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forklog.media Coin Center Advocates for Code as a Form of Free Speech

Programming code is a form of free speech that should be protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, according to Peter Van Valkenburgh and Lisandro Piper of Coin Center. Big new Coin Center report on the First Amendment.Highly recommend reading if you, for example, happen to work at the SDNY and find yourself up at night wondering if the Supreme Court treats "functional" software as less worthy of strict constitutional protections.Spoiler, it… https://t.co/wxlD7SXTEx— Peter Van Valkenburgh (@valkenburgh) April 20, 2026 "Developers are authors and inventors, not agents, custodians, or fiduciaries. Requiring them to register or obtain licenses in advance ignores the historical logic of financial oversight and imposes a classic prior restraint on activities that are essentially self-expression. This is unconstitutional," they stated. According to the experts, writing and publishing code is no different from writing a book or publishing a recipe. The First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression, essentially provides strict constitutional protection for developers who merely publish and maintain software. When a Developer Becomes an Intermediary Van Valkenburgh and Piper stated that their report aims to help courts and regulatory bodies distinguish between the publication of code and the professional activities of a software creator. A developer falls under regulation when they control user assets, conduct transactions on their behalf, or make decisions for them. "Lower courts confuse execution with expression, which undermines the First Amendment protection of code," noted Coin Center specialists. They added that some judges consider code closer to execution than expression because it can be run to achieve real-world results. However, the experts insist that such activity is pure self-expression. They argue that this is confirmed by U.S. Supreme Court practice, despite errors by lower courts. Van Valkenburgh and Piper referred to the 1985 case of Lowe v. SEC. The high court then ruled that a publisher who does not hold client funds or conduct transactions on their behalf is protected by free speech, is not considered a professional market participant, and is not subject to corresponding regulation. Programmers Should Not Be Scapegoats Cryptocurrency protocols have eliminated some traditional intermediaries. With self-custody and P2P transfers, there is no need for a central authority to control transactions. Traditional financial structures acting on behalf of users are subject to state regulation and must obtain licenses. According to Van Valkenburgh and Piper, the complexity of regulating new technologies does not justify attempts to make software developers intermediaries "for convenience." "Blockchain-based projects do not require the invention of new legal doctrines or exceptions. They require the good faith application of established First Amendment principles to a new technological context," they added. In the computer age, where software is the main means of expressing ideas and organizing economic life, "these principles are more important than ever." Writing and publishing code is speech that cannot be silenced by licensing in a free society, Coin Center experts concluded. Context Crypto developers have been seeking legal protection from criminal prosecution for the code they write for several years. In 2025, a court issued guilty verdicts to several programmers based on how third parties used their software. A notable example is the trial of one of the founders of the crypto mixer Tornado Cash, Roman Storm. Authorities found him guilty of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmission business. Many experts disagreed with the decision. Samson Enzer, a partner at the law firm CahillNXT, stated that the government lacks evidence to prove Storm's intentional assistance to criminals. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin also spoke in his defense. The defense seeks to dismiss the case, citing the Supreme Court's decision in Cox Communications v. Sony Music Entertainment. Lawyers argue that Storm had no intention of participating in the crimes he is accused of. In August, the head of the U.S. Department of Justice's criminal division, Matthew Galeotti, announced that the department would stop prosecuting DeFi application developers under the statute for operating an unlicensed money transmission business. However, Van Valkenburgh noted that the official's words do not carry binding legal force.

news.bitcoin.com Adrian Wall of DSA Advances Stablecoin Policy Discussion at Blockchain and Fintech Conference at Harvard

This sponsored press release was provided by TRON DAO and was not written by Bitcoin.com News. Bitcoin.com News does not necessarily endorse the statements made within this announcement. PRESS RELEASE. Washington, D.C., April 20, 2026 — The Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing clear and ethical public policy, research and education […]

blockonomi.com XRP Price Forecast After Ripple CEO Targets CLARITY Act by May: Can Pepeto’s Binance-Backed Exchange Deliver Bigger Returns?

