The trade group will once again be led by its founding CEO, Kristin Smith, as Summer Mersinger departs following an extended congressional battle.
— Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger is stepping down, with former longtime leader Kristin Smith returning as interim replacement.
— The transition, announced days after the industry suffered a legislative blow with the rejection of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, is scheduled for next month.
Summer Mersinger is departing as head of the Blockchain Association, a premier crypto advocacy group, one week after the sector faced a significant legislative defeat with the failure of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act.
Mersinger will be succeeded on an interim basis by Kristin Smith, the association’s inaugural CEO who led the organization from its 2018 inception until 15 months ago, per a Friday announcement. The handover takes effect October 16, concluding a turbulent period marked by major crypto victories in Washington and a notable loss last week when the U.S. Senate failed to advance the Clarity Act, with all Democrats and several Republicans opposing it.
«I’m proud of our progress, from the GENIUS Act to genuine regulatory clarity at the SEC and CFTC,» Mersinger stated. She had joined the association after serving as a commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. «Kristin built this association from the ground up, and BA is in good hands. I’ll be cheering them on.»
Smith, returning as interim CEO, departed the Blockchain Association last year to become president of the newly formed Solana Policy Institute, though she retained the BA board presidency. She will maintain her SPI role, a BA spokesperson confirmed.
She observed that Mersinger guided the organization through the «most consequential moment in the history of crypto policy,» having assumed leadership just before the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act) became the first major U.S. crypto law, and overseeing the association during unprecedented crypto-related activity at the Securities and Exchange Commission and her former agency, the CFTC.
As stablecoins enter regulated finance, the APAC region is emerging as a critical testing ground. This report outlines the region’s regulations, use cases, and RLUSD’s role.
Why it matters:
As stablecoins enter regulated finance, the APAC region is emerging as a critical testing ground. This report outlines the region’s regulations, use cases, and RLUSD’s role.
