US representative David Schweikert has introduced a law granted to presidential authorities to act against crypto criminals operating overseas.
The bill, introduced as a House Resolution (HR 4988), evokes the rarely used concept of “the letters of Marque and Reprisal.”
Historically, such letters allowed private individuals to attack and seize enemy ships during wartime, providing the government with a way to retaliate against foreign invasions.
Under Schweikert’s proposal, the mechanism will be extended to the digital domain. This law allows individuals or businesses to act on behalf of the United States to recover stolen assets and disrupt cybercrime operations targeting US interests.
These private actors can instruct them to seize assets using “all measures reasonably necessary” or to detain foreign actors, including those linked to state-sponsored cybercriminal networks.
On the other hand, letters issued under the measures require security obligations to implement accountability and ensure compliance with the directive.
Schweikert said:
“Our current tools cannot maintain pace. This law will enable us to bring accountability and reparations to the digital battlefield by effectively engaging these criminals and leveraging the same constitutional mechanisms that once secured the maritime interests of our country.”
The proposal is currently under review by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and must pass through both rooms before contacting the President for approval. If established, it creates an entirely new framework for engaging in cross-border crypto crime enforcement.
Potential impact
If HR 4988 becomes law, the US could move from relying primarily on intelligence report collection to actively deploy private stakeholders in cybercrime intervention.
The move comes amid growing frustration with the surge in prominent crypto hacks. In 2025 alone, country-sponsored groups such as the North Korean Lazarus Group coordinated major attacks, including $1.5 billion exploitation at BYBit in February and violations targeting other major platforms like India’s CoindCX.
Law enforcement is struggling to arrest perpetrators, collect stolen funds, and expose crypto investors and platforms.
With this in mind, Schweicart said:
“Americans deserve protection from digital predators hidden in foreign jurisdictions by leveraging outdated laws. The proposal harnesses innovation and constitutional powers to respond to the modern crisis of cybercrime.”
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