The XRP price forecast just got stronger after Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse told the Semafor World Economy event on April 13 that the CLARITY Act will pass by the end of May, giving Ripple (XRP) permanent regulatory clarity under federal law. When the biggest legislative barrier in crypto is about to fall, the entire exchange [...] The post XRP Price Forecast After Ripple CEO Targets CLARITY Act by May: Can Pepeto’s Binance-Backed Exchange Deliver Bigger Returns? appeared first on Blockonomi.

bitcoinist.com What To Know About This Week’s CLARITY Act Push—And Why Mid-May Is Now Key

After months of delay, the Senate appears to be approaching a decisive moment for the long-awaited CLARITY Act. This week could finally help determine whether lawmakers can move the bill forward—or whether additional negotiating pressure will push momentum into mid-May.  Banks Pressure Banking Committee Members A Monday report from Crypto In America’s Eleanor Terrett said […]

news.bitcoin.com UK Gas Firm Clarifies Bitcoin Mining Plans at Yorkshire Site

Reabold Resources has clarified it is only exploring small-scale bitcoin mining at its UK gas site, following reports of a broader pivot. The company says its primary focus remains domestic energy supply. Key Takeaways: Reabold said 2026 bitcoin mining at West Newton is small-scale, not a strategic pivot. UK gas site holds eight billion cubic […]

blockmanity.com Crypto’s AI-Driven Agent Economy: The $5 Trillion Growth Engine by 2030

Crypto’s : The $5 Trillion Growth Engine by 2030 Imagine a world where smart AI agents handle your crypto trades, manage investments, and even negotiate deals—all on their own. No human needed. This is not science fiction. It’s the future […] The post Crypto’s AI-Driven Agent Economy: The $5 Trillion Growth Engine by 2030 appeared first on Blockmanity.

news.bitcoin.com KelpDAO Exploiter Moves 75,701 ETH to Mainnet, Begins Routing $175M to Bitcoin

Hours after the Arbitrum Security Council froze 30,766 ether tied to the KelpDAO exploit, the attacker moved all 75,701 ETH, roughly $175 million, to the Ethereum mainnet and began bridging the funds to bitcoin. Key Takeaways: After Arbitrum froze 30,766 ETH ($71M), the KelpDAO exploiter moved 75,701 ETH ($175M) to the Ethereum mainnet. Peckshield confirmed […]

blockonomi.com Starknet v0.14.2 Brings Native Privacy Infrastructure to Mainnet

TLDR: Starknet v0.14.2 introduces SNIP-36, enabling native in-protocol STARK proof verification on mainnet. STRK20 allows any ERC-20 token on Starknet to operate with encrypted balances and shielded transfers. strkBTC lets bitcoin holders access DeFi on Starknet without exposing their full wallet transaction history. SNIP-37 rebalances network economics by raising storage costs while lowering base L2 [...] The post Starknet v0.14.2 Brings Native Privacy Infrastructure to Mainnet appeared first on Blockonomi.

bitcoinist.com Coinbase Launches Crypto-Backed USDC Loans For UK Users In Latest Expansion

Building on its US success, crypto exchange Coinbase has rolled out crypto-backed USDC loans for UK residents, using Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) as collateral. This expands the exchange’s growing suite of financial services in the region. Related Reading: Ripple CTO Emeritus Warns RLUSD Review Exposed A DeFi Security Red Flag Crypto-Backed Loans Cross The […]

cryptobriefing.com Marius Ciubotariu: Investor appetite is driving demand for higher yields in DeFi, Solana’s architecture supports scalability, and the shift towards stablecoin-based lending is reshaping the landscape | Bell Curve

Solana's scalability and stablecoin lending are reshaping the DeFi landscape amid rising investor demand for yields. The post Marius Ciubotariu: Investor appetite is driving demand for higher yields in DeFi, Solana’s architecture supports scalability, and the shift towards stablecoin-based lending is reshaping the landscape | Bell Curve appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

bitcoinist.com Ripple Unveils Multi-Phase Plan To Make The XRP Ledger Quantum-Ready By 2028

