The United States Department of the Treasury has sanctioned the Karen National Army (KNA), a Myanmar militia group, for alleged crypto scams and criminal activities. According to a press release on May 5, the KNA has been involved in various crypto scams, including the notorious “pig butchering” scam, resulting in significant financial losses for Americans. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also sanctioned the KNA’s leader, Saw Chit Thu, and his two sons for facilitating cyber scams, human trafficking, and smuggling. The KNA, operating in southeastern Myanmar, near the Thailand border, has been designated as a transnational criminal organization. The OFAC has previously imposed sanctions on various crypto offenders, including terrorist groups and cybercrime units. In 2024, Americans lost $9.3 billion to crypto scams, with individuals over 60 reporting losses of $2.8 billion. Pig butchering scams, a prevalent form of financial fraud in Southeast Asia, have led to billions of dollars in losses. These scams involve building trust with victims before persuading them to invest in fake crypto schemes. The KNA is reportedly engaged in pig butchering scams and human trafficking networks, enabling them to operate at scale. The FBI has warned about the increasing threat of crypto scams, emphasizing the need for vigilance among investors and residents.