Solana Policy Institute Welcomes Kristin Smith as President
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 — Today, we are thrilled to announce that Kristin Smith will join Solana Policy Institute (SPI) as President, effective May 19.
Founded by Miller Whitehouse-Levine, SPI’s mission is to educate policymakers on how decentralized networks like Solana are the future infrastructure of the digital economy – and why the people building on and using crypto need legal certainty to flourish.
This appointment brings together two powerhouses in cryptocurrency policy: Smith, with her unparalleled government relations leadership and extensive industry relationships forged over years of successful advocacy, and Whitehouse-Levine, with his deep policy acumen.
With this announcement, SPI is cementing its position as a dominant force in Washington’s crypto policy landscape. This exceptional leadership team is uniquely positioned to help establish innovation-friendly policies for the entire crypto ecosystem.
“I am so proud of all the important work we did at Blockchain Association on behalf of crypto, and I have no doubt that the BA team is going to continue to deliver wins for the industry,” said Kristin Smith, President of Solana Policy Institute. “The Solana Policy Institute is an important continuation of the work I am passionate about: advocating for regulatory clarity so networks like Solana can thrive. In this next chapter, I’m thrilled to work with Miller and the SPI team to build something new, be even closer to Solana’s community of innovators, and have even more resources to deploy on behalf of our crypto education and advocacy efforts.”
Miller Whitehouse-Levine, CEO of Solana Policy Institute, added: “Kristin is an incredible addition to the SPI team, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her again. Her ability to translate complex technical concepts into compelling policy arguments is unmatched. This is the right team – at the exactly right moment.”
Prior to joining SPI, Smith served as CEO of the Blockchain Association, the Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 100 of the industry’s leading companies, where she was a key liaison between policymakers and the crypto industry. She is an experienced policy professional, with senior-level experience in both House and Senate offices, and has private sector experience advocating for companies in the telecommunications, internet, and other tech-focused industries.
Throughout her career, Smith has been instrumental in crafting legislation and regulations that promote the growth of responsible innovation in the crypto ecosystem. Smith also is a renowned voice for the crypto industry, having been featured on Fortune’s 40 under 40 list, Washingtonian’s Most Influential People and Tech Titans, CoinDesk’s 50 people who defined the year in crypto, and CoinTelegraph’s Top 100 Influencers in Crypto and Blockchain.
SPI will benefit from Kristin’s invaluable insights about the political and policymaking processes.
Continue to follow SPI for updates! In the weeks ahead, we will be announcing our policy priorities and additional SPI team members.
PRESS CONTACT
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