Crypto policymaking continues to advance in the United States, and the stakes couldn’t be higher: Policy will determine not only how crypto companies can operate, but whether the values of openness, competition, and user-control are realized in the internet’s next era.
That’s why builders can’t sit on the sidelines. The only way the industry will get the policy and regulation it needs to thrive is to engage in the policymaking process: The rules that govern crypto will be informed by those who show up.
So how can builders, entrepreneurs, and innovators work with policymakers and legislators effectively? First, figure out who you want to talk with: your state legislators, regulators at agencies like the SEC or CFTC, or the representatives who speak for you in Washington. Once you pick your target, here are five tactics to help make your advocacy as successful as possible.
#1: Tell your story
Policymaking is about people, so make your work personal. When policymakers decide how to approach new technologies, they aren’t legislating abstractions. They’re thinking about jobs, constituents, and communities. That’s why your story matters.
Tell them what problem you’re solving, why it matters, and who you are (including why you are the one solving this problem) — in human terms.
Talk about the community you’re building for, and the economic opportunity you’re creating. As a developer, explain how your work improves security, transparency, or user control. Highlight the jobs and innovation your work enables. And, if you can, tie these outcomes to the issues and constituencies that the office you’re talking to cares about most.
Good policy conversations connect your work to the policymaker’s mission:
- Economic growth: How does your work contribute to competitiveness or productivity?
- Consumer protection: How does your approach keep users safe?
- Financial inclusion: How does your work expand access, ensure equality, and create opportunity?
When you link your story to shared goals like these, you’re no longer just talking about your company or a protocol, you’re talking about public outcomes — goals the policymaker on the other side of the table cares about. It’s the language policymakers speak.
And don’t underestimate the power of excitement. Innovation is inherently optimistic: It’s an act of belief that technology can make the world better. That kind of optimism has always been the engine of American progress, from the railroad to the internet.
This is especially true for crypto. Crypto is rooted in the belief that little tech is giving people control over their data, identity, and economic lives through decentralization, rather than consolidating power in a few large institutions. When you talk to policymakers, connect your work to that ethos. Explain how decentralization supports competition, growth, and user empowerment — goals that align with both innovation and public interest.
#2: Know your audience
Every policymaker has a different focus. No two offices are alike. Some lawmakers are technologists by training; others are focused on agriculture or healthcare. Staffers might handle a dozen issue areas at once. So think about how you’re going to tailor your message to each person’s level of knowledge and policy priorities.
Where to start? Do your homework before every meeting. Connect with others in industry who have met with them before (see tactic #5 below). Review their past statements, social media posts, press releases, and voting record. Scan hearing transcripts to understand their tone — are they skeptical, curious, or supportive of innovation? Have they worked on crypto issues before? Learn what’s happening in their district or state: Is there a local company or workforce issue that connects to your work? This doesn’t need to take a lot of time, but doing the work is going to lead to a better outcome.
Understanding context turns a generic briefing into a more meaningful exchange. It’s also practical: Policymakers and their staff are extremely busy. Most meetings last 15 to 30 minutes, sometimes less. The more you can tailor your ask to their priorities, the better. You may only get one or two key points across, so make them count.
Finally, remember that staff is key. The staffers you meet often write the memos, draft the questions for hearings, and brief the principal before key votes. Treat them with the same respect and engagement you would give an elected official.
#3: Avoid jargon
The goal is clarity, not complexity. Every field develops its own language — and crypto can be worse than many when it comes to industry jargon. Terms like “composability,” “zero-knowledge proofs,” and “skeuomorphism” can quickly alienate someone unfamiliar with the space.
Of course, technical terms have their place, but they shouldn’t be the headline. Your goal isn’t to teach a crash course in protocol design; it’s to explain why your technology matters and what policies it needs to thrive.
What does this mean in practice? Instead of: “Our protocol uses zk-SNARKs to preserve user privacy without compromising verifiability,” you could try: “We build tools to make financial transactions verifiable and private.” That’s not dumbing it down, it’s making it accessible.
Avoid factual overload too. Policymakers process massive volumes of information every day. A clear, simple message, supported by one or two memorable facts or examples, will resonate far more than a dense technical briefing.
Think of succinctness as credibility: The ability to translate complex ideas into plain English demonstrates mastery, enhancing your trustworthiness.
#4: Be specific, but stay balanced
Policymakers appreciate pragmatism. Once you’ve told your story and established trust, be clear about what you want. If there’s a specific policy or regulation you support or oppose, explain clearly and specifically what that policy gets right or wrong, what outcome you would like to see, and why it matters.
Make your ask as actionable as possible. The more you can tie your position to outcomes that the policymaker cares about, the better (see #2, above: You did your homework, right?). If you have data or case studies, use them. Show where similar policies have worked, whether in another jurisdiction or another sector. Policymakers like to see that a proposal has precedent or demonstrable results.
But be upfront about risks or tradeoffs, too. Acknowledging uncertainty strengthens your credibility. Saying “here’s what we know, here’s what we don’t, and here’s how we can mitigate risk” builds trust. And when possible, frame your ideas as win-wins — policies that advance multiple objectives: innovation and safety, growth and inclusion. The best proposals solve more than one problem at once.
#5: Get organized
Collaboration is a force multiplier. While individual stories and specific advocacy matter, coordinated group action is what drives policy wins. When engaging policymakers, builders shouldn’t underestimate the power of organizing coalitions. By working with others in the industry — and in your local community — you can ensure that your signal cuts through the noise.
Why does coalition-building matter? For one, coalitional support provides evidence of a proposal’s value. Lawmakers are more inclined to give credence to a group of responsible actors collectively voicing the need for change than a single company pursuing its own bottom line. Organization also helps policymakers see the bigger picture, enabling them to understand how a given proposal might impact a host of different participants.
Teaming up through trade groups and local networks can help turn individual advocacy into lasting influence because those groups have infrastructure in place to continue advocating. Shared infrastructure — from policy roundtables to joint statements — helps translate innovation into impact.
Fortunately, builders don’t need to start from scratch. Over the past decade, the crypto industry has built a wide range of effective coalitions and conveners, at the state, federal, and even international levels.
But don’t use a coalition as an excuse not to do the work: You also need to show up to advocate personally for your own point of view, and to be present in the room.
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Policy development happens in bursts. A bill gets introduced, a hearing scheduled, a request for comment issued — these are the moments when lawmakers and regulators are listening. Seizing those moments matters.
But lasting impact doesn’t come from one-off interventions. It comes from trust built over time. So show up when windows of opportunity open, while investing in long-term relationships (not unlike how sales work, with long relationships and conversations preceding the signed deal.)
Start early: Relationship-building is cumulative. Even short, informal conversations — at a hearing, in a roundtable, or through a trade association — can lay the groundwork for deeper engagement later. If you don’t have a direct line to the right policymaker or staffer, ask for an introduction. Industry groups, civil society organizations, or advocacy coalitions can often help open the door.
So determine what’s important to you, and join the conversation. There is plenty of work to do. The GENIUS rulemaking process has only just begun, and once market structure is signed into law, regulators will need to implement it to establish clear rules of the road for blockchain systems. Even as federal legislation comes online, U.S. states will continue to play a critical role in regulating the crypto industry. And abroad, key jurisdictions like the UK and South Korea are still in the process of defining their approach to crypto regulation.
But most of all, stay involved. In the words of former Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee (and a16z Senior Advisor) Patrick McHenry, “If you don’t engage, your competitor will.”
It’s time to engage.
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