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In a bid to create a pro-innovation environment for the blockchain industry, leading crypto and blockchain companies have joined forces to establish Blockchain Association.
Founding members include Coinbase, Protocol Labs, and Circle, and investors such as Digital Currency Group and Polychain Capital. In addition, Jerry Brito, executive director of Coin Center, and his team have provided extensive insight and advice to this new initiative.
Based in Washington, DC, Blockchain Association is a non-profit trade association that will serve as the “unified voice of the blockchain ecosystem.” It will bring together projects, investors, exchanges and foundations to join forces to advance the future of the entire ecosystem.
“The Blockchain Association will be a liaison to policymakers: we’ll advocate for our community and the opportunities presented by our technologies, and encourage regulatory solutions that protect consumers and support innovation. We seek policies that support the creation and use of digital tokens and assets, and capital formation and trading through robust exchanges,” according to the official announcement.
“Our immediate goals are to engage directly with elected officials and regulators, create campaigns that engage the blockchain industry in our work, and build coalitions with other organizations to create a broader, coordinated community.”
The association has already made its first hire and appointed Kristin McKenzie Smith as the Director of External Affairs. Smith will lead the association’s engagement with its members and outreach to policymakers and will be responsible for the strategy that drives the organization’s education efforts, advocacy campaigns, and events.
In an online post, Jerry Brito welcomed this new initiative and outlined reasons as to why such efforts are positive for the whole industry:
“First, more voices—and more resources—aimed at educating policymakers about open blockchain technology, and how it intersects with the law, is always a good thing. Second, there are certain issues that only industry can address. For example, developing industry best practices that members can agree to abide is the kind of thing that an industry group can do—and it is needed. Finally, it helps clarify the distinction between industry interests, on the one hand, and Coin Center’s digital rights advocacy mission, on the other.”
