Coinbase has launched a sweeping critique of U.S. anti-money laundering regulations, calling them “broken” and urging the Treasury Department to embrace artificial intelligence, APIs, and zero-knowledge proofs to combat financial crime in digital assets. The crypto exchange’s formal proposal argues that decades-old Bank Secrecy Act requirements have created an ineffective compliance system that burdens consumers, stifles innovation, and creates privacy risks through repeated KYC data collection. As Treasury compiles industry responses for congressional review, the debate highlights growing tension between traditional financial oversight and emerging blockchain technologies.
about Coinbase Urges Treasury to Modernize AML with AI, Zero-Knowledge TechPeter Van Valkenburgh
0 posts last weekTrump Shares Bitcoin Defense in Senate Hearing
Former President Donald Trump amplified Bitcoin conversations by sharing a video of Coin Center’s Peter Van Valkenburgh explaining Bitcoin’s decentralized framework during a Senate hearing. Van Valkenburgh positioned Bitcoin as revolutionary public infrastructure, contrasting it with vulnerable centralized systems like banks, citing high-profile breaches like Equifax and SWIFT frauds. Meanwhile, institutional adoption grows, with MicroStrategy acquiring an additional 6,220 BTC, bringing its total holdings to 607,770 BTC worth billions, reinforcing Bitcoin’s store-of-value narrative.
about Trump Shares Bitcoin Defense in Senate HearingTrump’s Bitcoin Shift: From Critic to Crypto Champion
Donald Trump, once a vocal Bitcoin skeptic, has become a major advocate, recently endorsing a 2018 Senate testimony by Coin Center’s Peter Van Valkenburgh as the ‘Greatest Bitcoin explanation of all time.’ Valkenburgh’s defense of Bitcoin emphasized its role as a decentralized, censorship-resistant alternative to traditional financial systems. Trump’s policy shift—marked by pro-crypto legislation, dismantling regulatory barriers, and launching meme coins—has fueled Bitcoin’s surge past $119K and a $2.37T market cap. His actions include signing the GENIUS Act, allowing banks to issue stablecoins, and disbanding the DOJ’s crypto enforcement team, signaling a transformative era for U.S. crypto adoption.
about Trump's Bitcoin Shift: From Critic to Crypto ChampionCrypto at Crossroads: Privacy vs. Regulation
Peter Van Valkenburgh, executive director of Coin Center, highlights the critical juncture for cryptocurrency as policymakers weigh stricter regulations. On The Clear Crypto Podcast, he emphasized the growing tension between privacy advocates and financial surveillance efforts. With crypto becoming both mainstream and polarizing, the fight for decentralized networks is intensifying. Founded in 2014, Coin Center remains a key voice in shaping crypto policy, urging balanced oversight to preserve innovation and individual freedoms.
about Crypto at Crossroads: Privacy vs. RegulationTornado Cash Sanctions Appeal Ends as Case Dismissed
The U.S. Treasury Department and Coin Center have reached an agreement to dismiss an appeal related to sanctions against Ethereum mixer Tornado Cash. The Eleventh Circuit Court granted the motion after OFAC removed sanctions in March, rendering the case moot. Coin Center’s director noted the government’s reluctance to defend its broad sanctions interpretation, signaling a pivotal moment in crypto regulatory enforcement. The case highlights ongoing tensions between privacy tools and financial oversight in the blockchain space.
about Tornado Cash Sanctions Appeal Ends as Case Dismissed