Kristin Smith, the longtime chief govt of the Blockchain Affiliation, a number one lobbying group for crypto coverage in Washington, is leaving subsequent month to take a task as president of the brand new Solana Coverage Institute, in accordance with a Tuesday announcement.

“I’m extremely pleased with what we’ve achieved collectively and assured that the group’s future is shiny,” Smith stated in a press release.

Earlier this week, Miller Whitehouse-Levine based the group and introduced his place as CEO shortly after stepping down from the Defi Training Fund.

Although the group hasn’t but clarified its supply of funding, its web site stated it’ll focus its message on “how decentralized networks like Solana are the way forward for the digital economic system.”

Smith has led the Blockchain Affiliation for nearly seven years — a dramatic interval for the growing business. Since late final 12 months, the political grounds have solidified below the sector’s ft because it finds allies working all ranges of the U.S. authorities, the place crypto advocates have lengthy been attempting to get a complete set of laws.

The Blockchain Affiliation has been a central participant within the business’s lobbying.

The group stated its board is now conducting a search to exchange Smith.

Whitehouse-Levin as soon as labored in that group’s coverage operations.

“Innovators should have the readability they should construct a frictionless, Web-based world economic system — a future we consider is achievable with the correct legal guidelines, guidelines and frameworks,” he stated in a press release throughout this week’s launch of the Solana group.

UPDATE (April 1, 2025, 19:09 UTC): Provides remark from Kristin Smith.