US Senator Cynthia Lummis Slams Elizabeth Warren: Crypto Is Not The Problem, Criminals Are
Lummis disagrees with Warren's assessment of crypto use in illicit activities | Credit: Marco Bello/Getty Images
Key Takeaways
- Senator Warren and Senator Lummis disagree on the role of cryptocurrencies in illicit activities.
- Illicit cryptocurrency transactions declined in 2023, while global crypto adoption increased.
- The SEC’s scrutiny of the crypto industry is increasing, and Coinbase is challenging their regulations.
The debate over cryptocurrencies continues among U.S. lawmakers, reflecting a year marked by global adoption growth and the introduction of spot BTC ETFs, and the recent increase in the use of cryptocurrency by criminal networks has become a prominent topic.
From the Democratic side, Senator Elizabeth Warren has emerged as a leading figure expressing skepticism about cryptocurrencies, while on the Republican front, Senator Cynthia Lummis has urged the Justice Department to take stringent measures against crypto firms that fail to comply with regulatory standards.
Lummis and Warren in Crypto Debate: Illicit Use vs. Broader Adoption
Recently, Senator Cynthia Lummis found herself at odds with Senator Elizabeth Warren regarding the use of cryptocurrencies for illicit activities.
Sen. Warren highlighted a specific case where the infamous Sinaloa Cartel laundered $900,000 using digital assets based on blockchain technology. She used this example to advocate for more stringent regulations on cryptocurrencies and virtual currencies, citing the prevalent illegal transactions facilitated through these modern financial tools.
Lummis Points to Fiat-Linked Drug Cartel Activity
Lummis countered Senator Warren’s argument by pointing out an oversight in Warren’s remarks. She highlighted that Warren did not acknowledge the nearly $1 billion in money laundering activities previously orchestrated by the same Sinaloa Cartel, where the illicit funds were channeled through traditional financial systems using fiat currencies.
Lummis expressed her perspective on the ongoing debate regarding cryptocurrency, emphasizing that the issue lies not with the digital currency itself, but with the criminals and bad actors who misuse it. She cautioned against making a significant error by stifling an entire burgeoning industry, especially based on data that she considers inaccurate.
Lummis stated :
“Crypto is clearly not the problem. Criminals and bad actors are. It would be a historic mistake to crush an entire emerging industry based on incorrect data.”
This context provided by Lummis challenges Warren’s assertion that cryptocurrencies are the predominant medium for money laundering and criminal financing, suggesting that traditional monetary systems are also significantly implicated in such illegal activities.
Illicit Crypto Transactions Fall While Adoption Soars
In 2023, Chainalysis reported a 39% reduction in illicit cryptocurrency transactions, totaling $24.1 billion. Despite this substantial figure, the proportion of criminal activities linked to cryptocurrencies also saw a decline, dropping to below 0.35%. This suggests a changing trend in the choice of assets among illegal operators.
Simultaneously, global cryptocurrency adoption witnessed a 34% increase, with an estimated 580 million people worldwide holding some form of digital currency. In the United States, this surge in crypto usage has led to heightened regulatory attention. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been actively scrutinizing the sector, filing lawsuits against various crypto businesses and operators, including leading exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, for alleged regulatory breaches.
Coinbase, in response to the SEC’s stringent stance, has expressed its intention to engage in legal action. The exchange is challenging the SEC’s refusal to provide clear and comprehensive guidelines for digital asset service providers to operate in compliance with regulatory standards. This move by Coinbase reflects the growing tension between the crypto industry and regulatory bodies in the U.S. over the direction and clarity of cryptocurrency regulations.
