Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger to Depart; Kristin Smith Returns as Interim

The Blockchain Association has announced that CEO Summer Mersinger will step down on October 16, 2023. Kristin Smith, the organization's founding leader, will take over as interim CEO starting October 17. Mersinger will remain as an adviser until the end of 2026 to assist with the transition.

Smith was the first employee of the Blockchain Association when it launched in 2018 and previously served as its CEO until 2025. Under her leadership, the organization became a prominent voice in Washington for the crypto industry. Mersinger, who took the helm in June 2025 after her tenure at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, has been credited with guiding the association through a period of rapid change in U.S. digital-asset policy.

The leadership change comes at a pivotal moment for the crypto industry, as discussions around digital asset regulations have shifted from defensive lobbying to active participation in rulemaking. The next CEO will face significant debates over securities classification, decentralized finance (DeFi), and stablecoin regulations, among other issues.

While Mersinger's departure is not immediate, Smith's interim role marks a return to leadership for one of the industry's long-standing policy figures during a crucial time for regulatory decisions that will impact the future of the crypto landscape.