The U.S. has dissolved an investigation unit that played a leading role in countering North Korea’s cryptocurrency laundering, raising questions about the future of Washington-led global efforts to curtail activities supporting DPRK nuclear and missile development.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told Department of Justice (DOJ) employees in a memo last week that the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) would be “disbanded effective immediately” as part of a broader effort by the Donald Trump administration to deregulate the cryptocurrency sector.

In line with President Trump’s executive orderin early January tasking the department with “protecting and promoting” individuals and companies’