Congressman Warren Davidson, in his New Year's message, refocused attention on Bitcoin's original purpose: he stated that BTC is meant not to be an "illiquid inflationary asset," but a "permissionless, peer-to-peer payment system." Davidson also expressed critical views on recent regulatory initiatives, believing they aim to undermine the disintermediation offered by digital assets.
Who Is Warren Davidson and His Role in Cryptocurrency Regulation
Warren Davidson is a congressman and consistent supporter of cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin, as noted in his public statements. In his message, he highlighted how current legislative initiatives impact the very concept of digital money and users' access to funds. His comments serve as a signal to market participants and lawmakers to maintain focus on Bitcoin’s properties as a payment system.
Key Points from Warren Davidson's New Year's Message
Davidson emphasizes that the shift in the crypto ecosystem is linked to attempts to reject the disintermediation brought by Bitcoin and similar assets. He directly criticizes the GENIUS Act, believing this law lays the foundation for a central bank digital currency (CBDC), while external changes are cosmetic and do not address fundamental issues.
Regarding the CLARITY Act, which is being discussed in the Senate as an attempt to close gaps left by the GENIUS Act, Davidson expresses skepticism and does not expect significant changes, anticipating that the current account model will remain largely unchallenged. He made these assessments in the context of calling to reject the trend toward increased control over access to funds.
Advantages of Bitcoin According to Warren Davidson
According to him, Bitcoin’s main value lies in being a permissionless payment system — the ability to transfer value directly between participants without control centers. Davidson notes that when using Bitcoin, no third party can condition access to your money, and transfers happen very quickly, effectively "at the speed of light."
The Future of Cryptocurrencies in America
Davidson sees current legislative initiatives as attempts to return some control to central institutions, which, in his view, diminishes the role of decentralized technologies. At the same time, he states that changing Congress’s position will require a rare event — a "miracle" — but he does not rule out that it is possible.
If you are interested in a broader discussion of bills and their market impact, see the material on the CLARITY Act and the overview of cryptocurrency regulation in the USA, where these topics are explored in more detail.
Why This Matters
For a miner in Russia, the main impact of this speech is a reminder of the principles on which Bitcoin stands: independence from intermediaries and freedom of fund ownership. Even if specific U.S. laws do not directly change your work, the discussion around CBDCs and account models reflects regulatory trends that could eventually affect infrastructure and services worldwide.
At the same time, there are no direct legal consequences for Russian miners from Davidson’s words, but it is important to monitor such signals to understand the direction of regulatory debates and possible changes in the services you use for storing and transferring funds.
What to Do?
- Verify your own access to keys: ensure you control private keys or use reliable storage solutions to avoid dependencies on third parties.
- Follow news on laws and discussions in the U.S. and international jurisdictions, as they affect service providers and rules for accessing financial instruments.
- Assess risks of using centralized services for storage and transfers — consider transitioning to tools with full self-custody.
- Maintain backup mechanisms: organize backup wallets and plans in case of service blocks or restrictions.
- Educate yourself and discuss legal changes with the mining community to respond promptly to potential restrictions or infrastructure updates.