The Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI) has launched the Peer-to-Peer Rights Fund, a strategic initiative aimed at protecting the decentralized, peer-to-peer integrity of the Bitcoin ecosystem. The fund’s mission is to defend non-custodial tools and their developers from regulatory overreach, ensuring that innovation, privacy, and user autonomy remain safeguarded.
BPI argues that Bitcoin’s success lies in its peer-to-peer foundation, which sets it apart from other electronic cash attempts. The decentralized, open-source nature of Bitcoin is powered by its users and operates independently of greed, corruption, and politics. Developers worldwide have created non-custodial tools that enhance security, facilitate low-cost transactions, and ensure privacy.
Recent regulatory actions in the U.S. have targeted developers of open-source tools and companies in the non-custodial ecosystem, posing a threat to the decentralized Bitcoin community. The Peer-to-Peer Rights Fund’s first project involves defending the founders of Samurai Wallet against charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money services business.
BPI co-founder David Zell emphasized the importance of defending non-custodial privacy tools in the face of regulatory challenges. The outcome of the Samurai Wallet case could have significant implications for the future of non-custodial Bitcoin tools and decentralized finance.
Through the Peer-to-Peer Rights Fund, BPI aims to provide critical resources for defense counsel, sponsor amicus briefs, and support impact litigation to ensure that innovation within the Bitcoin ecosystem can thrive under a fair legal framework. To learn more about the fund or to donate, visit their website.
