US Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Protect Blockchain Devs from Prosecution
The post US Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Protect Blockchain Devs from Prosecution appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the US House of Representatives has introduced legislation aimed at halting prosecution of software developers who do not have custody or control of others’ crypto assets. In a Thursday notice, Representatives Scott Fitzgerald, Ben Cline and Zoe Lofgren said that they would be sponsoring the Promoting Innovation in Blockchain Development Act in an effort to change how criminal cases involving blockchain developers are handled. The bill would clarify that Section 1960 under US federal law, on the “prohibition of illegal money transmitting businesses,” would apply only to actors with control of others’ digital assets. At least two crypto advocacy organizations publicly supported the bill. The Blockchain Association called it a “critical step” to encourage US-based developers. The DeFi Education Fund (DEF) said the legislation would likely put a stop to prosecutions similar to those of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm or the creators of the Samourai Wallet. “[The bill] makes it clear software developers who do not take custody of or control other people’s money can build neutral technology, here at home, without worrying about being criminally prosecuted as if they are a financial intermediary,” said DEF. Source: DeFi Education Fund It’s unclear whether the bill, if signed into law, would put a stop to previously filed cases against developers. Storm was found guilty of running an unlicensed money transmitter business in August 2025, while Samourai Wallet founders Keonne Rodriguez and Will Lonergan Hill pleaded guilty to similar charges in July and were later sentenced to five and four years in prison, respectively. Related: US ‘crypto capital’ claim tested by developer prosecutions As of Thursday, Storm had yet to be sentenced or face a possible retrial for two other charges. US Senate to address blockchain bill Lawmakers in the US Senate have already pitched…
Filed under: News - @ February 27, 2026 4:28 pm