Opportunity Information: Apply for DFOP0019468

The U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), is offering a discretionary grant competition titled Global Cybercrime and Cryptocurrency Assessment and Intelligence Gathering (Funding Opportunity Number DFOP0019468). The opportunity is aimed at supporting projects that address cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime as a fast-moving, cross-border threat that impacts U.S. national and economic security and causes direct harm to American households and businesses. INL frames the problem as both widespread and escalating, citing that roughly one in four American households reported being affected by cybercrime in a 2018 Gallup survey, and noting that the scale and sophistication of these offenses have increased alongside the growth of digital services and virtual assets.

The grant is centered on practical, actionable efforts to combat several priority crime areas: cyber intrusions (such as unauthorized access and network compromise), online fraud (including scams and financial deception conducted through digital channels), online-facilitated drug trafficking (where online platforms and tools enable illicit drug sales and distribution), digital piracy (illegal reproduction and distribution of copyrighted material), and the criminal misuse of cryptocurrency and other virtual assets. A key theme running through the solicitation is that criminals are increasingly leveraging the pseudonymous and borderless features of cryptocurrency to move and launder proceeds, obscure attribution, evade law enforcement, and scale victimization across jurisdictions. The Department ties this focus to recent policy direction, referencing a March 2026 Executive Order aimed at strengthening efforts against cybercrime targeting U.S. families, businesses, and critical infrastructure, which signals heightened federal priority and urgency around these issues.

In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes both U.S.-based and foreign-based entities across nonprofit, educational, and for-profit categories. Specifically, eligible applicants include U.S. nonprofit/non-governmental organizations, U.S. educational institutions qualifying under 501(c)(3) or 26 U.S.C. 115, foreign nonprofit/non-governmental organizations, foreign educational institutions, and U.S. and foreign for-profit organizations. This wide eligibility suggests INL is open to proposals from a range of capable actors, including research organizations, implementers with operational cyber expertise, universities, and private-sector groups that can support assessment and intelligence-gathering efforts tied to the targeted cybercrime typologies.

The funding instrument is a grant under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category (CFDA 19.705). The opportunity anticipates making two awards, with an award ceiling of $2,196,890. Applications are due by August 31, 2026, and the opportunity was created on July 29, 2026. In practical terms, this is a relatively high-value, limited-award competition, which usually implies a preference for well-developed proposals that can demonstrate credible methods for identifying trends, mapping networks or typologies, producing usable intelligence or assessments, and translating findings into outcomes that help disrupt, deter, or better investigate cybercriminal activity, especially when cryptocurrency and virtual assets are part of the criminal ecosystem.

Overall, the solicitation is a targeted call for projects that strengthen the ability to understand and counter global cybercriminal threats that spill into the United States, with particular attention to the way cryptocurrency enables concealment, cross-border movement of illicit proceeds, and scalable victimization. The emphasis is not just on describing the problem, but on supporting efforts that can generate insight and actionable intelligence to reduce harm to American communities and businesses across the identified cybercrime categories.

  • The Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Global Cybercrime and Cryptocurrency Assessment and Intelligence Gathering" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.705.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-29.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,196,890.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others.
Apply for DFOP0019468

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled Global Cybercrime and Cryptocurrency Assessment and Intelligence Gathering.

What agency is offering the grant?

The grant competition is offered by the U.S. Department of State, through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is DFOP0019468.

What is the main purpose of this grant competition?

This opportunity supports projects that address cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime as a fast-moving, cross-border threat that impacts U.S. national and economic security and causes direct harm to American households and businesses. The emphasis is on practical work that produces assessments and actionable intelligence to help counter these threats.

Why is INL prioritizing cybercrime and cryptocurrency-related crime?

INL describes cybercrime as widespread and escalating, with offenses increasing in scale and sophistication alongside the growth of digital services and virtual assets. A core concern is that criminals use cryptocurrency and other virtual assets to move and launder proceeds, obscure attribution, evade law enforcement, and scale victimization across borders.

What types of crime does the solicitation prioritize?

The solicitation highlights several priority areas:

  • Cyber intrusions (for example, unauthorized access and network compromise)
  • Online fraud (scams and financial deception conducted through digital channels)
  • Online-facilitated drug trafficking (online platforms/tools enabling illicit drug sales and distribution)
  • Digital piracy (illegal reproduction and distribution of copyrighted material)
  • Criminal misuse of cryptocurrency and other virtual assets

Is this opportunity focused on describing the problem, or producing actionable outputs?

The stated emphasis is on practical, actionable efforts, not only describing the problem. Projects are expected to generate insight and usable intelligence or assessments that can help reduce harm and strengthen the ability to disrupt, deter, or investigate cybercriminal activity, especially when cryptocurrency is involved.

What kinds of project activities fit the intent described?

Based on the language provided, the opportunity is aligned with work that can credibly:

  • Identify emerging trends and patterns in targeted cybercrime typologies
  • Map networks, typologies, or methods used by cybercriminal actors
  • Produce assessments and intelligence that are usable for countering cybercrime
  • Translate findings into outcomes that help disrupt, deter, or improve investigations

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes both U.S.-based and foreign-based entities across nonprofit, educational, and for-profit categories. Eligible applicants include:

  • U.S. nonprofit/non-governmental organizations
  • U.S. educational institutions qualifying under 501(c)(3) or 26 U.S.C. 115
  • Foreign nonprofit/non-governmental organizations
  • Foreign educational institutions
  • U.S. for-profit organizations
  • Foreign for-profit organizations

Are non-U.S. organizations allowed to apply?

Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes foreign nonprofit/non-governmental organizations, foreign educational institutions, and foreign for-profit organizations.

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. Both U.S. and foreign for-profit organizations are listed as eligible applicants.

What is the funding instrument type?

The funding instrument is a grant.

What is the activity category and CFDA number?

The activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services, and the CFDA number is 19.705.

How many awards does INL expect to make?

The opportunity anticipates making two awards.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is $2,196,890.

When is the application due?

Applications are due by August 31, 2026.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on July 29, 2026.

Does the opportunity reference any recent policy direction?

Yes. It references a March 2026 Executive Order aimed at strengthening efforts against cybercrime targeting U.S. families, businesses, and critical infrastructure, signaling heightened federal priority and urgency.

What is the central theme related to cryptocurrency in this solicitation?

A central theme is that criminals increasingly use the pseudonymous and borderless features of cryptocurrency and other virtual assets to move and launder illicit proceeds, obscure attribution, evade law enforcement, and scale cross-border victimization.

What overall outcomes is INL trying to achieve through this competition?

The solicitation is framed as a targeted call for projects that strengthen the ability to understand and counter global cybercriminal threats that affect the United States, with a focus on producing actionable intelligence and assessments that help reduce harm to American communities and businesses across the identified cybercrime categories.

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