Blockchain Association CEO Smith to Lead Solana Policy Institute

Kristin Smith, the longstanding chief executive of the Blockchain Association, a prominent lobbying group for crypto policy in Washington, has announced her departure next month. She will be taking on a new role as the president of the newly established Solana Policy Institute.

Earlier this week, Miller Whitehouse-Levine founded the Solana Policy Institute and was appointed as its CEO. This move comes shortly after he stepped down from his position at the Defi Education Fund.

The Solana Policy Institute has not yet disclosed its source of funding. However, its website indicates that the organization will concentrate on promoting the message that decentralized networks like Solana are pivotal to the future of the digital economy.

Smith has been at the helm of the Blockchain Association for nearly seven years, a period marked by significant developments in the crypto industry. Over the past year, the political landscape has become more favorable for the sector, with crypto advocates gaining allies across various levels of the U.S. government. These advocates have been pushing for a comprehensive set of regulations to govern the industry.

The Blockchain Association has been instrumental in the industry's lobbying efforts. Whitehouse-Levin, who previously worked in the policy operations of the Blockchain Association, emphasized the importance of providing innovators with the clarity they need to build a frictionless, Internet-based global economy. He believes that this future is achievable with the right laws, rules, and frameworks.