Sensible Crypto Regulation: A Frontier of Freedom

The story of crypto is the story of a new frontier, a journey much like that of America’s earliest explorers. 

They fled the oppressive rule and poverty in Old Europe to risk it all on a journey to unsettled lands. Sight unseen. Just for the shot at living truly free. 

They found total freedom. Absolute self-sovereignty. Abundance. 

And danger.

Crypto is the new frontier—a vast, open land offering liberation from the centralized control of outdated financial systems. 

Yet, like the European powers that sought to crush the pioneers’ dreams, today’s governments and institutions fight to keep people tethered to the old ways. 

The battle for crypto is a battle for who controls this new frontier: the people forging a new path, or the old powers clinging to their crumbling empires.

Trump’s Crypto Journey: An Explorer’s Awakening

Donald Trump’s early dismissal of crypto echoes the skepticism of Old World leaders watching their best and brightest leave for the Americas. 

In 2019, Trump tweeted that Bitcoin was “not money” and labeled it a tool for criminals. Much like a nobleman scoffing at the humble ships of explorers, his view was shaped by ignorance of what crypto truly represented.

But Trump is a pragmatist, much like the frontiersmen who learned to hunt, build, and navigate treacherous waters. Over time, he came to see crypto as a tool for economic empowerment and American leadership. 

By the time he launched his own NFTs and pledged to support crypto-friendly policies, Trump had become a pioneer in his own right, recognizing that this new technology wasn’t rebellion for rebellion’s sake—it was the foundation of a freer, stronger future.

Crypto: The Frontier Where Categories Blur

On the frontier, rules from the Old World lose their relevance. 

Kings and noblemen tried to impose their hierarchies on the settlers, but the wilderness demanded a different approach. 

Crypto, like the frontier, doesn’t fit neatly into the categories of the past. It’s a blend of tools and opportunities, a Swiss Army knife for a new era.

Cryptocurrencies defy traditional financial classifications, making regulation a complicated endeavor. Existing frameworks struggle to accommodate crypto’s dynamic functionality:

• Securities: Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) often resemble stock offerings, leading to scrutiny under the SEC’s Howey Test. However, applying decades-old criteria designed for traditional investments to blockchain projects fails to address the nuances of token-based economies.
• Commodities: Bitcoin and Ethereum are classified as commodities by the CFTC, reflecting their role as stores of value and mediums of exchange. Yet, their integration into broader ecosystems makes this categorization incomplete.
• Banking Products: Stablecoins and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms replicate traditional banking functions like lending and payments but operate without intermediaries. These innovations challenge the dominance of financial institutions while offering greater accessibility and efficiency.

The regulators of the Old World must decide: will they help us succeed in this new land, or will they try to shackle us with outdated frameworks?

Privacy as a Fundamental Right

The evolution of America led to the enshrinement of an idea. 

That we each are born with rights. And one of those rights is the right to privacy.

Privacy in financial transactions is under increasing threat, as governments and financial institutions push for greater visibility into your personal finances under the guise of combating crime. 

Tools like Monero and Zcash, designed to protect user anonymity, are critical for safeguarding individual rights.

• Fourth Amendment Protections: Financial privacy is an extension of constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. Without it, individuals risk unwarranted surveillance of their economic activities.
• Misplaced Criticism of Privacy Tools: Opponents argue that privacy coins enable illicit activity, but data shows that traditional financial institutions like banks facilitate far more crime. HSBC, J.P. Morgan, and others have paid billions in fines for laundering money and manipulating markets. Privacy tools protect law-abiding citizens from unjust oversight, not criminals.
• Why Privacy Matters: Recent events, such as the freezing of accounts during the Canadian trucker protests, highlight the dangers of centralized control. Privacy coins are essential to ensuring financial independence and resisting authoritarian overreach.

While institutions entrusted with public welfare must remain transparent, individuals must retain the right to privacy in their personal financial dealings.

Fighting the Globalist Kingpins

In the Old World, the wealthy elite hoarded land, taxed the poor, and controlled the markets. Today, banks and centralized institutions play the same role, extracting wealth from everyday people while serving the powerful.

Crypto is the frontier where people can break free. It’s a place where you can stake your claim, work your land, and build a future without paying a toll to these self-appointed “kings.” Naturally, the elites are terrified. They’re lobbying for regulations to crush innovation and keep the masses dependent on their systems.

But this isn’t just a fight about money. It’s a fight for freedom itself.

First Principles in Crypto Regulation

The foundation of a just regulatory system lies in two core responsibilities of government: 

1. Protect individual rights
2. Shield citizens from harm

Governments exist to safeguard their people against evil—whether it manifests as fraud, exploitation, or authoritarian overreach—while fostering an environment where individuals–especially entrepreneurs–have the freedom to prosper.

The U.S. Constitution asserts that rights are given by God, not governments, and that the law’s primary role is to secure these rights. 

Crypto embodies these principles, decentralizing power and enabling self-sovereignty, while presenting new opportunities for innovation and growth.

Key principles for sensible regulation include:

• Protecting Individual Freedom: Regulations must prioritize the rights of individuals over the convenience of institutions. Freedom to transact, build, and innovate is essential for prosperity.
• Creating a Safe Environment: Governments must combat malicious actors—whether fraudsters, exploitative platforms, or money launderers—so that individuals can engage with crypto confidently.
• Promoting Decentralization: Decentralized systems distribute power, reducing the risks of corruption and overreach while empowering individuals to thrive without oppressive intermediaries.
• Balancing Privacy and Transparency: While institutions and organizations should be held accountable to the public, individuals deserve privacy in their financial dealings to protect their freedom and autonomy.

A government that adheres to these principles will create an environment where its people can safely explore new frontiers of innovation and economic opportunity without fear of exploitation or suppression. By upholding the ideals of freedom, security, and decentralization, regulators can address legitimate concerns without sacrificing the values that crypto represents.

America’s Crisis: Danger and Opportunity

The United States has a choice: embrace decentralized innovation and lead the global crypto revolution, or impose restrictive regulations that drive innovation to more welcoming countries like El Salvador and Singapore.

Crypto isn’t just about finance—it’s about natural rights. It offers tools to empower the unbanked, resist authoritarian control, and put wealth-building opportunities within reach of all. 

If America leads with liberty-centric policies, it can secure its position as the hub of decentralized finance and reap the economic and social benefits of this transformative technology.

The Call to Action

The pioneers risked everything to escape the Old World, seeking liberty and opportunity in a wild and untamed land. Crypto is our modern frontier, offering the same promise to a world shackled by centralized control.

The old world of centralized finance, like Europe’s feudal systems, is crumbling under its own weight. But the journey to decentralization is fraught with challenges. Governments, banks, and global elites want to stop it.

We must honor the spirit of the pioneers who came before us. We must build frameworks that protect individual rights, foster innovation, and defend financial freedom.