Thom Tillis who stated he was “concerned that the Binance CEO got pardoned.” Blanche stated that he would review the pardon process if verified.

Blanche signals DoJ shift on pursuing coders

The Trump AG pick was behind a 2025 memo “ending regulation by prosecution” in the crypto industry and previously held at least $159,000 worth of digital asset-related investments before divesting them to his children and grandchildren.

He has been serving as acting US Attorney General since Pamela Bondi’s firing in April, telling crypto holders shortly after his appointment that officials would not pursue cases into blockchain developers who were not responsible for illicit activity on platforms.  

”[I]f you are developing software, if you are a coder, if you are part of that process and you are not the third-party user, and you are not helping and knowing the third party is using what you developed to commit crimes, you are not going to be investigated and not going to be charged,” Blanche stated at the Bitcoin 2026 conference.

The department still has ongoing cases against developers behind platforms allegedly used for illegal activities. Federal prosecutors are expected to retry Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm later this year after a jury failed to reach a verdict on two charges in 2025.

Magazine: Will the crypto lobby’s $189M campaign get CLARITY over the line?

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• Donald Trump
• Department of Justice
• Corruption
• Binance
• Cryptocurrencies
• Money Laundering
• Senate
• Regulation

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