Kristin Smith, the long-time CEO of the Blockchain Association, is departing to lead the newly formed Solana Policy Institute, marking a notable shift in crypto advocacy leadership.
Kristin Smith, a prominent figure who has steered the Blockchain Association for over six years, is set to embark on a new chapter in her career.
She will be leaving her post as CEO to assume the presidency of the nascent Solana Policy Institute, effective May 19th.
In an announcement dated April 1st, the Blockchain Association (BA), a US-based organization advocating for the cryptocurrency industry, revealed Smith’s impending departure.
Her resignation as CEO is slated for May 16th, preceding her commencement at the Solana Policy Institute just three days later.
Crypto Advocacy Leadership Changes Hands
The communication from the Blockchain Association did not explicitly state the rationale behind Smith’s move to the Solana-focused advocacy group.
Furthermore, the announcement remained silent on the succession plan and who would be at the helm of the organization following Smith’s exit.
As of this writing, attempts by Cointelegraph to reach out to the Blockchain Association for clarification have not yielded a response.
New Policy Institute Gains Industry Veteran
Smith’s tenure at the BA commenced in 2018. Her professional background also includes a stint as deputy chief of staff for former Montana Representative Denny Rehberg.
Her move parallels that of Miller Whitehouse-Levine, previously CEO of the DeFi Education Fund, who is also transitioning to the Solana Policy Institute as its CEO.
Whitehouse-Levine has indicated that the institute’s primary focus will be to inform and educate policymakers within the United States about the Solana ecosystem.
The Blockchain Association, boasting a membership roster that includes influential entities like Coinbase, Ripple Labs, and Chainlink Labs, has been a vocal participant in crypto policy debates.
Notably, the BA initiated legal action against the US Internal Revenue Service to challenge regulations they deem burdensome concerning crypto transaction reporting for brokers.
The association has also been a consistent critic of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approach under former chair Gary Gensler, particularly the SEC’s perceived “regulation by enforcement” strategy, which the BA argues imposes significant legal expenses on numerous companies in the crypto sector.
Launched just under 48 hours before this announcement, the precise near-term objectives of the Solana Policy Institute in terms of engaging with US legislators and championing the crypto industry remain to be fully elucidated.
The organization has presented itself as a nonpartisan and non-profit entity.
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