US Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Affirm Blockchain Developers and Non-Custodial Services Are Not Money Transmitters

A U.S. lawmaker has introduced the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act to ensure that developers and non-custodial service providers in the crypto space are not considered money transmitters and are not subject to the same level of regulation as custodial cryptocurrency exchanges. “The longer we delay providing this commonsense clarification, the greater risk that this transformative technology is driven overseas, depriving domestic users and investors,” the lawmaker warned.

Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act Launched

U.S. Congressman Tom Emmer (R-MN), the majority whip of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced on Thursday that he has introduced the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA), “which affirms that blockchain developers and service providers that do not custody consumer funds are not money transmitters.” This bipartisan bill is co-led by Representative Darren Soto (D-FL). Emmer first introduced a similar bill in 2018.

“Crypto and blockchain technology, by nature, does not easily fit into the frameworks policymakers have considered when crafting regulations in the past. For too long, federal regulators and lawmakers have jammed the blockchain ecosystem into statutory definitions that just do not make sense,” Rep. Emmer explained, elaborating:

It should be simple: If you don’t custody consumer funds, you aren’t a money transmitter. My bill provides that necessary confirmation for the blockchain community.

“The longer we delay providing this commonsense clarification, the greater risk that this transformative technology is driven overseas, depriving domestic users and investors. This bill will help America remain a technological leader in the crypto space,” the House majority whip continued. Emmer and Soto also serve as co-chairs of the Congressional Blockchain Caucus.

Jerry Brito, executive director of Coin Center, a nonprofit focused on the policy issues facing cryptocurrencies, commented: “Sound cryptocurrency policy requires calibrating regulations specifically for the activities that present risks that should be mitigated.” He explained:

The Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act would reinforce in law the established understanding that non-custodial services, such as mining or providing wallet software, should not be regulated in the same way as something like running a custodial cryptocurrency exchange.

What do you think about Rep. Tom Emmer’s Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act? Let us know in the comments section below.