According to a July 15 press release by the Department of Justice, this confiscation is part of a nationwide investigation that began in January 2025.

Since then, authorities have taken 44 million fentanyl pills, 4,500 pounds of fentanyl powder, nearly 65,000 pounds of methamphetamine, and over 201,500 pounds of cocaine off the streets.

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Acting DEA Administrator Robert Murphy said:

DEA is hitting the cartels where it hurts, with arrests, with seizures, and with relentless pressure. “We are dismantling these networks piece by piece, and we won’t stop until the last brick of their empire falls.

The Sinaloa cartel is one of six Mexican organizations the US has labeled as a global terrorist group. It is involved in trafficking cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, cannabis, and MDMA.

Recent raids highlight the scale and creativity of the cartel’s smuggling operations, according to the press release.

In Georgia, authorities discovered over 700 pounds of meth hidden in a shipment of cucumbers. In Texas, officers found 1,700 pounds of meth, valued at around $15 million, concealed inside a vehicle.

Meanwhile, the Global Investigative Operations Center (GIOC), a division of the US Secret Service, has recovered nearly $400 million in cryptocurrency over the past ten years. How? Read the full story.

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Kazakhstan is exploring a significant move into the cryptocurrency arena, contemplating the establishment of its first-ever cryptocurrency reserve. This, amid a record-breaking rally in Bitcoin (BTC) and an increasing adoption of digital assets by institutions, public companies, and nations. 

Reports from local media indicate that the country’s gold and foreign exchange reserves, alongside the assets of the National Fund, are being considered for investment in crypto assets.

Kazakhstan Eyes Crypto Assets For National Fund

During a recent press conference, Timur Suleimenov, the head of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, outlined the country’s intentions. He mentioned that Kazakhstan is developing an alternative investment portfolio for its gold and foreign exchange reserves, as well as for the National Fund. 

This portfolio reportedly aims to employ more aggressive strategies to enhance investment returns. Suleimenov noted that the country is looking at successful models from the Norwegian fund, American practices, and strategies used by Middle Eastern funds, many of which include investments in digital assets, either directly or through related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and stocks.

Suleimenov emphasized that while the potential for high returns from such investments is appealing, the inherent volatility of digital assets necessitates a cautious approach. 

He stated, “This is not an easy question, so you can’t rush here. Yes, such assets can bring high returns, but at the same time, they are characterized by high volatility.”

Evolving Digital Asset Regulations

In addition to the investment plans, the National Bank is also considering the creation of a state reserve for crypto assets. This reserve would be designated for storing digital assets that have been confiscated by law enforcement agencies. 

To facilitate this, a separate infrastructure would be established, illustrating Kazakhstan’s commitment to not only participating in the digital asset economy but also managing it responsibly.

Furthermore, Suleimenov mentioned that if certain enterprises engage in mining cryptocurrencies on behalf of the state, a portion of those assets could be directed into the crypto reserve through taxes or mandatory payments. 

The regulatory landscape in Kazakhstan is also evolving. Recently, there have been discussions about implementing administrative and criminal penalties for transactions involving crypto assets on the “gray market.” 

Currently, digital asset trading is permitted only on licensed exchanges within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). The National Bank is also planning to impose restrictions on advertising related to digital assets, aiming to create a more controlled environment for crypto transactions.

As of this writing, Bitcoin trades at $117,450. However, the market’s largest cryptocurrency saw its price reach a new record earlier on Monday of $123,000, registering an 11% surge in the monthly time frame. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

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March 20, 2025, Evgeny Masharovmembers of the Public Chamber of Commerce Committee for the public review of bills and regulatory laws of the Russian Federation, said a special fund could be created “on the balance in which these (confiscated) cryptocurrencies are maintained.”

Masharov argued that the capitalization of the “fund” would increase significantly over time.

According to Masharov, on the one hand, this will help to remove property that is criminally acquired from the circulation. On the other hand, there is a specific purpose.

“The income received from cryptocurrency arrangements can be used for social, environmental and educational projects,” Masharov believes.

Explore: 10 coins with high returns: Crypto Forecast 2025

Russia refrains from including Bitcoin in strategic preparation, future rethinking

destruction:

Russia has declared it would not include Bitcoin in its strategic reserves. pic.twitter.com/6nqjo8aymp

– Ashcryptoreal (@ashcryptoreal) March 5, 2025

Recently, the Russian Treasury Ministry revealed that it has not planned to include cryptocurrency in strategic reserves due to concerns about volatility.

However, Deputy Finance Minister Vladimir Kolchev suggested that this stance could change once the fund’s current assets reach levels equivalent to 7-10% of Russia’s gross domestic product (GDP). “But for now, the indications of volatility are not good,” Kolchev said.

“From the perspective of reserves in the sovereign budget, it is important that these reserves can sell the invested assets very quickly and without a massive price revaluation. “And crypto assets are assets that increase volatility.”

Explore: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025

The Russian Post is pondering the “special fund” of confiscated codes.