Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) commissioner Summer Mersinger is set to become the new CEO of the Blockchain Association. Her final day at the CFTC will be May 30, and she will begin her role at the leading crypto trade organization on June 2. “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Commissioner Mersinger as Blockchain Association’s new CEO, ” said Marta Belcher, president of the Blockchain Association board, in a statement on Wednesday. “This is a pivotal moment for crypto policy, and we are confident that she is the ideal leader to elevate Blockchain Association and the industry to new heights. ” Mersinger, who has been serving on the CFTC since 2022, is regarded as one of the more crypto-friendly commissioners. In 2024, she issued a dissenting opinion concerning the agency’s settlement agreement with Uniswap Labs, describing the move as “regulation by enforcement. ” She added that the Uniswap settlement made “sweeping statements” about the broader crypto sector and improperly applied “legal theories” outside of a courtroom context. In 2023, speaking at an industry event, Mersinger emphasized that crypto can only thrive in the US if Congress enacts clear policies. “Until we offer some sort of clarity, we’re going to see this activity…move away from the US, ” she remarked.

“We could lose out on a lot of innovation and opportunities in our financial markets. ” Prior to her nomination to the CFTC by President Biden, Mersinger served as a top aide to Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Earlier this month, Senator Thune voted against advancing the stablecoin-focused GENIUS Act in a key procedural vote, explaining that the decision was intended to allow Senators to revisit the bill later. “Stablecoins should be made in the USA, ” he added. Current Blockchain Association CEO Kristin Smith will leave the organization on Friday after nearly seven years at its helm. Smith plans to join the newly established Solana Policy Institute as president later this month. Stay updated—subscribe to Blockworks newsletters for the latest news delivered to your inbox.