In recent years, cryptoassets have become the preferred refuge for those seeking to evade asset seizure. In response to this scenario, the CNJ launched CriptoJud in 2025, a platform designed to enable the consultation and blocking of cryptocurrencies held in national exchanges.
The initiative marks a new phase in civil enforcement, in which the Judiciary now seeks to reach assets that exist exclusively in the digital environment.
Below, we explain this development in 4 key points:
1. The challenge of asset seizure in the era of cryptoassets: Unlike bank accounts or traditional investments, cryptoassets circulate in a decentralized ecosystem, often without intermediaries. For judges and lawyers, this means dealing with assets that can be transferred anonymously, stored in private wallets, and remain completely invisible to traditional tracing mechanisms. In this context, the challenge lies not only in identifying the assets but also in ensuring that any blocking order is technically feasible and legally sound, without violating due process or affecting third parties.
2. CriptoJud: A promise of efficiency, but with clear limitations. CriptoJud emerges as an attempt to replicate, in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, the efficiency already achieved by Sisbajud in the freezing of bank assets. The tool allows courts to consult and order the blocking of assets held in authorized national exchanges, acting as a direct communication channel between the Judiciary and these platforms. Despite its potential, the system is still in an early phase, integrated with few institutions and unable to reach private wallets or foreign exchanges, precisely the methods most used by debtors who wish to conceal assets.
3. Legal and technical risks that require caution: Although the Judiciary already admits the seizure of cryptocurrencies, there is still no specific law regulating the procedure. This results in an environment vulnerable to divergent court decisions, excessive freezes, and uncertainty regarding the liability of exchanges. From a technical standpoint, the challenges are equally significant: if the debtor has transferred assets to a decentralized wallet, blocking becomes impossible; if the system operates without clear standards, there is a risk of affecting assets belonging to third parties or disrupting legitimate operations.
4. What to expect going forward: The creation of CriptoJud is an important institutional advancement, but its success depends on adequate regulation, standardized technical protocols, and training for the professionals who will use the system.
CriptoJud represents a decisive step toward the modernization of civil enforcement, expanding the Judiciary’s ability to deal with contemporary digital assets.
