A Crypto Theft Shakes U.S. Federal Services

Nothing seems able to stop hackers anymore, not even the armored walls of public institutions nor the harshest sanctions. In a world where data is worth gold, cryptos become the new target for the boldest minds. And this time, the attack did not come from outside. According to an investigation by ZachXBT, a resounding theft targeted U.S. federal wallets, exposing a scandal at the crossroads of power, finance, and cybercrime.

The Hack from Within: The Keeper’s Son Caught Red-Handed

It’s far from Lazarus Group, but it’s a scenario even Hollywood wouldn’t have dared imagine. The alleged author of the theft of several tens of millions of dollars in cryptos belonging to the U.S. government is none other than the son of a CEO of a company under contract with federal services. According to detective-chain investigator ZachXBT, the individual, known online under the pseudonym “Lick,” reportedly stole more than $40 million from wallets managed on behalf of the State.

The case erupted after an absurd scene broadcast on Telegram: an ego contest, a “band-for-band,” where two cybercriminals flaunt their wealth. In a recorded sequence, “Lick” shares his screen, revealing an Exodus crypto wallet containing several million dollars. Tracing the flows, ZachXBT discovers the funds come from a government address linked to the Bitfinex hack seizure (2016).

What’s most disturbing? The suspect’s father, Dean Daghita, runs Command Services & Support (CMDSS), a company under contract with the U.S. Marshals Service, tasked with guarding seized cryptos. Quite ironic.

The recording clearly shows John controls both addresses. Other addresses can probably be identified in the recordings.

ZachXBT

Washington Embarrassed: Government Crypto Custody Weakened

Beyond the hack itself, it’s the credibility of the federal digital asset management system that collapses. CMDSS had secured a key contract in October 2024 to manage “non-mainstream” cryptos — those not hosted on centralized exchange platforms. But from the start, voices were raised. Wave Digital Assets, a rejected competitor, denounced CMDSS’s lack of financial license and pointed out a possible conflict of interest: a former U.S. Marshals Service agent allegedly joined the company.

The concerns were justified. ZachXBT today traces a series of interconnected transactions totaling over $90 million, some linked to official seizure wallets.

The consequences could be severe: loss of institutional trust, delays in seized crypto sales, and even internal sanctions.

The renowned analyst summarizes the gravity of the moment:

The perpetrators of these attacks continue to brag about their stolen funds in leaked recordings, instead of simply staying silent after an alleged theft against the U.S. government. 

Blockchain, Ego, and Foolishness: The Hack Too Many for the Crypto Sphere

The Daghita case highlights a fascinating paradox: in a universe where every transaction is engraved on the blockchain, hackers continue to trap themselves out of sheer vanity.

It’s this absolute transparency that allowed ZachXBT to piece the puzzle together. By linking addresses 0xd8bc, 0x8924, and 0xc7a2, he traced back to government wallets. All thanks to a simple chat recording.

Beyond the judicial aspect, the case questions the security of public infrastructures related to crypto. If a service provider’s son can access federal wallets, it’s an entire trust model that wobbles.

And crypto investors know it: such a scandal can trigger massive sell-offs and shake already fragile markets.

Numbers That Send Chills Down the Spine

• $40 million: estimated amount stolen from federal wallets;
• $90 million: suspicious flows traced on the blockchain;
• $24.9 million: sum transferred from a government address linked to the Bitfinex hack;
• October 2024: contract award date to CMDSS by the U.S. Marshals Service;
• 2026: year the case publicly broke via ZachXBT’s thread.

The Daghita scandal reveals the gaping flaws of still imperfect crypto security, even within the most powerful institutions. And while the U.S. government tries to patch the breaches, a different kind of threat approaches: quantum computers. Vitalik Buterin himself acknowledged it, Ethereum could be hit before 2028.