Crypto Policy Turning Point: Blockchain Devs Could Gain Legal Shield

bitcoinistPublicado a 2026-02-28Actualizado a 2026-02-28

Resumen

A new bipartisan bill, the Promoting Innovation in Blockchain Development Act, has been introduced in the US House of Representatives to protect blockchain developers from being prosecuted as unlicensed money transmitters. The legislation (targeting Section 1960) would narrow the legal definition to apply only to those who actually hold or control users' digital assets—not developers who write code, maintain networks, or build platforms without handling funds. The push follows high-profile prosecutions, including the conviction of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm and guilty pleas from Samourai Wallet founders. Crypto advocacy groups support the bill, arguing it will encourage U.S.-based innovation and protect neutral technology builders from being treated as financial intermediaries. A similar Senate bill was also introduced earlier this year.

Building software has never been against the law. But in recent years, some crypto and blockchain developers have found themselves facing federal criminal charges simply for creating tools that others used to move cryptocurrency — even when those developers never held a single dollar of anyone’s money.

A new bill introduced in the US House of Representatives is aimed squarely at closing that gap.

A Bipartisan Push To Protect Developers

Representatives Scott Fitzgerald, Ben Cline, and Zoe Lofgren announced Thursday that they are sponsoring the Promoting Innovation in Blockchain Development Act.

The legislation targets a specific section of federal law — Section 1960 — which currently prohibits the operation of unlicensed money transmitting businesses.

The bill would tighten the definition so that the law applies only to those who actually hold or control other people’s digital assets. Developers who write code, maintain networks, or build platforms without ever touching user funds would be explicitly excluded from that category.

The bill drew quick support from two prominent crypto advocacy groups. The Blockchain Association called it a critical step toward encouraging more US-based developers to build at home rather than abroad.

The DeFi Education Fund (DEF) went further, saying the legislation would allow software builders to “construct neutral technology here at home without worrying about being criminally prosecuted as if they are a financial intermediary.”

Both organizations have long argued that existing law has been applied too broadly against developers who had no direct role in how their tools were used.

Real Prosecutions Behind The Push For Change

The urgency behind this bill is not theoretical. Reports say the cases of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm and the founders of Samourai Wallet have become rallying points for the crypto developer community.

Storm was convicted in August 2025 on charges of running an unlicensed money transmitting business — a verdict that sent shockwaves through the industry.

Samourai Wallet co-founders Keonne Rodriguez and Will Lonergan Hill pleaded guilty to similar charges and were later handed prison sentences of five and four years respectively.

BTCUSD now trading at $65,784. Chart: TradingView

In both cases, the developers built tools used by others to transfer funds, but did not themselves hold or manage those assets.

Storm had yet to be sentenced as of Thursday and still faces unresolved charges tied to two separate counts.

Whether the new legislation, if it becomes law, would have any bearing on cases already filed remains an open question. The bill appears to be written with future prosecutions in mind rather than those already underway.

The Senate Is Already Working On Its Own Version

The House bill does not exist in isolation. Reports say US Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ron Wyden introduced their own developer protection measure in January — the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act — which takes a similar position: that writing code or keeping a network running does not make someone a money transmitter under federal law.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Preguntas relacionadas

QWhat is the main purpose of the Promoting Innovation in Blockchain Development Act introduced in the US House of Representatives?

AThe main purpose of the Promoting Innovation in Blockchain Development Act is to amend federal law to explicitly exclude blockchain developers who write code, maintain networks, or build platforms without holding or controlling user funds from being classified as unlicensed money transmitting businesses.

QWhich specific section of federal law does the new bill target for amendment?

AThe bill targets Section 1960 of federal law, which currently prohibits the operation of unlicensed money transmitting businesses.

QName two real-world cases that have become rallying points for the crypto developer community and highlight the urgency for this legislation.

AThe cases of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, who was convicted, and the founders of Samourai Wallet, Keonne Rodriguez and Will Lonergan Hill, who pleaded guilty, are the rallying points that highlight the urgency for this legislation.

