In a critical week for the cryptocurrency industry, following the delayed markup of the Crypto Market Structure bill (CLARITY Act), House Democrats are calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chair, Paul Atkins, to reinstate enforcement actions against crypto firms. 

The letter, dated January 15, was signed by Representatives Maxine Waters, Sean Casten, and Brad Sherman, who expressed concerns regarding the SEC’s recent retreat to investigate and prosecute alleged violations related to “digital asset securities.”

House Democrats’ Allegations

The representatives highlighted that since January 2025, the SEC has dismissed or closed more than a dozen cases involving crypto-related activities, including litigations against major players like Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken. Just this week, the SEC also closed its case against the Zcash Foundation.

In their letter, the lawmakers alleged that given the industry’s “troubling history of harming investors,” the SEC’s decision to pull back raises serious questions about its priorities and effectiveness. They warned that this shift puts both investors and the broader US economy at considerable risk.

Moreover, the representatives highlighted unprecedented lobbying and monetary contributions to political figures, including President Trump and his associates, from the digital asset sector. They pointed out that this could have influenced the SEC’s decision to abandon a majority of its crypto enforcement actions. 

Alleged Conflicts Of Interest Between Trump And Crypto 

These concerns follows months of allegations from the Democratic Party suggesting conflicts of interest between the Trump administration and the crypto industry, particularly highlighted by last year’s pardon for former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and connections to the Trump-affiliated World Liberty Financial (WLFI).

According to the lawmakers, the SEC’s choice to walk away from these enforcement cases has raised suspicions of a possible pay-to-play dynamic. They argued that allowing violators of securities laws to escape without repercussions contradicts the SEC’s primary responsibility. 

Furthermore, the Representatives claim that recent statements by Chair Atkins, who said that ‘most crypto tokens are not securities’, have caused confusion.

The Democrats further pointed out that this lack of enforcement against digital assets leaves investors “vulnerable” and allegedly fails to protect them from potential violations in the market.

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The recently released draft of the CLARITY Act, a significant piece of legislation aimed at regulating the crypto market, has ignited a wave of criticism from supporters within the community. 

Initially, the bill was meant to include protections for developers. However, expert commentary suggests that it opens the door to continued prosecution of developers and enhances surveillance measures for users of non-custodial software. 

Crypto Market Structure Bill Draft Lacks Essential Protections 

Market expert Ryan Adams highlighted another key issue in the crypto bill, stating that if banks succeed in eliminating stablecoin yield provisions within the CLARITY Act, it would indicate that the Senate is prioritizing bank interests over those of the general public.

Adams’s concerns were echoed by various users, who opined that the strategy appears orchestrated to allow banks to benefit by controlling how yields are managed and distributed. 

An independent report by The Rage reinforces these worries, detailing how the proposed draft includes so-called developer protections that may fall short.  Notably absent are safeguards against the rigorous implications of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) for self-custodial wallets. 

Additionally, the draft hints at possible applications to decentralized finance (DeFi) that could empower agencies to implement Travel Rule-like regulations, along with anti-money laundering (AML) measures targeting web-based interfaces and blockchain analysis firms.

Per the report, the Senate has already received 137 amendments to the draft ahead of its markup, scheduled for January 15. A revised version of the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA) is also included, which has been seen as vital for protecting developers. 

BRCA Loopholes

While the BRCA offers exemptions under AML and counter-terrorist financing regulations, it continues to leave developers vulnerable to accountability for the actions of users utilizing their software. 

The BRCA states that “non-controlling” developers—defined as those without unilateral control over digital asset transactions—will not be categorized as money transmitters under the relevant laws. However, this only alleviates certain charges and doesn’t prevent criminal liability for those whose software is misused.

Pro-crypto Senator Cynthia Lummis remarked on this aspect of the BRCA, indicating that it retains all necessary AML protections, which implies that despite any positives, accountability remains a looming threat for developers.

Simultaneously, the “Keep Your Coins Act” within the draft includes provisions claiming that federal agencies cannot prohibit self-custody of digital assets. However, further stipulations assert that this right does not prevent the application of laws concerning illicit finance, leaving loopholes for government intervention.

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) past attempts to impose a broker rule that would classify decentralized finance services as intermediaries requiring reporting obligations have been echoed in the current draft. 

This time, the Senate Banking Committee appears to be leaning towards a similar regulatory approach, aiming to provide guidance on BSA and AML compliance for “non-decentralized finance protocols,” thereby raising concerns about the implications for crypto developers who maintain and update protocols.

Under the new sections, the Senate Banking Committee introduces a concept termed “Distributed Ledger Application Layers,” which the report claims invites scrutiny and creates compliance obligations for software applications that allow users to interact with decentralized finance protocols. 

The provisions also compel the Treasury to develop additional oversight mechanisms to mitigate exposure to illicit financing risks identified through distributed ledger analysis tools, effectively ensuring that crypto transactions remain under close scrutiny.

As it currently stands, the lack of robust protections for developers and users involved in privacy-enhancing technologies in this current draft suggests that the Senate’s proposal for market structure will do little to safeguard non-custodial developers. 

Instead, it further entrenches their vulnerability to government oversight and user surveillance. Ultimately, these developments present a significant challenge for privacy software users and developers.

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