The Satoshi Action Fund is an advocacy group that promotes public education and legislation in support of the cryptocurrency bitcoin. This includes legislation that protects bitcoin custody, defends peer-to-peer transactions, and recognizes a “right to mine” for bitcoin. ^{1 2}

The Satoshi Action Fund was founded by alumni of the first Trump administration. ^{3 4 5 6}

Activities

The Satoshi Action Fund is an advocacy organization that promotes adoption and use of the cryptocurrency bitcoin to improve the economy, the environment, and society at large. ¹

The Satoshi Action Fund claims to have supported the introduction of over 20 pieces of legislation, helped pass four pro-bitcoin bills into law, facilitated over 25,000 letters from activists sent to U.S. Congress, and met with or influenced over 2,000 state and federal lawmakers to advocate for bitcoin. As of January 2025, the Satoshi Action Fund’s goals were to reach 5,000 lawmakers in 2025  and double the number of states that enact legislation supportive of bitcoin. ^{1 7}

According to the Satoshi Action Fund, states that have passed pro-bitcoin bills shaped by the Satoshi Action Fund’s influence include Montana, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. These laws reportedly include protections for the custody of bitcoin, protection of peer-to-peer transaction, and recognition of a “right to mine” for cryptocurrency. The Satoshi Action Fund also claims to have helped block legislation that would have restricted bitcoin mining in Texas. ²

To support bitcoin advocates and influence legislators, the Satoshi Action Fund produces advocacy tools, including a one-pager on the benefits of bitcoin mining and a legislative guide to bitcoin. Other advocacy tools produced by the Satoshi Advocacy Fund include brief articles on how bitcoin mining interacts with methane emissions, what bitcoin can do to increase weather-dependent energy production, and a primer on what bitcoin mining is. ^{2 8}

The Satoshi Action Fund claims on its website to be a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization. However, the Satoshi Action Fund maintains a registered 501(c)(3) affiliate called Satoshi Action Education that focuses on academic research into bitcoin and promoting a positive understanding of bitcoin. ^{9 1}

Leadership

The CEO and co-founder of the Satoshi Action Fund is Dennis Porter. Porter became the CEO in June 2022. Beginning in March 2023, Porter also became the president of Satoshi Action Education. ^{3 10}

Mandy Gunasekara is also a co-founder of the Satoshi Action Fund.  Gunasekara is also a principal at Section VII Capital, a consulting firm focused on energy, environmental, and tax policy. Previously she was a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a board member of the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure, a senior policy analyst and director at the Independent Women’s Forum, chief of staff at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the first Trump Administration, founder of the Energy 45 Fund, senior fellow at Life: Powered, and a legal counsel within the U.S. Senate. Gunasekara is the author of Y’all Fired, a book about restoring federalism in the United States. ^{3 4}

The policy director of the Satoshi Action Fund is Eric Peterson. Peterson was previously a director at the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, a senior policy analyst for the Institute for Free Speech, a senior policy analyst for Americans for Prosperity, and an associate at Cor Strategies. ^{3 11}

According to LinkedIn and tax filings, Surya Gunasekara is also a co-founder and director at the Satoshi Action Fund. He is not listed on the organization’s website. Surya Gunasekara is also an adjunct professor at the University of Mississippi School of Law, counsel and director at JinkoSolar, legal advisor at Aori, and senior advisor at the U.S.-Asia Institute. Previously Surya Gunasekara was a board member at the Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure, senior counsel for international affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as well as executive director of policy of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the first Trump Administration. He also worked as a counsel at Capitol Hill Consulting and a chief of staff and general counsel in the U.S. House of Representatives. ^{5 3 6}

Financials

According to tax filings, in 2023, the Satoshi Action Fund reported $325,000 in revenue, $474,0289 in expenses, and $97,034 in assets. Of its expenses, the Satoshi Action Fund reported spending $384,685 on working with lawmakers to draft and pass model legislation. ⁵

1. “Satoshi Action Fund.” Satoshi Action Fund. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.satoshiaction.io/.
2. “Work.” Satoshi Action Fund. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.satoshiaction.io/work.
3. “Our Team.” Satoshi Action Fund. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.satoshiaction.io/team.
4. “Mandy Gunasekara.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandy-gunasekara-570aa53a/details/experience/.
5. Satoshi Action Fund. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2023.
6. “Surya Gunasekara.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/suryagunasekara/details/experience/.
7. “Satoshi Action.” Donor Box. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://donorbox.org/satoshi-action.
8. “Learning Center.” Satoshi Action Fund. Accessed January 30. 2025. https://www.satoshiaction.io/resources.
9. ^[1] “Tax Exempt Organization Search.” IRS. Accessed January 30, 2025. Tax Exempt Organization Search | Internal Revenue Service.
10. “Dennis Porter.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-porter-396335220/.
11. “Eric Peterson.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-peterson-410a9647/details/experience/.