As Washington continues to navigate the increasingly political terrain of cryptocurrency regulation, one lawmaker is refusing to let partisan divides stall progress. U.S. Representative Tom Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota, has officially reintroduced the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act—a piece of legislation that aims to bring clarity to digital asset regulations, particularly around developers and non-custodial service providers.
This legislative push comes at a particularly sensitive moment. With President Donald Trump’s deepening connections to the crypto space, including his recent promotion of a personal memecoin, many Democratic lawmakers have grown hesitant to support any crypto-forward policies. The optics of Trump hosting a private dinner for the top holders of his TRUMP memecoin—scheduled for May 22—have only fueled further skepticism.
Despite the tension, Emmer isn’t going it alone. The reintroduction of the bill on May 21 came with support from across the aisle, thanks to Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres of New York, who will co-lead the initiative. Torres has consistently positioned himself as a pro-crypto voice in Congress and a founding member of the Congressional Crypto Caucus alongside Emmer. Together, they are once again attempting to inject some much-needed bipartisan energy into blockchain policy discussions.
“The Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act reflects a thoughtful, bipartisan effort to get digital asset policy right,” Torres stated. “While similar language was rejected during markup last Congress, we listened to feedback and returned with a more refined, oversight-friendly framework that doesn’t stifle innovation.”
At the heart of the bill is a core regulatory clarification: blockchain developers and service providers who do not directly handle consumer funds should not be classified as money transmitters. It’s a distinction that could significantly reduce the regulatory burden on key players building decentralized technologies—developers who write code, maintain networks, or support protocol infrastructure, but never take custody of user assets.
This clarification could unlock more innovation in the space without jeopardizing consumer protections, advocates argue.
The bill has already attracted backing from several industry organizations, including the Crypto Council for Innovation, Solana Policy Institute, Digital Chamber, Coin Center, DeFi Education Fund, and the Blockchain Association. Their endorsements reflect the broader industry’s hunger for clearer rules that support innovation while offering meaningful oversight.
Yet, the bill’s future in the House remains uncertain. With prominent Democrats like Representative Maxine Waters voicing intentions to oppose any crypto legislation until Trump’s personal and familial entanglements with the industry are fully addressed, there is a real risk of political gridlock. Waters and other skeptics have highlighted Trump’s links to firms like World Liberty Financial and his direct promotion of the TRUMP memecoin as problematic conflicts of interest.
The timing couldn’t be more volatile. As the president prepares to dine with top TRUMP token holders—a group reportedly capped at 220 people—the optics have drawn criticism from watchdogs and legislators alike. Some advocacy groups are even planning to protest the event, raising questions about ethics, transparency, and the merging of personal gain with public influence.
In this politically charged environment, Emmer and Torres’ reintroduction of the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act feels like both a defiant stand and a hopeful gesture—a reminder that blockchain policy doesn’t have to be a partisan battleground.
Whether the bill gains traction in the coming weeks will likely depend not just on its merits, but on how Congress chooses to untangle the growing web of politics, power, and crypto influence in Washington.
