Below you’ll find a recap of what the DeFi Education Fund (DEF) was up to in January 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.

DEF & Partners File FTC Comment Letter 

On January 21, 2026, DEF, Blockchain Association, Crypto Council for Innovation, and Solana Policy Institute submitted a joint comment letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on its proposed complaint and consent order with Illusory Systems, a Utah-based blockchain infrastructure company that operates the Nomad Token Bridge. 

The letter urges the FTC to reconsider any approach that would use its enforcement authority to set substantive engineering standards for decentralized systems because such an approach could have real consequences for security, innovation, and how these systems are built. Decentralized and non-custodial technologies operate differently from traditional financial intermediaries; mandating centralized design features like “kill switches” or “circuit breakers” can undermine the security, resilience, and core purpose of decentralized blockchain technology and is not a workable approach.

You can read the full letter here.

Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act: Fact v. Fiction

On January 20, 2026, amidst the debates in the Senate around Market Structure legislation, DEF published a myth vs. fact resource on the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act.

In this new post, DEF provides background on the BRCA, explains why it is good policy for the United States, and debunks common misconceptions about the legislation.

To read the full explainer, click here. To download the PDF, click here.

Distinguishing DeFi from CeFi

On January 12, 2026, DEF published an educational blog entitled: “Digital Asset Spot Market Regulation: Distinguishing CeFi vs. DeFi.” The new blog explains how digital commodities and decentralized, noncustodial markets work, and why developer protections matter in market structure legislation. It highlights the key distinctions between centralized, custodial (CeFi) spot markets and decentralized, non-custodial (DeFi) spot markets—distinctions that should be reflected in final bipartisan market structure legislation.

You can read the full blog here.

American Bar Association’s Derivatives and Futures Law Committee Meeting

On January 30, 2026, DEF’s Executive Director Amanda Tuminelli spoke at the American Bar Association’s Derivatives and Futures Law Committee Meeting.

Amanda and experts from Coinbase, FalconX, WilmerHale, and Willkie Farr discussed digital asset legislation and crypto-related initiatives.During her remarks, Amanda explained the importance of software developer protections in market structure legislation and why we need to distinguish decentralized technology from centralized intermediaries.

January Financial Disclosures

Donations Received	$35,078
Lobbyists	$35,031.80
Public Relations	$180.00
Policy Litigation	$63,800.00
Marcomm & Fundraising	$12,663.98
Operating Expense	$322,865.40

January Content and Media by DEF

Select Media

• CNBC: Lawmakers are preparing to try again on major crypto bill. Why it matters and what happens next
  • “We’re very conscious of how illicit finance is treated in the bill… but we need to make sure that there are not obligations put on codes instead of person, or make sure that there isn’t some inadvertent way that the technology is burdened in a way that it can’t comply,” DeFi Education Fund chief legal officer Amanda Tuminelli told CNBC.

• The Block: Senators move to shield crypto developers as lawmakers race toward advancing sweeping digital asset bill
  • The DeFi Education Fund said the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act is vital, in a statement on Monday. 

“The BRCA must be included in market structure legislation, and we encourage all Congressional leaders to join Senators Lummis and Wyden in prioritizing clarity and protections for software developers building our financial future,” the organization said in a post on X.

• CoinDesk: Crypto crowd could still walk away from U.S. market structure bill if DeFi needs unmet
  • “We are hopeful that what ends up in the bill will still protect software developers,” said DeFi Education Fund Executive Director Amanda Tuminelli, in an interview with CoinDesk. She said her group has had the chance to “work productively” with Senate staff and SIFMA in meetings, but some points remain uncertain. “I do have concerns that those in traditional finance who are at the table are just not on the same page as us when it comes to promoting innovation and protecting innovation,” Tuminelli said.

• The Block: Senate Ag Committee has released its version of crypto market structure legislation — what happens next
  • “These provisions protect noncustodial software developers and infrastructure providers from improper regulatory treatment under the CEA,” the DeFi Education Fund said in a post on X on Wednesday. “We look forward to continued constructive conversations.”

Blogs/Articles/Papers

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

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