U.S. Senators Introduce Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act to Protect Non-Custodial Crypto Developers
Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ron Wyden introduced bipartisan legislation on January 12, 2026, exempting non-custodial blockchain developers from money transmitter registration requirements.
Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ron Wyden introduced the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act on January 12, 2026, clarifying that blockchain developers and service providers who do not control user funds will not be classified as money transmitters under federal or state law. The legislation defines non-controlling developers as those who build or maintain distributed ledger technology but lack unilateral ability to move customer assets. Protected activities include writing code, running nodes, providing debugging assistance, and publishing network upgrades. A similar House version, H.R. 3533, previously passed out of committee, and elements of the BRCA were incorporated into the broader CLARITY Act.
- Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA): Bipartisan legislation designed to exempt non-custodial blockchain developers and service providers from money transmitter registration requirements.
- Non-Custodial Developer: A developer or service provider who creates or maintains blockchain technology without having control over users' digital assets or private keys.
- Money Transmitter: A legal designation requiring licensing and registration for entities that transfer funds or monetary value, typically applied to financial institutions.