Blockchain Association unveils BA PAC to support pro-crypto from both US parties

The trade group includes many of the biggest names in the industry among its members; manager Kristin Smith calls them "a terrific group to help lead the success of this company."

The U.S.-based Blockchain Association trade group announced on Monday that it had formed a political action committee, to be called BA PAC, joining an industry trend of trying to exert greater influence over candidates ahead of midterm elections in November.

The Blockchain Association, founded in 2019, has 90 members, according to its website, including many of the top names in the industry. Binance is a notable exception, as it pulled out of the association in April to lobby Congress on its own. The association's stated goal is "to educate policymakers, courts, law enforcement and the public about cryptonet[] registries and the need for regulatory clarity".

The association's director, Kristin Smith, said in a tweet:

"BA PAC is a bat signal for lawmakers: crypto is here to stay, and we'll support candidates who share that vision."

Smith has promised a non-partisan selection process for pro-crypto candidates that the Blockchain Association will support.

2/ BA PAC will leverage the full power of the crypto industry to support pro-crypto candidates.

This is a natural step for a growing industry, and the PAC will reflect @BlockchainAssn's perspective when identifying candidates to support when seeking office or re-election. — Kristin Smith (@KMSmithDC) September 12, 2022

Information on the Open Secret lobbying tracker indicates that Blockchain Association has