Kristin Smith Exits Blockchain Association After Six Years
Kristin Smith, the most prominent face of US cryptocurrency policy, is retiring from being the CEO of the Blockchain Association after more than six years. She will labor on May 16 for the last time as CEO. Since she took a job with the association in 2018, Smith has been at the forefront of shaping blockchain policy debate in Washington, D.C., advocating for proposals driven by industry and calling for clear regulatory paths.
Before joining the Blockchain Association, Smith was deputy chief of staff to former Montana Representative Denny Rehberg. Her policy and crypto background helped improve the association’s function to that of leadership in the U.S. regulatory arena for digital assets.
A New Chapter with Solana Policy Institute
Smith will not be abandoning crypto advocacy altogether, though. On May 19, shortly after stepping down from the Blockchain Association, she’ll become president of the Solana Policy Institute. The newly created entity is dedicated to building greater awareness of the Solana blockchain among U.S. policymakers and regulators.
The institute’s goal will be to teach policymakers about Solana’s tech, applications, and role in decentralized finance (DeFi) and Web3 innovation. The objective is a harbinger of a new trend in blockchain advocacy: chain-specific lobbying.
Embracing a Broader Trend in Crypto Advocacy
Smith’s move follows Miller Whitehouse-Levine, the previous CEO of the DeFi Education Fund, who is also becoming the Solana Policy Institute’s new CEO. The concurrent leadership change is a deliberate effort from Solana supporters to gain ground in Washington through an engaged policy crew.
Blockchain Association Suffers Leadership Vacuum
The Blockchain Association has not yet identified a replacement for Smith. While the organization makes this transition, stakeholders in the industry will pay close attention to how it continues to exert its sway in a changing regulatory landscape. The exit of such a visible leader calls into question the direction of the group and its involvement in wider crypto policymaking discourse.
