Bitcoin’s potential to thrive as a medium of exchange has been unnecessarily hindered by its current tax treatment in the U.S. Introducing a de minimis exemption could help address this issue. With a new administration coming into office next month, and a slew of Bitcoin-related policy proposals on the table for Day One, it is an exciting time for Bitcoiners of all stripes. Along with…
Through my work as a consumer advocate, both as the deputy director of the Consumer Choice Center and a Fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, I’ve contributed to various model policies that can be enacted at a state-level in the United States to help advance Bitcoin. Working with state lawmakers, policy organizations, and fellow passionate bitcoiners, these are some of the model policies we offer…
In this episode, Nik Bhatia speaks with Yaël Ossowski of Consumer Choice Center and Bitcoin Policy Institute to explore the intersection of Bitcoin and U.S. banking laws. They dive into how regulations like the Bank Secrecy Act have shaped Bitcoin’s evolution, the impact of financial surveillance on privacy, and the growing issue of debanking for cryptocurrency entrepreneurs. Yaël breaks down key controversies, including legal cases…
Driving past Lake Norman over Thanksgiving weekend, I was once again struck by the fact that this body of water helps power millions of homes across the region and in the state of North Carolina. Using water from the lake to feed the towering condensers, the two nuclear reactors at McGuire Nuclear Station generate over 18 gigawatts of clean and abundant energy, adding to the…
In line with common law tradition, the class action system was set up in Australia to address wrongs and deliver justice for ordinary people. But because of a lack of action from politicians and policymakers, it has instead funnelled rivers of gold to faceless foreign investors with a stake in gaming the system. It’s become akin to a casino with lower stakes and high payouts….
The Town Council of Carrboro has filed a lawsuit against Duke Energy, alleging the utility misled the public about fossil fuel emissions and the timeline for renewable energy adoption. Supported and funded by NC WARN, the suit seeks damages for climate-related harms, pointing to Hurricane Helene’s impact as an example. The suit was filed in Orange County Superior Court in Hillsborough. Yael Ossowski of the…
Reforming the Bank Secrecy Act would empower Bitcoin innovation, protect user privacy, and foster a better balance between regulatory compliance and financial sovereignty. Though Bitcoin was born in the world of computers and code, it was destined to eventually face-off with the legacy banking system. The first block ever mined on the blockchain, Satoshi’s Genesis block, contained a (then) recent headline from a British newspaper…
This week, I received a letter from an employer of mine from when I was in high school, a local car wash. It turns out there was a “data breach” that resulted in “unauthorized access” to my social security number. Millions of Americans receive letters like this each year. Usually, the company will offer free access to a credit monitoring service, allowing individuals to see if any…
After Texas trial attorney Tony Buzbee took to a podium in October to reveal he had gathered 120 victims to sue Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, it unleashed a flood of more allegations against the billionaire rapper and record executive. There are now close to two dozen civil lawsuits pending against Combs in both federal and state courts, along with his criminal indictment for sex trafficking, assault, and a host of other…
If you’ve heard anything from the swanky flag-draped corner offices in Brussels, you know the EU wants “in” on the AI arms race. It’s been an obsession of the Commission and related bodies. Now that the AI Act is at least partly in force, and the European AI Office is beefing up its staff to help implement the regulations cross the continent, the practicalities of the EU’s regulatory project…