Trusted Smart Chain Named Blockchain of the Year at Washington Summit

Trusted Smart Chain (TSC) was named 'Blockchain of the Year' at the IMPACT 25 'New Frontier' summit in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 2026. The award was presented at the Hay-Adams Hotel, near the White House, and accepted by TSC Co-Creator Matt Nicosia, Co-Founder Billy Beach, and Presenting Partner Travis Flaherty according to Decrypt.

The recognition reflects a growing industry and policy shift toward onshoring blockchain infrastructure under U.S. regulatory frameworks. TSC is being positioned as a platform designed from inception to meet the operational and compliance requirements of U.S. markets.

The timing of the award aligns with statements by SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, who has indicated that the U.S. financial system is poised to move toward tokenization within the next several years. This has contributed to a growing focus on infrastructure ready for near-term implementation.

Why Did This Happen?

TSC's architecture was engineered to address compliance and identity frameworks directly at the protocol layer. Unlike many other blockchains that attempt to add security retroactively, TSC ensures that every asset minted meets the high bar of institutional trust.

The blockchain was recognized for its ability to automate regulatory requirements, reflecting a growing consensus among industry leaders that the experimental phase of blockchain is over. The era of standardization is now according to industry analysis.

How Markets Responded

TSC is being positioned to support tokenization of Real-World Assets (RWAs) in sectors like real estate and commodities. The blockchain is governed by the community through Nova DAO and designed to offer secure smart contracts, fast finality, and low-cost transactions.

The summit also highlighted the importance of liquidity in the RWA space. TSC underscored its commitment to the broader ecosystem through its adoption fund, with T7X receiving a significant grant to address the liquidity fracture in the sector.

What Analysts Are Watching

The SEC is currently led by all Republican commissioners, which has created an environment more favorable to crypto innovation and rulemaking. This shift is expected to accelerate in 2026, as the commission moves toward more supportive policies for the crypto industry.

Market activity has shown a growing focus on platforms that are operationally ready rather than those in long-term development. TSC's architecture, which embeds compliance into its core, is seen as well-positioned to benefit from this trend.

Analysts are also watching how the U.S. government continues to integrate stablecoins and other digital assets into the national financial infrastructure. With stablecoin flows projected to reach $56 trillion by 2030, the market is rapidly expanding.

TSC's recognition in Washington reflects a broader movement in the financial industry to adopt blockchain infrastructure that aligns with U.S. regulatory standards. The focus is no longer just on innovation, but on trust and compliance according to industry reports.

As the U.S. moves toward tokenization and digital finance becomes more institutionalized, the mandate for infrastructure like TSC is clear. The question is not whether the technology will be adopted, but which platforms will lead the transition.