• Press Releases
    • Submit a press release
    • Read All
  • Contact us
Advertise
Bitcoinist.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
    • Price
      • Bitcoin Price
      • Ethereum Price
      • Binance Coin Price
      • Litecoin Price
  • Industry
    • Industry News
    • Press Releases
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • How to do Crypto Gambling
      • Crypto Casinos
        • Ethereum Casinos
        • Solana Casinos
        • LiteCoin Casinos
        • DogeCoin Casinos
        • Live Crypto Casinos
        • New Casinos
        • Instant Withdrawal Casinos
        • Cash App Casinos
        • No KYC Casinos
        • VPN Casinos
        • Offshore Casinos
          • Crypto Casinos IT
          • Crypto Casinos ES
            • All Guides
          • Crypto Casinos JP
          • Crypto Casinos SG
          • Crypto Casinos MY
          • Crypto Casinos KR
          • No GAMSTOP Casinos in UK
          • No Cruks Casinos NL
      • Crypto Betting
        • No ID sportsbooks
    • Play Crypto Games
      • Crypto Poker
      • Crypto Slots
      • Crypto Blackjack
      • Crypto Crash Gambling
        • Aviator Sites
      • Plinko
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Bitcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Events
  • Play Games
Breaking News: Is The Approval Of Crypto ETFs At Risk? SEC Operations Frozen By Gov. Shutdown
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
    • Price
      • Bitcoin Price
      • Ethereum Price
      • Binance Coin Price
      • Litecoin Price
  • Industry
    • Industry News
    • Press Releases
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • How to do Crypto Gambling
      • Crypto Casinos
        • Ethereum Casinos
        • Solana Casinos
        • LiteCoin Casinos
        • DogeCoin Casinos
        • Live Crypto Casinos
        • New Casinos
        • Instant Withdrawal Casinos
        • Cash App Casinos
        • No KYC Casinos
        • VPN Casinos
        • Offshore Casinos
          • Crypto Casinos IT
          • Crypto Casinos ES
            • All Guides
          • Crypto Casinos JP
          • Crypto Casinos SG
          • Crypto Casinos MY
          • Crypto Casinos KR
          • No GAMSTOP Casinos in UK
          • No Cruks Casinos NL
      • Crypto Betting
        • No ID sportsbooks
    • Play Crypto Games
      • Crypto Poker
      • Crypto Slots
      • Crypto Blackjack
      • Crypto Crash Gambling
        • Aviator Sites
      • Plinko
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Bitcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Events
  • Play Games
Bitcoinist.com
No Result
View All Result
Breaking News: Is The Approval Of Crypto ETFs At Risk? SEC Operations Frozen By Gov. Shutdown
DeFi

DOJ Makes It Clear: Writing Defi Code Won’t Land You In Jail

Christian Encila
by Christian Encila
1 month ago
·
Posted in Crypto News
Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

In a major policy shift, federal prosecutors are changing how they approach decentralized finance, or Defi.

After years of uncertainty around liability for coders and software developers, officials are now drawing a clear line between creating technology and committing a crime.

The US Justice Department has announced it will no longer target software developers who build Defi platforms without proof of criminal intent.

Related Reading: Ethereum Now Carries Tokenized Notes From Singapore’s Largest Bank

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti made the remarks Thursday during a digital assets summit in Wyoming. He said that writing code alone does not constitute a crime.

This signals a significant change from earlier enforcement strategies where prosecutors charged developers for operating unlicensed money transmission businesses.

Debate Over Money Transmission Rules

Regulators have long applied stringent rules to companies in the money remittance business, but the rise of Defi systems is putting those standards to the test.

Traditional payment platforms face clear obligations, while DeFi projects say those same rules don’t make sense in a code-driven environment.

Money transmitters such as PayPal and Cash App must secure licenses and comply with anti-money laundering obligations. They also have to verify customers and report suspicious transactions.

But decentralized exchanges argue these rules don’t fit their model since they have no control over user activity on their platforms.

NEW: US DOJ’S ACTING AAG MATTHEW GALEOTTI SAYS “OUR VIEW IS THAT MERELY WRITING CODE, WITHOUT ILL INTENT, IS NOT A CRIME. INNOVATING NEW WAYS FOR THE ECONOMY TO STORE AND TRANSMIT VALUE AND CREATE WEALTH, WITHOUT ILL INTENT, IS NOT A CRIME”https://t.co/iyGVBr0BCZ

— DEGEN NEWS (@DegenerateNews) August 21, 2025

Source: Getty Images

On Defi, Hiding Money & Ill Intent

The issue came under the spotlight after a New York jury recently convicted Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, on conspiracy charges linked to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.

