The Bitcoin Policy Institute, Fedi, and Cornell University are launching a two-year study on how Americans perceive financial privacy and regulation. They will combine surveys and interviews to analyze attitudes and behaviors. The initiative aims to inform policy debates and regulatory decisions with empirical evidence. The first report is set for April 2026.

A 2023 Pew Research Center survey found that 71% of US adults are concerned about government data collection, up from 64% in 2019. This rise in concern coincides with global exploration of initiatives like central bank digital currencies and digital identity frameworks. The debate over financial privacy in the digital age continues to expand.

US authorities have pursued criminal cases against developers of privacy-enhancing tools, alleging unlicensed money-transmitting activities. This has raised fears that merely publishing or maintaining privacy-focused code could be deemed criminal. The ongoing policy climate for developers in the crypto space has become increasingly challenging.

In Washington, the crypto market structure bill is shaping up as a key battleground for decentralized finance (DeFi) developers. Industry organizations are urging lawmakers to provide robust protections for developers and non-custodial infrastructure. The DeFi sector is seen as a red line in the debate, with concerns that vague obligations could stifle innovation and push developers offshore.

Read more at Cointelegraph: Fedi, Cornell And Bitcoin Think Tank Launch US Financial Privacy Study