Kristin Smith Leaves Blockchain Association to Lead Solana Policy Institute

Kristin Smith, the longtime CEO of the Blockchain Association, is stepping down next month to become president of the newly launched Solana Policy Institute, a crypto lobbying group focused on promoting decentralized networks like Solana. Smith, who has led the Blockchain Association for nearly seven years, played a critical role in shaping U.S. crypto policy during a time of significant regulatory evolution and industry growth.

"I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together and confident that the organization’s future is bright," Smith said in a statement.

The Blockchain Association, a key voice for the crypto industry in Washington, D.C., confirmed that its board is actively searching for Smith’s replacement. The group has been instrumental in lobbying for clearer digital asset regulations, especially as crypto gains more support across various levels of the U.S. government.

The Solana Policy Institute, where Smith will begin her new role, was founded this week by Miller Whitehouse-Levine, who recently resigned as CEO of the DeFi Education Fund. He will now serve as the Solana group’s CEO. While the institute has not disclosed its funding sources, its website emphasizes its mission to highlight how decentralized technologies like Solana can drive the future of the digital economy.

Whitehouse-Levine, who previously worked in the Blockchain Association’s policy team, stated, “Innovators deserve to have the clarity they need to build a frictionless, Internet-based global economy — a future we believe is achievable with the right laws, rules, and frameworks.”

As the crypto industry continues to mature, leadership changes like Smith’s signal a strategic shift in how blockchain advocacy is expanding across specific ecosystems like Solana, aiming to influence policy and regulation in the digital asset space.