Crypto Policy Turning Point: Blockchain Devs Could Gain Legal Shield

bitcoinistPubblicato 2026-02-28Pubblicato ultima volta 2026-02-28

Introduzione

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

Domande pertinenti

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.'

Letture associate

Banking Giant Barclays Considers Blockchain Payment Platform – Details

British banking giant Barclays is exploring the development of a blockchain-based payment platform to support services like payments and settlements. As part of this initiative, the bank has sent requests for information to potential technology partners and aims to select providers by April. The platform may include use cases for stablecoin payments and tokenized deposits, aligning Barclays with other major banks such as JPMorgan, BNP Paribas, Bank of America, and Citigroup, which have launched similar blockchain and digital currency projects. This move highlights the growing interest of traditional financial institutions in digital assets, particularly stablecoins, which are increasingly viewed as a transformative force in global payments. Regulatory developments, such as the U.S. GENIUS Act, are further encouraging institutional adoption. Industry analysts project significant growth for stablecoins, with estimates suggesting they could facilitate over $50 trillion in annual payments by 2030.

bitcoinist23 min fa

Banking Giant Barclays Considers Blockchain Payment Platform – Details

bitcoinist23 min fa

Under the AI Wave, Which Web3 Careers Are Rapidly Disappearing?

The rapid advancement of AI is profoundly impacting the Web3 job market, leading to the decline of several traditional roles while creating new opportunities. Roles such as junior Solidity developers, entry-level researchers, community moderators, crypto traders, and NFT artists are increasingly being replaced by AI, which can perform these tasks faster, cheaper, and often more effectively. Conversely, new Web3 professions are emerging. These include AI-Web3 synergy architects, who design systems for AI and blockchain integration; AI agent training coordinators, managing multi-agent collaboration; advanced prompt engineers crafting behavioral frameworks for AI; on-chain behavioral economists designing anti-AI-exploit tokenomics; Web3 compliance and ethics officers addressing algorithmic bias; and privacy and proof-of-humanity experts verifying human identity in an AI-dominated landscape. The key takeaway is adaptability. Web3 professionals must assess whether their current roles will remain relevant and focus on areas where human-AI collaboration creates value—the intersection of human ingenuity and machine efficiency.

marsbit27 min fa

Under the AI Wave, Which Web3 Careers Are Rapidly Disappearing?

marsbit27 min fa

After OpenMind's Token Launch: A Quick Guide to Unreleased Token Projects in the Robotics Sector

Following the recent token launch by OpenMind, a leading project in the crypto robotics sector, which generated significant community discussion and airdrop rewards, the broader robotics narrative is gaining momentum. This was further amplified by the high-profile showcase of embodied intelligence companies during the 2026 Spring Festival Gala. Against this backdrop of increased capital and public attention, the article highlights several promising, yet-to-launch token projects in the robotics space for potential early interaction and airdrop opportunities. Key projects featured include: - **PrismaX**: An open coordination layer connecting remote operators, users, and robot companies. It completed a $11 million funding round and offers an interactive platform where users can earn points through daily logins, quizzes, and even paid access to control robots remotely. - **Konnex**: A decentralized platform enabling robots to act as independent economic agents, collaborating on tasks and settling payments with stablecoins. It recently secured $15 million and has launched a points program for user engagement. - **BitRobot Network**: A decentralized, incentive-driven platform focused on Embodied AI research. It raised $8 million and is currently accepting applications for early access to its network. - **Axis Robotics**: A project aiming to bridge diverse human intelligence with Robotics General Intelligence (RGI), moving from "AI that chats" to "AI that acts." It provides an interactive hub for users to complete tasks by operating robots. The article provides basic interaction guides for each project, suggesting that the robotics sector is a key area to watch for potential airdrops and growth in the first half of the year.

Odaily星球日报36 min fa

After OpenMind's Token Launch: A Quick Guide to Unreleased Token Projects in the Robotics Sector

Odaily星球日报36 min fa

Aave's Internal Conflict Escalates, Morpho Quietly Doubles: Is the Lending Throne About to Change Hands?

The article discusses the escalating internal conflicts within Aave and the rising prominence of Morpho in the decentralized lending space. Aave, the current market leader, is facing significant governance disputes, including a controversial $51 million funding proposal and accusations of financial mismanagement, leading to internal friction and potential delays in decision-making. In contrast, Morpho has transitioned to Morpho Blue, a modular, permissionless lending protocol that allows isolated markets with risk parameters set by independent curators rather than global DAO votes. This design reduces governance friction and enables faster adjustments. Morpho has demonstrated strong growth, with TVL surpassing $9.5 billion, active loans exceeding $3.5 billion, and quarterly revenue around $50 million. User growth has also been robust, expanding from 30,000 to 400,000 active addresses. A significant catalyst for Morpho is the involvement of Apollo Global Management, which plans to acquire 90 million MORPHO tokens (9% of supply) over 48 months, valued at approximately $162 million. This partnership may signal Apollo’s strategic move to leverage Morpho’s infrastructure for enhancing yields on its tokenized real-world assets (RWA), addressing liquidity challenges in the RWA market. While Aave’s governance issues may hinder its progress, Morpho’s innovative structure and institutional backing position it as a potential challenger for the lending throne. However, risks remain, including a major token unlock in March that could impact short-term liquidity.

marsbit48 min fa

Aave's Internal Conflict Escalates, Morpho Quietly Doubles: Is the Lending Throne About to Change Hands?

marsbit48 min fa

Aave's Internal Conflict Escalates, Morpho Quietly Doubles: Is the Lending Throne About to Change Hands?

The article discusses the escalating internal conflicts within Aave and the rising prominence of Morpho in the decentralized lending space. While Aave remains the largest lending protocol by total value locked (TVL), it is facing significant governance disputes, including a controversial $51 million funding proposal and accusations of poor fund utilization by its team. These issues have slowed decision-making and created internal division. In contrast, Morpho has gained attention due to its modular, permissionless lending infrastructure, Morpho Blue, which allows for isolated markets with independent risk parameters set by curators rather than relying on slow global governance. This design reduces friction and enables faster adaptation. Morpho’s metrics show strong growth: TVL surpassed $9.5 billion in late 2025, active loans exceeded $3.5 billion, and quarterly active addresses grew from 30,000 to 400,000. Protocol revenue remained stable around $50 million per quarter. A major catalyst for Morpho is the involvement of traditional finance. Apollo Global Management plans to acquire up to 90 million MORPHO tokens (9% of supply) over four years, worth approximately $162 million at current prices. This signals institutional interest, potentially using Morpho’s leveraging RWA (real-world asset) products for higher yields. Despite Morpho’s growth, it still trails Aave in TVL. However, Aave’s governance challenges may provide an opportunity for Morpho to capture market share. The article concludes that a shift in lending leadership may be underway, though Morpho must sustain growth and navigate upcoming token unlocks in March.

Odaily星球日报55 min fa

Aave's Internal Conflict Escalates, Morpho Quietly Doubles: Is the Lending Throne About to Change Hands?

Odaily星球日报55 min fa

Trading

Spot
Futures
活动图片