Blockchain Association hosts Policy Summit, calls for crypto regulation and national security

Lawmakers, industry leaders and blockchain innovators gathered this week to discuss the future of crypto policies and their implications for national security.

The Blockchain Association hosted its third annual Policy Summit in Washington DC on December 16-17, 2024. With the participation of key US lawmakers, industry stakeholders, and representatives from the decentralized infrastructure sector, the event focused on aligning blockchain innovation with regulatory clarity. National security priorities and priorities, according to Denis Serikov, CEO of crypto PR firm ThronePR.

Serikov attended the summit and shared his observations in a note to crypto.news.

US policy makers attended the event

The summit brought together policymakers including House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Congressman Mike Flood, and Congressman Wiley Nickel to address the challenges and opportunities in regulating digital assets. Discussions revolved around stablecoin regulation, securities laws, and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s approach to digital asset oversight.

“The response from Members of Congress, the Administration, and regulators has been tremendous,” said Dave Grimaldi, President of Government Relations at the Blockchain Association. “This marks a complete 180-degree turn this industry has undergone in its perception of crypto and blockchain technology.”

Mike Flood emphasized the need for state and federal cooperation to prevent overregulation and expressed optimism about future collaborations between the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

President-elect Donald Trump praised the summit in a video speech and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting blockchain innovation while addressing national security concerns.

The Blockchain Association had previously called on President-elect Donald Trump and Congress to prioritize five key crypto actions during the administration’s first 100 days.

Blockchain’s role in national security and a call for regulatory clarity

The main focus of the event was the role of decentralized physical infrastructure networks in enhancing national security. Representatives of blockchain projects such as CESS, Filecoin and Helium discussed how decentralized data solutions can address security vulnerabilities in centralized systems, especially in protecting sensitive information and user privacy.

The summit also saw industry representatives urging regulators to adopt practical policies. Concerns have been raised about the SEC’s expanded Dealer Rule and its potential to stifle innovation.

“There is a lot of collaboration between government and the private sector to drive blockchain technology adoption faster than we could have imagined,” said CESS Co-Founder Joseph Li. “We recently traveled to Capitol Hill to educate U.S. representatives and senators about our technology.”