Blockchain Association

What Blockchain Association does

Blockchain Association is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in September 2018 and headquartered at 1155 F St. NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C., with an additional office in New York. Its functional role is to serve as the unified policy advocacy voice for the U.S. digital-asset economy, representing more than 100 member companies that include Coinbase, Ripple, Circle, Kraken, Digital Currency Group, Consensys, Solana Labs, Andreessen Horowitz, Anchorage Digital, and Paradigm. The organization is not a technology company and does not build proprietary software products; instead it delivers advocacy services — Congressional testimony, comment letters to federal regulators (SEC, CFTC, OCC, FDIC, FinCEN, OFAC, DOL), amicus briefs, member working groups, fly-ins to Capitol Hill, and the annual Policy Summit — to shape pro-innovation digital-asset regulation. Policy activity is organized across nine working groups covering Blockchain Infrastructure, DeFi, DePIN, Investment Fund, National Security & Cybersecurity, Privacy Technology, Stablecoins, Tax, and Trading Firms, with the organization publicly engaged on the Infrastructure Bill, GENIUS Act, CLARITY Act, and Tax Clarity for Mining and Staking Act.

The business model is membership-driven: cryptocurrency companies, investors, and projects pay tiered membership dues (Associate tier for nascent firms and higher tiers scaled to company resources) in exchange for representation before Congress and regulators, policy analysis, member-only events, and participation in working groups. Revenue is supplemented by donations and grants from industry stakeholders — most notably a disclosed $4 million funding round in November 2021 from the Filecoin Foundation ($2M plus a $2M matching pledge), Kraken ($1M), and Digital Currency Group ($1M) — earmarked for expanding lobbying capacity and staff. The leadership team is led by CEO Summer Mersinger (since 2025, succeeding founder Kristin Smith), with Chief Policy Officer Lindsay Fraser (ex-Uniswap, December 2025), EVP Head of Policy Jake Chervinsky (ex-Compound Labs General Counsel, November 2021), EVP Head of Government Relations Dave Grimaldi (ex-Office of Majority Whip Clyburn and FCC, November 2021), and EVP Legal & Government Relations Ashok Pinto. Distribution is direct enterprise sales to crypto firms with U.S. presence and a clean regulatory profile; member growth has progressed from 5 founding members in 2018 to over 100 by 2026.

Name

Blockchain Association

Legal name

Blockchain Association

Website

https://theblockchainassociation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Blockchain Association is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association serving as the unified policy advocacy voice for over 100 U.S. cryptocurrency and blockchain companies, providing Congressional representation, regulatory comment, and working-group participation to shape pro-innovation digital-asset policy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Trade Association and Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Regulatory Reporting, Tax & Audit Trails (reconciliation, provenance) (FSAPAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Compliance, Risk & RegTech for Tokenized Assets (KYC/AML, sanctions, travel rule, reporting) (FSAPAIAH)

Keywords

• Crypto policy advocacy
• Blockchain trade association
• Digital asset regulation
• Industry coalition building
• Regulatory engagement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: The Blockchain Association generates revenue through membership dues paid by cryptocurrency companies, investors, and projects. Members include the sector's leading investors, companies, and projects who pay to join and gain access to policy advocacy, regulatory engagement, and industry representation services.
2. Donations and grants: The organization receives donations and grants from industry stakeholders. In November 2021, they announced $4 million in funding from Digital Currency Group ($1 million), Kraken ($1 million), and Filecoin Foundation ($2 million with additional $2 million pledge as matching funds).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Blockchain Association is a nonprofit trade association (501(c)(6)) that delivers policy advocacy, federal regulatory engagement, congressional representation, and industry coalition services to its 100+ member companies in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector. Its core paid offering is tiered membership that bundles direct access to lawmakers, comment-letter and amicus-brief participation, member-led working groups, and an annual Policy Summit held in Washington, D.C.

