When the government seizes stolen assets, those funds don’t just vanish. In most cases, the Department of Justice eventually makes them available to victims through a Petition for Remission or Mitigation process.
That process is described on the DOJ’s forfeiture website and even includes a sample petition form. The agency explicitly says:
“You do not need an attorney to file a petition. You may, however, hire an attorney to represent you.”
In theory, this should be simple. In practice, it rarely is. When large sums are involved, establishing that your loss is tied to a specific seizure can get highly technical. This is especially true with cryptocurrency tracing and competing claims.
There’s never been a Bitcoin seizure this large before. Filing without an experienced cryptocurrency recovery lawyer in a matter involving complex facts or novel legal issues will almost certainly reduce your chances of success.
On October 14, 2025, the U.S. government announced the largest crypto forfeiture action in history: $15 billion in Bitcoin, allegedly stolen through a massive Cambodia-based pig-butchering operation. According to court filings, the funds are now in federal custody.
Given that experts estimate $75 billion in crypto fraud losses over the past four years, even a recovery pool this large covers only a fraction of the total. That means two things:
- Many victims will not qualify for compensation because their funds aren’t traceable to this seizure.
- For those who do qualify, the competition for inclusion will be fierce. Expect complex tracing disputes, competing claims, and aggressive litigation.
Getting involved in litigation without a lawyer is, to say the least, inadvisable.
If you’ve lost cryptocurrency to a scam—romance, investment, “work-from-home,” or otherwise—your stolen funds may be part of this seizure or another like it. We can help you determine whether your losses are traceable and, if so, pursue recovery through the DOJ’s process or through litigation.
Review our qualifications here and then contact us. We may be able to help.