Policy Veteran Moves to Industry Advocacy Role
Lindsay Fraser, who previously handled policy work at Uniswap Labs, is taking on a new position as head of policy operations at the Blockchain Association. The move comes at what I think is a pretty crucial time for the crypto industry in Washington. She starts on December 8th, which happens to be the same day the association is hosting its annual policy summit.
Fraser spent her time at Uniswap wrestling with how decentralized finance platforms might fit into U.S. regulatory frameworks. That experience with DeFi policy questions will probably be useful in her new role, though she’ll now be representing 146 member companies instead of just one platform. The Blockchain Association has actually grown quite a bit this year—adding 58 new members, according to their spokesperson.
Focus on Congressional Action
In an interview, Fraser outlined what she sees as the main priorities. There’s this market structure bill being negotiated in the Senate that everyone’s watching. Then there’s the implementation of the stablecoin law that passed earlier this year. And of course, crypto tax policy is always hanging over everything.
“If I’ve done my job, the industry will be operating with a lot more certainty,” she said. That’s a pretty straightforward goal, but achieving it won’t be simple. She wants policymakers to view the Blockchain Association as what she calls “a trusted partner and the voice on crypto policy.”
Building that kind of relationship requires what she describes as “a strong coalition that’s capable of sustaining progress, despite administration changes or any sort of market cycle.” That’s the tricky part—creating something that lasts beyond political shifts and market ups and downs.
The Washington Landscape
The Blockchain Association is led by Summer Mersinger, who used to be a commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. They’re operating in what’s become a pretty crowded field of crypto advocacy groups in Washington. Everyone’s trying to get their message across to lawmakers and regulators.
The policy summit on December 8th will feature some notable speakers: Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins, Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Having those kinds of officials at the event suggests the association has managed to build some connections in D.C.
What’s interesting to me is how Fraser’s background at Uniswap—a major DeFi player—might influence the association’s approach. DeFi has been one of the trickier areas for regulators to figure out, and having someone with that specific experience could help shape the conversation.
The timing feels important too. With Congress considering that market structure legislation and regulators still working through how to handle various aspects of crypto, having someone with Fraser’s experience in the advocacy space could matter. It’s not just about having a voice in Washington—it’s about having the right voice with the right background at the right time.
Of course, we’ll have to see how it all plays out. Policy work moves slowly, and building consensus takes time. But having someone who’s been through the DeFi policy debates now working on behalf of a broader industry group might just help move things along. Or at least that’s what the association is probably hoping.