Product overview

Blockchain Association is a nonprofit crypto industry trade association (501c6) serving as the unified policy voice for the digital asset economy. Rather than a technology product company, it provides a platform of advocacy services including membership with working groups, annual Policy Summit events, regulatory engagement, and direct Congressional representation. Its members—over 100 leading crypto investors, companies, and projects—participate through working groups on DeFi, Stablecoins, Tax, Market Structure, Privacy & National Security, and other policy areas to shape pro-innovation regulation. The organization does not offer a commercial tech product but rather policy advocacy services, educational resources, and industry coalition-building.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Blockchain Association Membership Tiered membership program providing cryptocurrency and blockchain companies, investors, and projects with policy advocacy, representation before Congress and federal regulators, direct lawmaker access, working group participation, member-only events, and inclusion in industry coalitions. Pricing is tiered by company resources with an Associate tier for nascent endeavors; specific tier prices are not publicly disclosed.
• Policy Summit Annual flagship member-only event held in Washington, D.C. featuring discussions with key policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders on crypto policy. The 2026 edition is scheduled for December 8-9 at the Intercontinental - The Wharf (801 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024).

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Crypto Council for InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Blockchain Association frequently partners with the Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI) on joint letters, coalitions, and advocacy efforts. They co-authored letters urging Senate action on the CLARITY Act and market structure legislation, filed joint amicus briefs, and coordinated on policy positions for digital asset legislation.
• The Digital ChambercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Blockchain Association collaborates with The Digital Chamber on joint advocacy efforts including letters to Congress on tax legislation (H.R. 9175 Tax Clarity for Mining and Staking Act), market structure legislation, and other policy initiatives affecting the cryptocurrency industry.
• Coin CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoin Center is identified as a key partner in the Blockchain Association's formation and ongoing policy work. Both organizations work together on regulatory advocacy and have co-signed letters on issues like the infrastructure bill and developer protections.
• CoinbasecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoinbase is a founding member of the Blockchain Association and continues as an active member. They participate in joint advocacy coalitions, policy working groups, and have signed numerous joint letters including those supporting the Wyden-Lummis-Toomey amendment and CLARITY Act advocacy.
• ParadigmmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParadigm is a member and participant in Blockchain Association coalitions and joint advocacy efforts, including the 100+ organization letter supporting the Wyden-Lummis-Toomey amendment to the infrastructure bill.
• Solana Policy InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Blockchain Association partnered with Solana Policy Institute to file amicus briefs in Jarrett v. United States regarding tax treatment of staking rewards. They also collaborate on policy positions affecting proof-of-stake networks and blockchain validation.
• Financial Technology AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Blockchain Association and Financial Technology Association have jointly endorsed the PACE Act and collaborate on policy advocacy for fintech and crypto payment access to Federal Reserve systems.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Coin Center: Indo-American crypto policy think tank focused on decentralized protocol advocacy, civil liberties, and developer protections. Closest analog to Blockchain Association in mission and Washington, D.C. footprint.
• The Digital Chamber (Chamber of Digital Commerce): The oldest and largest blockchain trade association, advocating for the digital asset and blockchain industry with a broader fintech and tokenization focus. Directly competes for the same member roster and policy wins.
• Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI): Global alliance of crypto industry leaders advocating for pro-innovation policy. Frequent coalition partner with Blockchain Association on joint letters and amicus briefs, but operates with an international scope.

Emerging players

• DeFi Education Fund: Nonprofit focused specifically on DeFi policy advocacy and education. Overlaps with Blockchain Association's DeFi working group activities and competes for the same regulatory engagement slots.
• Solana Policy Institute: Policy advocacy organization focused on proof-of-stake networks and Solana ecosystem interests. Has co-filed amicus briefs with Blockchain Association (e.g., Jarrett v. United States on staking tax treatment).
• Bitcoin Policy Institute: Research and advocacy organization dedicated to Bitcoin-specific policy issues. Overlaps with Blockchain Association on tax, custody, and securities classification matters but focuses on a narrower asset.
• Proof of Stake Alliance: Industry alliance advocating for fair regulatory treatment of proof-of-stake networks. Directly competes with Blockchain Association's DeFi and tax working group outputs on staking policy.

Broad incumbents

• Financial Technology Association (FTA): Trade association for fintechs including payment and crypto-native firms. Jointly endorses legislation (e.g., PACE Act) with Blockchain Association and competes for overlapping payments-focused members.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BlockchainAssn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpx3fikYC0SOJsLKn87gJyw/featured
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blockchainassociation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Blockchain Association