“For us, having financial freedom is a way to fight back against the regime, and a cryptocurrency like bitcoin is a tool for our survival. It’s the money of the people, and it gives us hope.” Roya Mahboob, on women using #Bitcoin in #Afghanistan

The Bitcoin Policy Institute, the Blockchain Association, The DeFi Education Fund, and other institutions have teamed up to issue an amicus brief in defense of open-source developers who are being wrongfully prosecuted as money transmitters. The brief argues that these devs aren’t in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1960. Link to full brief: https://www.defieducationfund.org/_files/ugd/84ba66_a0475d7bbcf4436a83f68e792c554b4a.pdf

“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but what happens in America doesn’t stay in America [when it comes to] Bitcoin policy. The norms, laws, and rules that are laid out here… have an impact on nearly everybody in the world.” @gladstein

A U.S. court has dropped Coin Center’s appeal to OFAC regarding Tornado Cash. But the developers behind the tech are still facing criminals charges. More in my latest:

Bitcoin Magazine

U.S. Court Brings Coin Center’s Tornado Cash Appeal To A Close

Coin Center’s appeal to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) regarding Tornado Cash is now over.

In 1889, crowds gathered outside The Tower Building (below), one of the first skyscrapers in Manhattan, waiting for it to fall over. (It never did.) The modern day version of the people in those crowds are those waiting for Bitcoin to fail or go to zero.

There’s a part of me that doesn’t care how big #Nostr gets. I’m just glad it exists.

Senator Lummis’ new bill enables U.S. citizens to spend #bitcoin without incurring capital gains taxes - which is very cool. The only problem is that the spending thresholds are too low.

Bitcoin Magazine

Senator Lummis’ New Bill Enables Tax-Exempt Bitcoin Spending — But Thresholds Are Too Low

Long-time Bitcoin advocate Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) has drafted a bill that allows Bitcoin enthusiasts to spend small amounts of bitcoin witho...

Just finished up a great rip with Julian Fahrer of BitcoinLaws.io. We covered: 📌 Senator Lummis’ new Bitcoin tax exemption law 📌 Troy Cross’ findings on Bitcoin voter demographics 📌 Updates on Bitcoin laws from AZ, CA, CT & MA 📌 The OBBB 📌 Pakistan and the IMF 📌 Takeaways from my interview at @PUBKEY with Venezuelan opposition leader @Leopoldo López 👍 as they pertain to NYC’s new mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/live/ZGvcSXcJzlk?si=p3Sn1Dsxi529GviU

In just over three years, the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI) has gone from “a blog running on a shoestring budget” to having real influence in DC. I sat down with BPI’s co-founder, David Zell, after this year’s Bitcoin Policy Summit, the org’s third annual event, to recap the event and to discuss the rise of BPI.

Impossible is nothing.