Kristin Smith - WAGMI Women of the Week

Kristin Smith - Executive Director at Blockchain Association

Kristin is the Executive Director of the Blockchain Association, the Washington DC-based trade association representing more than 90 of the industry’s leading companies. Kristin serves as a liaison between policymakers and the cryptocurrency industry to assist in the creation of legislation and regulation that promotes the growth of the cryptocurrency ecosystem in the U.S.

Q. What inspired you to start the Blockchain Association?

I wish I could claim the idea, but it was really a group of forward-looking people at leading crypto companies that wanted to build an association. My job was to make that vision a reality. I had no idea what I was getting into!

Q. What was the first coin or NFT you bought?

Bitcoin

Q. If you were given $1k, what coin or NFT would you be buying more of?

Ethereum is really interesting with the upcoming Merge, so I’d probably buy more ETH (not financial advice).

Q. Best piece of investing advice someone gave you OR What is a piece of advice you would like to give to others that are just starting out?

Invest for the long run - don’t try to play the market.

Q. Favorite influencer that we should follow?

Cleve Mesidor with the Blockchain Foundation - she has been into Bitcoin since the beginning and knows how it can help solve problems we have with our financial services systems today.

Q. Is anything else happening with your own project that our community should know about?

I’m really excited about the prospect of getting legislation done. Blockchain Association and the crypto industry have worked hard to lay the foundation for effective engagement in Washington. We’re ready to be a constructive participant in the policymaking process. 

Q. Any good calls to action related to regulation for our community?

Crypto. Here for good. Our policymakers need to hear this over and over again.