Ripple has unveiled a multi-phase roadmap to prepare the XRP Ledger (XRPL) for a post-quantum future, aiming to achieve full readiness by 2028.  The announcement comes as advances in quantum computing raise concerns that the cryptography used by many blockchains today could eventually be undermined—potentially putting long-term users and high-value accounts at risk. XRPL Faces […]

forklog.media Uzbekistan to Establish Cryptocurrency Mining Zone

Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree to establish the Besqala Mining Valley, a special zone for cryptocurrency mining, in Karakalpakstan. The project encompasses the entire territory of the republic. The initiative aims to develop mining based on "green" energy and attract investment to the region. Participants are permitted to use the general power grid and alternative sources, including hydrogen stations. Excess heat from the farms can be redirected by residents to heat greenhouses. Miners have been granted the right to sell cryptocurrency on local and foreign exchanges or through direct transactions. Revenue can be credited to accounts in Uzbek banks. Until January 1, 2035, the income of Besqala Mining Valley participants is exempt from taxes. Instead, residents will pay a monthly fee of 1% of revenue to the zone's administration. The electricity tariff for miners is set at 1800 soms per kWh (a double coefficient for Group II consumers). Exceptions are provided for projects with investments exceeding $100 million. Only companies registered in Karakalpakstan can become residents. Applicants must have suitable premises and functional electrical networks. Leaders and founders are prohibited from having convictions for economic crimes. To commence operations, a legal entity must obtain resident status and permission from the National Agency for Perspective Projects. Earlier in January, Uzbekistan introduced a special legal regime under which stablecoins became an official means of payment.

forklog.media Coin Center Advocates for Code as a Form of Free Speech

Programming code is a form of free speech that should be protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, according to Peter Van Valkenburgh and Lisandro Piper of Coin Center. Big new Coin Center report on the First Amendment.Highly recommend reading if you, for example, happen to work at the SDNY and find yourself up at night wondering if the Supreme Court treats "functional" software as less worthy of strict constitutional protections.Spoiler, it… https://t.co/wxlD7SXTEx— Peter Van Valkenburgh (@valkenburgh) April 20, 2026 "Developers are authors and inventors, not agents, custodians, or fiduciaries. Requiring them to register or obtain licenses in advance ignores the historical logic of financial oversight and imposes a classic prior restraint on activities that are essentially self-expression. This is unconstitutional," they stated. According to the experts, writing and publishing code is no different from writing a book or publishing a recipe. The First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression, essentially provides strict constitutional protection for developers who merely publish and maintain software. When a Developer Becomes an Intermediary Van Valkenburgh and Piper stated that their report aims to help courts and regulatory bodies distinguish between the publication of code and the professional activities of a software creator. A developer falls under regulation when they control user assets, conduct transactions on their behalf, or make decisions for them. "Lower courts confuse execution with expression, which undermines the First Amendment protection of code," noted Coin Center specialists. They added that some judges consider code closer to execution than expression because it can be run to achieve real-world results. However, the experts insist that such activity is pure self-expression. They argue that this is confirmed by U.S. Supreme Court practice, despite errors by lower courts. Van Valkenburgh and Piper referred to the 1985 case of Lowe v. SEC. The high court then ruled that a publisher who does not hold client funds or conduct transactions on their behalf is protected by free speech, is not considered a professional market participant, and is not subject to corresponding regulation. Programmers Should Not Be Scapegoats Cryptocurrency protocols have eliminated some traditional intermediaries. With self-custody and P2P transfers, there is no need for a central authority to control transactions. Traditional financial structures acting on behalf of users are subject to state regulation and must obtain licenses. According to Van Valkenburgh and Piper, the complexity of regulating new technologies does not justify attempts to make software developers intermediaries "for convenience." "Blockchain-based projects do not require the invention of new legal doctrines or exceptions. They require the good faith application of established First Amendment principles to a new technological context," they added. In the computer age, where software is the main means of expressing ideas and organizing economic life, "these principles are more important than ever." Writing and publishing code is speech that cannot be silenced by licensing in a free society, Coin Center experts concluded. Context Crypto developers have been seeking legal protection from criminal prosecution for the code they write for several years. In 2025, a court issued guilty verdicts to several programmers based on how third parties used their software. A notable example is the trial of one of the founders of the crypto mixer Tornado Cash, Roman Storm. Authorities found him guilty of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmission business. Many experts disagreed with the decision. Samson Enzer, a partner at the law firm CahillNXT, stated that the government lacks evidence to prove Storm's intentional assistance to criminals. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin also spoke in his defense. The defense seeks to dismiss the case, citing the Supreme Court's decision in Cox Communications v. Sony Music Entertainment. Lawyers argue that Storm had no intention of participating in the crimes he is accused of. In August, the head of the U.S. Department of Justice's criminal division, Matthew Galeotti, announced that the department would stop prosecuting DeFi application developers under the statute for operating an unlicensed money transmission business. However, Van Valkenburgh noted that the official's words do not carry binding legal force.

