The Blockchain Association is pushing back against the latest cryptocurrency regulatory move of the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with a joint lawsuit.

On Dec. 27, the IRS issued final regulations requiring brokers to report digital asset transactions, expanding existing reporting requirements to include front-end platforms, such as decentralized exchanges (DEXs).

Set to take effect in 2027, the rules mandate that brokers disclose gross proceeds from sales of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets, including information regarding taxpayers involved in the transactions.

In response to the new rules, the Blockchain Association and the Texas Blockchain Council filed a lawsuit against the IRS, announced Kristin Smith, the CEO of the Blockchain Association.

Under the new rules, if a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform facilitates the exchange or sale of digital assets — even through smart contracts — and exercises sufficient control or influence over the transaction process, it could meet the definition of a broker.

The IRS’ rulemaking puts “unlawful compliance burgers on software developers” building front-end trading infrastructure, wrote the Blockchain Association.

The decision raises significant concerns for blockchain software developers, considering that other code developers have already been sanctioned for how their software is being used.

Notably, Tornado Cash developer Alex Pertsev was found guilty of money laundering by Dutch judges at the s-Hertogenbosch Court of Appeal on May 14. He was sentenced to five years and four months for allegedly laundering $1.2 billion worth of illicit funds despite Tornado Cash being a non-custodial cryptocurrency mixer.