Kristin Smith is the CEO of the Blockchain Association — a Washington, D.C.-based trade organization representing crypto exchanges, protocols, investors, and companies in U.S. federal policy — who has led the association since approximately 2018 and built it into a primary industry lobbying force, most visibly during the August 2021 fight against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s crypto broker reporting amendments, coordinating a broader grassroots and institutional campaign that ultimately did not strip the provision from the bill but established the Association’s role as the central coordinating body for crypto’s engagement with Congress.
Background
Kristin Smith came from a background in public policy and government affairs before the crypto industry. She has worked in Washington, D.C. policy and advocacy roles and joined the Blockchain Association — which was founded in the 2018 period as crypto companies recognized the need for organized lobbying representation in Washington.
The Blockchain Association
The Blockchain Association is the crypto industry’s primary Washington, D.C.-based trade group. Its membership includes major crypto companies, exchanges, funds, and protocol projects that collectively fund the organization’s lobbying, legal advocacy, and regulatory engagement work. Members have included Kraken, Coinbase, Anchorage, Binance.US, and dozens of others.
Smith’s work as CEO involves:
- Congressional testimony — Preparing and representing the industry before Senate and House committees.
- Agency engagement — Interfacing with the SEC, CFTC, Treasury, and OCC on regulatory rulemaking.
- Amicus briefs and legal advocacy — Coordinating with legal teams to file amicus briefs in significant crypto legal cases.
- Grassroots mobilization — Building a network of crypto constituents who contact elected officials on crypto policy issues.
- Communications — Public messaging and media relations on behalf of the industry.
Infrastructure Act Broker Reporting Fight (2021)
The most high-profile moment of Smith’s leadership was the August 2021 fight over crypto broker reporting requirements embedded in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684). The bill included language requiring “brokers” in crypto to report transactions to the IRS — language so broad that many argued it could apply to software developers, miners, validators, and protocol operators who have no ability to collect user information.
The Blockchain Association, alongside Coin Center, the Chamber of Progress, and Senator Cynthia Lummis, coordinated:
- A grassroots campaign generating hundreds of thousands of constituent contacts.
- A bipartisan Senate amendment by Senators Lummis, Toomey, Warner, and Portman to narrow the broker definition.
- Media and public education explaining why the broad language was technically unworkable.
The amendment failed to pass, and the original provision was signed into law. However, the fight established a mobilization playbook and built political relationships that the industry subsequently leveraged in later regulatory battles (Digital Asset Market Structure bills, CBDC legislation, FIT21).
FIT21 and Post-2022 Legislative Push
After the FTX collapse in November 2022, Smith and the Blockchain Association worked to support a legislative framework for crypto market structure regulation that could distinguish between securities and commodities in digital asset markets — efforts that contributed to the eventual passage of the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21) by the House in May 2024 with bipartisan support.
Key Dates
- 2018 — Joins Blockchain Association; builds Washington advocacy infrastructure.
- August 2021 — Infrastructure Act broker provision fight; coordinates industry response.
- November 2022 — FTX collapse; Association pivots to legislative support for clear market structure rules.
- May 2024 — FIT21 passes the House with 279-136 bipartisan vote.
Common Misconceptions
- “The Blockchain Association speaks for all crypto companies.” — The Association speaks for its members; not all crypto companies are members, and companies sometimes have conflicting interests. Smith does not represent the whole industry any more than any trade association represents all businesses in a sector.
- “Smith lost the Infrastructure Act fight, so the advocacy failed.” — The immediate outcome was a loss (provision was included), but the mobilization established lasting relationships, a constituent network, and a policy playbook that gave the industry stronger footing in subsequent battles.
Last updated: 2026-04