blockonomi.com Dragonfly’s Haseeb Qureshi: Aave Has the Capital to Absorb Bad Debt Amid DeFi Risk Concerns

TLDR: Dragonfly Managing Partner Haseeb Qureshi says Aave holds sufficient capital to absorb any bad debt it may face.  DeFi has survived major crises including Terra’s collapse, the 2022 stETH depeg, and 2020 liquidation failures.  Qureshi compares DeFi’s recovery process to how traditional finance evolved through historical banking crises.  Active governance debates within DeFi communities [...] The post Dragonfly’s Haseeb Qureshi: Aave Has the Capital to Absorb Bad Debt Amid DeFi Risk Concerns appeared first on Blockonomi.

news.bitcoin.com 0G Foundation and Alibaba Cloud Partner to Bring Qwen LLMs Onchain

The collaboration between 0G Foundation and Alibaba Cloud marks a significant shift in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, enabling autonomous AI agents to access the Qwen large language model family directly onchain. Key Takeaways: 0G Foundation and Alibaba Cloud launched onchain access to Qwen LLMs for AI agents on April 21, 2026. The move shifts AI […]

cryptobriefing.com Nicolas Niarchos: Cobalt mining in the DRC resembles modern-day slavery, Chinese companies dominate the supply chain, and ethical sourcing is crucial for clean energy | Jordan Harbinger

Exploitive cobalt mining in the DRC reveals ethical challenges within the global clean energy supply chain. The post Nicolas Niarchos: Cobalt mining in the DRC resembles modern-day slavery, Chinese companies dominate the supply chain, and ethical sourcing is crucial for clean energy | Jordan Harbinger appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

forklog.media NSA Utilizes Anthropic’s Mythos Model Amid Pentagon Dispute

The United States National Security Agency (NSA) is employing the much-discussed Mythos model from Anthropic, despite the startup's conflict with the Pentagon. This was reported by Axios, citing sources. Previously, disagreements arose between Anthropic and the Pentagon due to the company's reluctance to allow the use of AI models for mass surveillance of U.S. citizens and the development of autonomous weapons. Consequently, President Donald Trump instructed all federal agencies to completely cease using the AI firm's technologies within six months. In April, Anthropic developed a new model, Claude Mythos, but refrained from releasing it publicly due to high security risks. During several weeks of testing, the neural network identified thousands of zero-day vulnerabilities in major operating systems and web browsers. Instead of a public release, the company launched Project Glasswing—an initiative involving AWS, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Google, JPMorgan Chase, Linux Foundation, Microsoft, Nvidia, Palo Alto Networks, and others to test the tool in secure environments. Axios discovered that the NSA is among the undisclosed recipients of the technology. It is unknown how the agency utilizes the startup's artificial intelligence, but others use it to scan their own environments for vulnerabilities. “Currently, the military is expanding the use of Anthropic's tools while simultaneously claiming in court that their application threatens U.S. national security,” the journalists noted. Relations between Anthropic and the authorities seem to have warmed. On April 18, the company's CEO, Dario Amodei, discussed potential collaboration opportunities with administration representatives. The meeting was attended by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Earlier in April, Anthropic released an environment for running complex and long-term agent tasks—Claude Managed Agents.

