Below you’ll find a recap of what the DeFi Education Fund (DEF) was up to in February 2026. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about a specific activity, please do not hesitate to reach out to contact@defieducationfund.org.

The Promoting Innovation in Blockchain Development Act

On February 26, 2026, Representatives Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), Ben Cline (R-VA), and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced the bipartisan Promoting Innovation in Blockchain Development Act. The bill clarifies that criminal code Section 1960 applies only to those who actually control customer funds—not developers who simply write noncustodial software.

Protecting developers from the misapplication of 18 U.S.C. § 1960 is DEF’s top policy priority. Writing code that enables people to move their own money does not make someone a money transmitter. Developers who do not custody or control user funds should not face criminal liability for building open-source tools in the United States.

To learn more about the Bill and DEF’s work on this issue, check out a blog on the matter at the link. 

DEF’sUK Financial Conduct Authority Submission 

On February 12, 2026, DEF submitted a comment letter to the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) responding to Consultation Paper CP25/40 on proposed cryptoasset regulations.

DEF urged the FCA to adopt a clear control-based standard when finalizing its framework and to preserve flexibility for crypto markets and DeFi. Aligning with the control-based approach reflected in FinCEN’s 2019 guidance would ensure that DeFi protocols, front-end interfaces, and developers are not treated as intermediaries when they do not control user assets or transactions.

To read our full submission, click here. 

SEC Crypto Task Force Submission:  Non-Custodial Wallets & Neutral User Interfaces

On February 10, 2026,  DEF and the Solana Policy Institute submitted a joint comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission addressing the regulatory treatment of non-custodial wallet software and neutral user interfaces. The letter argues that software developers and wallet providers that do not custody user funds or meaningfully participate in executing transactions should not be classified as brokers under federal securities laws. Instead, broker-dealer status should depend on whether an actor exercises discretionary control over transactions or performs core trading functions. 

By grounding regulation in actual control and intermediary activity, the submission urges the SEC to provide clarity that protects investors while allowing developers to continue building non-custodial tools that support decentralized innovation.

To read the full submission, click here. 

Introducing the DeFi Dictionary 

On February 20, 2026, DEF launched the DeFi Dictionary, an educational initiative designed to make core digital asset concepts easier to understand. Through short, accessible explanations shared across DEF’s platforms, the DeFi Dictionary breaks down key terms that underpin decentralized finance and blockchain technology. 

The tool aims to help policymakers, builders, and the broader public build a stronger foundational understanding of the rapidly evolving DeFi ecosystem.

To check out the DeFi Dictionary, click here. 

February Financial Disclosures

Donations Received	$10,000.00
Lobbyists	$45,000.00
Public Relations
Policy Litigation	$28,450.00
Marcomm & Fundraising	$4,441.75
Operating Expense	$320,943.02

February Content and Media by DEF

Select Media

• Crypto in America: March Brings Another Shot at Clarity Act Markup as Stablecoin Talks Drag On
  • “I think overall things are moving, and it feels like issues are being closed out, but DeFi has taken a backseat to the yield conversation,” Amanda Tuminelli, executive director of the DeFi Education Fund, told Crypto In America. “We’re waiting for Senate Banking to announce the next markup date and updated text, so I think everyone is anxiously awaiting to see what the next draft looks like.”
• Thinking Crypto: The Battle for DeFi & Crypto Legislation
  • Podcast interview with Amanda Tuminelli.

Blogs/Articles/Papers

• Myths vs. Facts: The Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act
• Digital Asset Spot Market Regulation: Distinguishing CeFi vs. DeFi 

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