QWhich two US Senators introduced a similar developer protection measure called the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act?

AUS Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ron Wyden introduced the similar Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act.

QAccording to the DeFi Education Fund (DEF), what will this legislation allow software builders to do?

AAccording to the DeFi Education Fund (DEF), this legislation will allow software builders to 'construct neutral technology here at home without worrying about being criminally prosecuted as if they are a financial intermediary.'

Lecturas Relacionadas

U.S.-Iran Ceasefire: How Much of a Bitcoin Rally Can a Truce Agreement Support?

Headline: "U.S.-Iran Truce: How Much Can a Ceasefire Agreement Propel Bitcoin's Rebound?" On June 15th, Bitcoin rebounded to around $67,255, marking its first return to the $67,000 level since falling below $60,000 earlier in June. Ethereum and Solana also saw significant gains. The immediate driver for this market-wide recovery in crypto and global risk assets was the signing of a U.S.-Iran ceasefire memorandum, with a formal ceremony scheduled for June 19th. The agreement, which includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, caused oil prices to plunge roughly 5%, easing inflation expectations and boosting prospects for Federal Reserve rate cuts. This macroeconomic shift fueled a rally in U.S. equities, with the Dow Jones hitting a record high. SpaceX's spectacular post-IPO performance further energized market sentiment. However, on-chain and derivatives data from Glassnode suggest this move is more indicative of a technical rebound from deeply oversold conditions rather than a confirmed trend reversal. The crypto market is undergoing noticeable capital rotation. While Bitcoin ETFs recently saw their worst outflows on record, the bleeding has slowed significantly. Meanwhile, new altcoin ETFs for assets like XRP and Solana are attracting substantial inflows, causing Bitcoin's market dominance to drop to 58%. Despite the rebound, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index remains in "Extreme Fear" territory at 22. The price quickly retreated after touching the $67,000 resistance level, indicating selling pressure persists. Analysis shows short-term speculative supply has been heavily washed out, with holder structure shifting toward a more long-term profile. While panic is subsiding and some on-chain metrics point to accumulation at lower prices, the market currently lacks the strong, sustained institutional buying needed to establish a new bullish trend.

Foresight NewsHace 9 min(s)

U.S.-Iran Ceasefire: How Much of a Bitcoin Rally Can a Truce Agreement Support?

Foresight NewsHace 9 min(s)

Copper, the Gold of 2026

Copper: The New Gold for 2026? Market focus has shifted from AI chips to underlying infrastructure, with copper emerging as a key narrative. Its role is evolving beyond "Dr. Copper"—a traditional indicator of economic cycles—due to structural demand growth from AI data centers (requiring massive electrical infrastructure), grid expansion, EVs, and re-industrialization. Estimates suggest data centers alone could require 300,000 tons of copper by 2050. The core bullish thesis is not just demand but a severe supply constraint. New copper mines take ~17 years to develop, while ore grades are declining and new discoveries are scarce, potentially leading to a 30% supply deficit by 2035. This supply rigidity, coupled with strategic importance, is giving copper a "gold-like" scarcity narrative. Major macro investors, including Stanley Druckenmiller, are allocating to copper as a hedge against dollar weakness and for its exposure to energy transition and geopolitics. Traders like Pierre Andurand have projected prices could reach $40,000/ton. Capital inflows are visible in surging futures trading volumes. Copper mining stocks act as leveraged plays on copper prices. Companies like Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Southern Copper (SCCO), as well as Chinese miners like CMOC, have seen significant volatility, offering high upside but also steep drawdowns, reflecting operational and geopolitical risks. While copper remains cyclical and won't fully replicate gold's monetary role, its long-term fundamentals have shifted. Its new scarcity premium, driven by a tightening supply structure and expanding electrical demand, suggests its "goldification" is just beginning.

marsbitHace 16 min(s)

Copper, the Gold of 2026

marsbitHace 16 min(s)

On Its Second Trading Day, SpaceX Jumps Nearly 20%, Valuation Reaches $2.5 Trillion