Tornado Cash is a privacy service specifically designed to make Defi and cryptocurrency transactions more difficult to trace.

Jurors could not reach a decision on whether Storm committed money laundering or violated sanctions.

Prosecutors said the service allowed illicit finance, while critics of the case argued Storm had only written code.

Total crypto market cap currently at $3.7 trillion. Chart: TradingView

Prosecutors Will Prioritize Evidence Of Intent

According to Galeotti, future cases in the Defi and crypto space will require proof that a developer knowingly aided fraud, sanctions evasion, or laundering.

“Innovating new ways for the economy to store and transmit value and create wealth, without ill-intent, is not a crime,” he said.

He added that laws banning unlicensed money transmission will not apply to developers unless there is evidence of deliberate wrongdoing.

Related Reading: First Of Its Kind: Ripple Helps Build Real-Time Crypto Crime Response System

The focus of the US justices will remain on fraud, Ponzi schemes, and global laundering networks, including those based in China and other countries suspected of carrying out illicit transactions.

Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
ShareTweetShareShare

Sign Up for Our Newsletter!

For updates and exclusive offers enter your email.

I consent to my submitted data being collected and stored.
Christian Encila

Christian Encila

Follow

Christian, a journalist and editor with leadership roles in Philippine and Canadian media, is fueled by his love for writing and cryptocurrency. Off-screen, he's a cook and cinephile who's constantly intrigued by the size of the universe.

Full Profile

Related Posts

crypto

Crypto Meets Retail: Walmart-Linked Fintech Expands Into Digital Assets

5 hours ago
crypto, crypto exchange, Bitcoin, FTX

Crypto Oversight Concerns: State Regulators Warn Market Structure Bill May Hinder Anti-Fraud Protections

19 hours ago
Japan

Crypto In Japan May Soon Open Wider As Holdings Giant Pushes Expansion

1 day ago
Grok Predicts Dogecoin Price: Is Maxi Doge the Next 1000x Crypto to Explode?

Grok Predicts Dogecoin Price: Is Maxi Doge the Next 1000x Crypto to Explode?

1 day ago
Whales Buy Nearly $1M in 5 Days: Bitcoin Hyper Is the Next Crypto to Explode

Whales Buy Nearly $1M in 5 Days: Bitcoin Hyper Is the Next Crypto to Explode

1 day ago
Next Crypto to Explode Live News Today: Timely Insights for Chart Sniffers (October 3)

Next Crypto to Explode Live News Today: Timely Insights for Chart Sniffers (October 3)

1 day ago

Premium Sponsors

Press Releases

  • The Quiet Market Shift Investors Might Be Missing: How Tapzi Is Challenging Institutional Favorites

    The Quiet Market Shift Investors Might Be Missing: How...

    1 day ago
  • Investors Search for Long-Term Upside in This Under-$0.01 Crypto of 2025 Tapzi

    Investors Search for Long-Term Upside in This Under-$0.01...

    1 day ago
  • MoonBull Presale Explodes with over 11,800% Projected ROI as Uptober Sends the Market Soaring

    MoonBull Presale Explodes with over 11,800% Projected ROI...

    1 day ago
  • 狗狗幣引領『Uptober』Meme...

    2 days ago
  • ตัวละคร Snorter ขนฟูโต้คลื่นบนเซิร์ฟบอร์ดสีชมพู

    จับตา Uptober!...

    2 days ago

Bitcoin news portal providing breaking news, guides, price analysis about decentralized digital money & blockchain technology.

Bitcoin

  • News
  • Price
  • Businesses
  • Acceptance
  • Technology
  • Investment
  • Regulation
  • Reviews

Altcoins

  • News
  • Price
  • Ethereum
  • Ripple
  • Litecoin
  • EOS

Categories

  • Blockchain
  • Security
  • FinTech
  • Technology
  • Trending
  • Breaking News
  • Press Releases
  • How to

About Us

  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 Bitcoinist.com. All Rights Reserved.
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
    • Price
      • Bitcoin Price
      • Ethereum Price
      • Binance Coin Price
      • Litecoin Price
  • Industry
    • Industry News
    • Press Releases
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • How to do Crypto Gambling
      • Crypto Casinos
      • Crypto Betting
    • Play Crypto Games
      • Crypto Poker
      • Crypto Slots
      • Crypto Blackjack
      • Crypto Crash Gambling
      • Plinko
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Bitcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Events
  • Play Games
Advertise

© 2025 Bitcoinist. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy Center or Cookie Policy.