Civil forfeiture also applies to crypto.

Yeah, but it wouldn't be getting seized at a FedEx distribution center if it weren't an envelope of cash.

Stable coins can be frozen. And even BTC can be traced to whatever centralized exchange it eventually ends up at.

First they have to identify the BTC.

If you actually read the article, they weren't doing anything illegal... that's why IJ is giving them legal representation. The government would have a harder time seizing stablecoins because they couldn't say "well a K9 indicated there was drug residue on the bills" or whatever.

You better have your $5 wrench available to get access though. It's not like they can just take the briefcase or duffel bag full of crypto away from you.

No, they should have placed the cash in a box and sent it via USPS Registered Mail.

Then it requires the feds themselves to interfere to open the package. Plus, Registered Mail has a full chain of custody as the item becomes a fully accountable item within the mail stream that is signed for at every single touch along the way.