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Texas judge dismisses a cryptocurrency developer's request for an exemption from the money transmission laws for its software

Mar 26, 2026 11:43:00

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According to Cointelegraph, a court in Texas, USA, dismissed a lawsuit filed by crypto developer Michael Lewellen. Lewellen sought a declaratory judgment from the court, stating that his developed software Pharos (used for donating to charitable crowdfunding activities) would not be prosecuted for violating money transmission laws. U.S. Chief District Judge Reed O'Connor dismissed the case on Wednesday, stating that Lewellen failed to demonstrate a credible and imminent threat of prosecution.

Lewellen expressed his disappointment on the X platform, saying, "I am disappointed that the court dismissed my lawsuit today." The court's dismissal opinion also referenced a memorandum from the U.S. Department of Justice, which stated that the department would no longer prosecute virtual currency exchanges, mixing services, or offline wallets for actions or inadvertent violations by their end users. Lewellen added, "The non-binding memorandum from the Department of Justice cannot replace true legal certainty."

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