A recent change in the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) signifies a significant shift in their stance towards crypto developers. The DOJ has announced that they will no longer pursue criminal charges against individuals who create decentralized software, particularly if it operates independently and isn’t manipulated by third parties. This shift is crucial for blockchain community members seeking to build freely on open-source code without fear of prosecution. The DOJ’s decision follows the conviction of Tornado Cash developers for misuse of their creation for illegal purposes. The new policy, highlighted by Assistant Chief Counsel Matthew Galeotti, aims to protect developers from unwarranted legal action while emphasizing the importance of privacy and peer-to-peer transactions in blockchain technology.