The United States is exploring a radical legislative solution to combat the burgeoning global cryptocurrency crime wave, which has seen billions lost to sophisticated hackers and state-sponsored groups. Faced with the limitations of current law enforcement in pursuing digital criminals across international borders, a bold proposal seeks to revive an 18th-century legal concept, potentially deputizing private citizens to fight cybercrime.
A Historic Concept for a Modern Digital Battlefield
US Representative David Schweikert has introduced House Resolution (H.R. 4988), which invokes the rarely utilized "letters of marque and reprisal." Historically, these letters authorized privateers to act on behalf of the government, attacking and seizing enemy vessels during wartime. Under Schweikert’s innovative proposal, this ancient mechanism would be adapted for the digital age, empowering private individuals or companies to pursue and recover stolen crypto assets or disrupt cybercriminal operations targeting American interests. These private actors could be authorized to use "all means reasonably necessary" to achieve their objectives, including seizing assets and potentially detaining foreign perpetrators, with a required security bond to ensure accountability.
Addressing the Gaps in Digital Enforcement
This unprecedented legislative move stems from growing frustration over the inability of traditional law enforcement tools to keep pace with the scale and cross-border nature of modern crypto crime. High-profile incidents, such as the $1.5 billion exploit on Bybit orchestrated by North Korea’s Lazarus Group, underscore the urgent need for more effective intervention. The proposed bill aims to bridge the gap where criminals exploit outdated laws and hide in foreign jurisdictions, allowing the US to shift from solely intelligence-gathering to actively deploying private actors for intervention. If enacted, H.R. 4988 would create an entirely new framework for US engagement in the global fight against cybercrime, promising a direct path to accountability and restitution for victims of digital predators.
