Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street
DX SX10088 | Wel ington
T 04 918 8800 |
F 04 918 8820
[email address] | www.justice.govt.nz
7 July 2026
Harry Satoshi
[FYI request #34884 email]
Our ref: OIA 133368
Tēnā koe Harry
Official Information Act Request: Cryptocurrency confiscation orders and proceeds
Thank you for your email of 9 June 2026 to the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry). Under the
Of icial Information Act 1982 (the Act), you requested:
I request the following information:
A. Confiscation orders
1. The number of confiscation orders issued involving cryptocurrency assets in New
Zealand, broken down by year from 2015 to present.
2. The total estimated value of cryptocurrency subject to confiscation orders, broken
down by year where records allow.
3. The legislation under which cryptocurrency assets are most commonly confiscated
in New Zealand - including the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 and any other
relevant statutes.
B. Legal process
4. The legal process that must be followed before seized cryptocurrency can be
liquidated or transferred following a confiscation order.
5. Whether there are any legal constraints on when or how quickly seized
cryptocurrency can be sold after a confiscation order is granted.
6. How New Zealand courts and the Ministry treat the valuation of cryptocurrency
assets for the purposes of confiscation proceedings, given price volatility.
C. Proceeds
7. Where the proceeds from liquidated cryptocurrency assets go following a
confiscation order - including whether funds are returned to consolidated revenue,
distributed to victims, or allocated to specific funds.
8. Whether there is a public record of proceeds received from cryptocurrency
confiscations.
D. Policy
9. Whether the Ministry of Justice has issued or is developing any specific policy
guidance on the treatment of cryptocurrency assets in criminal proceedings.
Please provide documents, records, policies or guidelines that are held and can be
released under the Act. Where information cannot be released in full, I ask that it be
released in part with reasons given for any withholding.
A response to your request is being prepared. However, the consultations necessary mean
that a proper response cannot be reasonably made within the original timeframe. Therefore,
I am extending the time limit for reply under section 15A(1)(b) of the Act and wil respond to
you no later than 16 July 2026.
You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to make a complaint to the Ombudsman
about the decision to extend the time for responding to your request. The Office of the
Ombudsman may be contacted by phone on 0800 802 602, by email at:
[email address], or via the webform:
Make a complaint (for members of the
public) | Ombudsman New Zealand.
Nāku noa, nā
Louise Ainsley
Manager, Ministerial Services
