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

The Blockchain Association hosted its third annual Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., on December 16-17, 2024. With key U.S. lawmakers, industry stakeholders, and representatives from the decentralized infrastructure sector in attendance, the event focused on aligning blockchain innovation with regulatory clarity and national security 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.

U.S. policymakers attended the event

The summit brought together policymakers, including House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Congressman Mike Flood, and Congressman Wiley Nickel, to address 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 the Members of Congress, the Administration, and the regulatory agencies has grown tremendously, said Dave Grimaldi, Executive Vice President, Head of Government Relations at Blockchain Association. “That speaks to a complete 180 degree turn that this industry has gone through in the perception of crypto and blockchain technology.”

Mike Flood highlighted the need for state and federal cooperation to avoid overregulation, expressing optimism about future collaborations between the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

In a video address, President-elect Donald Trump commended the summit, reaffirming 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 calls for regulatory clarity

A major focus of the event was the role of decentralized physical infrastructure networks in enhancing national security. Representatives from blockchain projects like CESS, Filecoin, and Helium discussed how decentralized data solutions can address vulnerabilities in centralized systems, particularly in safeguarding sensitive information and user privacy.

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

“There’s a lot of collaboration between the government and the private sector to get blockchain technology adopted quicker than we could even imagine, said Joseph Li, Co-Founder, CESS. “Just recently we went on Capitol Hill to educate US representatives and senators about our technology.”