SpaceX's stock surged nearly 20% on its second day of trading, propelling its valuation to $2.5 trillion and ranking it among the world's top six public companies. The monumental IPO, with a very low initial float, has ignited intense market activity. The rally, fueled by strong retail demand and a favorable macro backdrop, has also made founder Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire. Analysts highlight two key dates in July that could drive extreme volatility. On July 7th, the stock's inclusion in major indexes like the Nasdaq-100 will force massive passive fund buying, colliding with the historically low float as early shareholders remain locked up. Later in July, following the Q2 earnings call, an estimated 10-15% of shares held by early insiders (excluding Musk) will be unlocked, testing institutional demand. Behind the scenes, market observers speculate about a potential stock-for-stock "merger of equals" between SpaceX and Tesla. This could help Musk manage a looming $7 billion tax bill from expiring Tesla options and consolidate his empire under SpaceX's robust governance structure, which features super-voting shares and mandatory arbitration. The IPO's underwriter selection is seen as potentially securing support for such a future merger vote.

marsbitHace 17 min(s)

On Its Second Trading Day, SpaceX Jumps Nearly 20%, Valuation Reaches $2.5 Trillion

marsbitHace 17 min(s)

Hormuz Strait Reopening: Will the Fed Turn "Dovish" and the Market Reprice "Rate Cuts"?

The article outlines two key factors that may lead the U.S. Federal Reserve, under Chair Wash, to adopt a more dovish stance at the upcoming FOMC meeting. First, the anticipated reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is expected to ease oil and energy prices, thereby reducing upward inflationary pressures. This shift could lead the Fed to view energy prices as a neutral or even deflationary factor. Second, recent core CPI data showed significant cooling, with a monthly increase of only 0.21%, contrasting with the still-strong core PCE. This divergence supports a dovish interpretation. Market implications are significant. While the FOMC is expected to remove "easing bias" language and project unchanged rates for the year—moves already priced in—Chair Wash's potential for more dovish commentary presents an upside risk. Consequently, there is room for the market to further price out remaining hike expectations and increase expectations for rate cuts. The report notes that the 2-year Treasury yield, though down recently, remains well above February levels, indicating further potential downside as inflation risks fade.

marsbitHace 21 min(s)

Hormuz Strait Reopening: Will the Fed Turn "Dovish" and the Market Reprice "Rate Cuts"?

marsbitHace 21 min(s)

pump.fun's New Feature Brings 'Black Mirror' Into Reality

The article begins by recounting a dark fictional story from *Black Mirror* (Season 7, Episode 1 "Common People"), where a man is forced to perform humiliating tasks online to pay for his wife's life-sustaining medical subscription. It then draws a parallel to a new real-world feature on the crypto platform pump.fun called "Pump.fun Go," which allows users to post and complete paid bounty tasks. This feature gained mainstream attention, often negatively, through extreme examples. A prominent case involved a bounty of 40 SOL (~$2,600) offered to permanently tattoo "$bountywork" on one's forehead. An Indian man completed the task, stating the money "changed his life," and later earned significantly more from a related meme coin. Another bounty paid 200 SOL (~$14,000) for a "bounty.fun" forehead tattoo, with the participant simply stating, "We need the money." The article highlights how this system can amplify darkness, citing the dev behind $Bountywork who spent thousands on bounties for attention-grabbing stunts like eating bugs or drinking hot sauce for small sums. It compares this to past tragic live-streaming incidents where people harmed themselves for money, noting regulation cannot stop those in desperate need. However, it also points to positive, altruistic bounties that have emerged, such as organizing anti-work rallies in New York, performing random acts of kindness for strangers, organizing community food drives, or even helping an elderly person cross the street. The piece concludes by acknowledging the platform reflects both the dark and light sides of human nature when actions are given a price, hoping for more of the latter.

marsbitHace 22 min(s)

pump.fun's New Feature Brings 'Black Mirror' Into Reality

marsbitHace 22 min(s)

Trading

Spot
Futuros
活动图片