Brazil passes anti-gang law allowing seized crypto to fund security forces

Brazil this week passed a law allowing authorities to use seized criminal crypto to fund public security resources.

A law signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday creates new powers to freeze and seize assets — including crypto, stocks and shares and luxury goods — both during investigation and after conviction.

The law allows authorities to permanently forfeit the seized assets, and then sell them to fund police to continue fighting crime.

“Lost assets and values may be provisionally used by public security agencies for police re-equipment, training and special operations, upon authorization of the enforcement judge,” the law reads.

This isn’t the first time lawmakers have focused on using seized assets to fund the state.

In a complementary bill last year, President Lula sent legislation to the country’s congress pushing to allow authorities to seize property — including digital assets — and convert it into fiat currency.

The new law

The latest “Anti-Gang” law also creates a financial incentive for the public to help cops. A part of the bill states that those who provide information to authorities and collaborate to help find assets can be rewarded with up to 5% of what is seized — when assets are liquidated.

It also states that seized assets linked to drug trafficking have a separate regime and will be used for the federal drug policy fund rather than security fund.

The new law also creates harsher sentences for “ultra-violent criminal organizations, paramilitary groups, and private militias that use violence or serious threats to control territories, disrupt public services, attack infrastructure, or intimidate authorities and civilians.”

Crypto market movers

• Bitcoin was trading for $66,827 per coin on Saturday, up 1% over the past 24 hours but down 5% over the past seven days.
• Ethereum’s price was trading for close to $2,022, after rising nearly 2% over the past day.

What we’re reading

• Why crypto startups struggle to get VC cash this cycle — DL News
• Curve Finance row over $9.3m Resupply exploit ends in Singapore court — DL News
• Will Bitcoin hit $80,000 in April? Where the price is headed, according to analysts — DL News
• Goldman says the bottom is in... — Milk Road

Mathew Di Salvo is a news correspondent with DL News. Got a tip? Email at mdisalvo@dlnews.com.