The current regulatory approach to crypto deserves scrutiny. Many industry figures who push for stricter KYC/AML compliance seem more interested in replicating traditional financial gatekeeping than fostering genuine innovation. Rather than expanding surveillance measures like the Patriot Act into crypto frameworks, the industry should advocate for repealing outdated KYC/AML requirements that duplicate oversight while stifling financial freedom. This is a fundamental question about regulatory philosophy: should blockchain technology operate under trust-based innovation, or remain shackled to legacy compliance architectures? The gap between rhetoric and actual policy positions within the regulatory establishment reveals a concerning pattern—not genuine consumer protection, but institutional self-preservation.