cryptobriefing.com Alex Karnal: GLP-1 medicines could exceed $100 billion in revenue, a trillion-dollar public health revolution is imminent, and managing glucose levels is key to reducing cardiovascular risks | Invest Like the Best

GLP-1 medicines are set to revolutionize public health with over $100 billion in annual revenue potential. The post Alex Karnal: GLP-1 medicines could exceed $100 billion in revenue, a trillion-dollar public health revolution is imminent, and managing glucose levels is key to reducing cardiovascular risks | Invest Like the Best appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

forklog.media Analyst Predicts Bitcoin Could Reach $100,000 by 2026

The first cryptocurrency is expected to reach a new all-time high within 12 months. Michaël van de Poppe, founder of MN Trading, noted that after deep corrections, the asset's price typically increases by 30-60% over six months. Statistically, after such a correction of #Bitcoin, a new ATH is made within 12 months. Within 3-6 months, on every occasion of such an outlier, Bitcoin was trading 30-60% higher than the low.That would put $100K on the map in Q3 of 2026.— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) April 20, 2026 According to him, if this trend continues, the rate will reach $100,000 in the third quarter of 2026. At the time of writing, digital gold is trading at $76,256 (+1.3% for the day). Hourly chart of BTC/USDT on Binance. Source: TradingView. Dynamics of Profitable and Unprofitable Bitcoin Addresses Joao Wedson, founder of the analytical platform Alphractal, observed an unusual dynamic in profitable and unprofitable bitcoin assets. Supply in Profit vs. Supply in Loss in Bitcoin shows an incredible dynamic.1. In each cycle, Supply in Profit tends to be higher, indicating that being a Long-Term Holder has been a good strategy. There is also a mysterious trendline here.2. Supply in Loss shows that since… pic.twitter.com/C2y6hh7ifo— Joao Wedson (@joao_wedson) April 20, 2026 The data shows that in each new cycle, the volume of "profitable" supply increases. According to the expert, this confirms the effectiveness of a long-term holding strategy for cryptocurrency. Wedson also noted a persistent trendline on the chart, which he described as "mysterious." Meanwhile, the volume of assets in loss is steadily decreasing. This trend began after the market downturn in 2018. With each cycle, the share of coins purchased at higher prices diminishes. The analyst emphasized that no other global asset demonstrates such symmetrical and consistent behavior. In his view, this supply structure makes bitcoin a unique financial instrument. At the same time, Julio Moreno, head of research at CryptoQuant, recorded a sharp inflow of bitcoins to exchanges. Bitcoin exchange inflows have spiked in the last few hours.Most of that went to Coinbase. pic.twitter.com/70Mq007qb7— Julio Moreno (@jjcmoreno) April 20, 2026 The majority of the coins were sent to the Coinbase platform. An increase in exchange deposits is often associated with investors preparing to sell coins. On April 20, the price of the first cryptocurrency held at $75,000 following the breakdown of the truce between the US and Iran.

blockonomi.com Cryptomus Likely Launched Heleket to Evade FINTRAC’s Record CAD 177M Penalty, TRM Analysis Finds

TLDR: TRM Labs assessed with high confidence that Cryptomus and Heleket share the same operators and infrastructure. Heleket’s illicit inflow ratio is nearly five times higher than the payment service provider average in TRM data. Garantex, a sanctioned Russian exchange, served as the primary liquidity source for both Cryptomus and Heleket. Cybercrime actors, including CSAM [...] The post Cryptomus Likely Launched Heleket to Evade FINTRAC’s Record CAD 177M Penalty, TRM Analysis Finds appeared first on Blockonomi.

news.bitcoin.com Arbitrum Security Council Freezes 30,766 ETH From KelpDAO Exploiter in Emergency Onchain Action

The Arbitrum Security Council froze 30,766 ether held by the KelpDAO exploiter on Arbitrum One, moving the funds to a protocol-controlled address before they could be bridged back to the Ethereum mainnet. Key Takeaways: Arbitrum’s Security Council froze 30,766 ETH worth roughly 70 million from the KelpDAO exploiter on April 21. Peckshield flagged the exploiter […]