Key Points
- •Brian Armstrong opposes Senate’s anti-DeFi regulation, citing innovation risks.
- •Industry leaders warn of negative impacts on U.S. crypto's future.
- •Proposal could shift DeFi innovation overseas, affecting U.S. competitiveness.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong openly criticized the Senate Democrats' anti-DeFi proposal on X (Twitter) on October 10, 2025, arguing it threatens U.S. crypto innovation.
Concerns arise about the proposal's potential to hinder U.S. fintech leadership, prompting significant industry criticism and advocating for regulatory amendments.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong opposed a proposed U.S. Senate regulation on DeFi, calling it a threat to U.S. crypto competitiveness. The proposal, coming from Senate Democrats, aims to impose new constraints on the decentralized finance sector.
Armstrong criticized the proposal on X, emphasizing its potential to hinder innovation. He pledged that Coinbase would engage with Congress to amend the bill. Other crypto leaders joined Armstrong, highlighting similar concerns about a negative impact.
The proposed regulation has stirred apprehension within the financial technology sector. Armstrong and other leaders argue that the bill's implementation could drive innovation away from the U.S. and deter growth within the DeFi ecosystem.
Financial and industry leaders express concerns over the broad and ambiguous nature of the proposed regulation. Experts fear this may have far‑reaching implications on both market liquidity and U.S. fintech leadership.
Past enforcement actions, such as the Tornado Cash incidents, highlight risks of overreaching regulation. History shows these moves can drive developers and capital offshore, potentially weakening U.S. decentralized finance markets.
Long‑term impacts could involve a shift in market dynamics. Concerns focus on restricted DeFi functionalities and enforced compliance. Consequences of the proposal could parallel previous regulatory actions, which pushed technological development and investments away from U.S. shores.
Adding to the discourse, Bryan Armstrong remarked,
“We absolutely won’t accept this. It’s a bad proposal, plain and simple, that would set innovation back, and prevent the US from becoming the crypto capital of the world.”