Crypto #Developers Push Back: DeFi Community Demands Legal Protections in U.S. Market Structure Bill

The U.S. #crypto sector is heading into another defining policy battle as DeFi builders and legal advocates push Congress to include explicit protections for software developers in the upcoming digital asset market structure bill.

In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Senate, 115 members of the decentralized finance (DeFi) community, led by the DeFi Education Fund (DEF), urged lawmakers to safeguard neutral developers and non-custodial providers from being prosecuted like Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm.

The group warned that without such protections, they would actively oppose the legislation.

“Without such protections, we cannot support a market structure bill,” the letter stated.

This demand comes at a time when the U.S. is losing its share of crypto talent to other jurisdictions. According to DEF, the number of U.S.-based open-source software developers has dropped from 25% in 2021 to 18% in 2025, a 7% decline in just four years. The exodus is widely attributed to regulatory uncertainty and enforcement risks facing blockchain developers.

If the trend continues, advocates warn it could undermine #President Donald #Trump ’s vision of turning the U.S. into the global crypto capital.

DeFi Leaders Call for Nationwide Developer Protections

The heart of the #DeFi community’s argument is straightforward: developers are not financial intermediaries and should not be regulated as such...

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