#U.S. Justice Department Sued#
Hot Topic Overview
Overview
The U.S. Department of Justice is being sued over its prosecution of crypto software developers. Michael Lewellen, a researcher at cryptocurrency think tank Coin Center, has filed suit in Texas against Attorney General Merrick Garland, asking a judge to guarantee the DOJ won't prosecute his upcoming cryptocurrency project for violating the Bank Secrecy Act. Lewellen argues that the DOJ's criminal prosecution of software developers who release non-custodial cryptocurrency software is unconstitutional, and alleges the DOJ's prosecutions of crypto developers betray its statements to the public. The lawsuit comes amid growing concern over government persecution of crypto privacy software developers, as pre-emptive lawsuits like Lewellen's become increasingly common in the absence of clear cryptocurrency regulation and legal frameworks.
Ace Hot Topic Analysis
Analysis
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently sparked controversy and faced a lawsuit over its prosecution of cryptocurrency software developers. Michael Lewellen, a researcher at Coin Center, has filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Merrick Garland in Texas, seeking a court order to ensure the DOJ won't prosecute his upcoming cryptocurrency project, Pharos, under the Money Transmission Act. Lewellen argues that the DOJ's prosecutions of cryptocurrency software developers violate the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution, alleging that the DOJ's actions against cryptocurrency developers "betray its representations to the public" that they wouldn't be considered money transmitters unless they had "complete and independent control" over the value being transferred. Lewellen's lawsuit aims to prevent him from facing criminal charges for creating cryptocurrency privacy software, similar to those brought against Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm and Samourai Wallet co-founder Keonne Rodriguez. The lawsuit reflects concerns about government persecution of cryptocurrency privacy software developers and highlights the growing prevalence of preemptive lawsuits in the absence of clear cryptocurrency regulation and legal frameworks.
Public Sentiment · Discussion Word Cloud
Public Sentiment
Discussion Word Cloud
Classic Views
The Department of Justice's criminal charges against cryptocurrency developers violate the Constitution, infringing on First and Fifth Amendment rights.
The Department of Justice's charges against cryptocurrency developers are unconstitutional because they do not have full and independent control over the value being transferred.
Government persecution of developers of crypto privacy software is intensifying, both in the United States and abroad.
The lack of clear cryptocurrency regulation and legal frameworks has led to pre-emptive lawsuits like that of Lewellen.