Longtime Blockchain Association CEO Kristin Smith Steps Down to Join Solana-Backed Policy Group

Kristin Smith, one of Washington’s most influential crypto advocates, is stepping down as CEO of the Blockchain Association after five years at the helm. Her last day will be May 16.

Three days later, she will start her new role as President of the Solana Policy Institute. The institute is a newly formed group focused on shaping policy around the Solana blockchain ecosystem.

Smith announced the move on Wednesday. She called it “a shift in perspective,” not a goodbye to the crypto industry.

“Leading this organization, working alongside brilliant colleagues, members, and friends, and advocating for an industry that I believe is shaping the future has been an honor,” she wrote.

Smith Took Blockchain Association From Startup to Policy Powerhouse

Smith joined the Blockchain Association in 2018 as its first employee. She helped grow it into one of the most visible and vocal trade groups representing the crypto industry in Washington.

Welcome @KMSmithDC to the Solana family 🥳

After years leading crypto industry advocacy efforts in DC, Kristin will join as President of the Solana Policy Institute. https://t.co/XALtPEO4Nx

— Solana (@solana) April 1, 2025

Under her leadership, the organization played a key role in defending digital assets. It pushed back against what it saw as regulatory overreach by lawmakers and agencies.

The Association also opposed controversial parts of the 2021 Infrastructure Bill. At the same time, it promoted the potential of blockchain innovation.

In December, it filed a lawsuit against the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) challenging new rules that require brokers to report digital asset transactions.

Solana Taps Smith to Strengthen Its Voice in Crypto Policy Circles

Her next chapter will take her to the Solana Policy Institute, a new policy-focused arm connected to the Solana ecosystem. While details about the Institute remain limited, Its creation signals Solana’s growing push to help shape the rules being developed for the crypto industry at the national level.

Smith’s move to a protocol-focused group is a big change from her earlier neutral role, but it follows a growing trend of blockchain projects handling their own policy work directly. With Solana gaining traction among developers and investors alike, its need for a stronger Washington presence appears timely.

The Blockchain Association’s Board of Directors has launched a search for Smith’s successor. In her announcement, she praised the team she built, saying the organization is “stronger than ever” and well-positioned for its next phase.

As a well-known figure in crypto policy, Smith’s move is likely to get attention for what it means for the Blockchain Association and for how projects like Solana are stepping up their role in regulation.