Kirstin Smith, who has served as the chief executive of the Blockchain Association for many years, will step down next month to assume the role of president at the newly established Solana Policy Institute, as announced on Tuesday.
This week, Miller Whitehouse-Levine launched the organization and revealed his position as CEO following his departure from the Defi Education Fund.
While the group has not yet disclosed its funding sources, its website states that it will advocate for the idea that “decentralized networks such as Solana represent the future of the digital economy.”
Smith has guided the Blockchain Association through nearly seven years of significant transformation within the industry. Over the past year, the political landscape has become more favorable for the sector as it develops partnerships across various levels of the U.S. government, where cryptocurrency proponents have long sought a comprehensive regulatory framework.
The Blockchain Association has played a pivotal role in lobbying efforts for the industry. Whitehouse-Levine, who previously worked in its policy unit, remarked, “Innovators deserve a clear path to create a seamless, internet-based global economy—something we believe is attainable with the right legislative and regulatory frameworks,” during the launch of the Solana initiative.