I think it had to do with that originally they were just wallet devs. They had registered some companies long ago under their real names and had some funding. Over time they developed better and better tools. One thing is that they haven't broken any laws though. So if I was to start a comany and have lawyers tell me I am not breaking the law and the regulators say I don't need a license then there really I wouldn't need to be anon. Their statements in public are protected speech in the USA. So code as expression, statements and expression and money as expression are all protected by the constitution. Saying provocative things or making tools the state doesn't like is the whole point of the constitution. The exploited a loophole and are being punished for it.
Discussion
Yeah, I can see how current devs got mauled into that trap.
But really now, I think most developers should have woken up to the reality that laws are just there for convenience and have been weaponized.
I do hope you and your friends are now switching to anonymous coding and developing.
By the way, you may want to listen to my latest podcast with nostr:nprofile1qqs937g9lksy25es6h5c502d78shc3f2knq76ey0xu03qqj5g77fcygpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduq3vamnwvaz7tmjv4kxz7fwdehhxarj9e3xzmnyqyw8wumn8ghj7mn0wd68ytfsxyh8jcttd95x7mnwv5hxxmmdmnmpd0