Kristin Smith, president of the Solana Policy Institute and CEO of the Blockchain Association, urged the US Senate on Tuesday to pass the CLARITY Act — and laid out four non-negotiable demands. She wants lawmakers to protect developers, go after actual bad actors, keep open-source innovation alive, and make sure the US doesn't lose its lead in crypto. The push comes as support for the bill quietly balloons: more than 60 crypto CEOs and founders signed a letter backing it, while 160 former national security, intelligence, and law enforcement professionals argued that regulatory clarity is actually a tool for better enforcement.
Smith's four demands to the Senate
Smith didn't mince words. Her four demands are straightforward: first, protect developers who write code and don't touch user funds. Second, direct enforcement resources at bad actors — not at the infrastructure. Third, preserve the open-source ethos that made crypto what it is. And fourth, keep the US in the driver's seat globally. “We can't afford to fall behind because we're regulating the wrong people,” she told the Senate panel, according to attendees.
Why non-custodial developers get a special carve-out
The CLARITY Act includes the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA), which explicitly provides legal certainty for noncontrolling software developers and infrastructure providers who don't custody assets or control user transactions. Smith drove home the logic during her testimony: public blockchain developers typically don't hold funds, can't freeze accounts, and can't unilaterally move money. Holding them liable for what others do on open networks, she argued, makes no sense and would kill innovation.
Support from CEOs — and from national security vets
The letters landing on Senate desks this week paint a picture of unlikely coalition. A group of over 60 crypto founders and CEOs — names from major exchanges, protocols and venture firms — wrote to urge passage of the CLARITY Act while preserving robust developer protections. Separately, 160 former national security, intelligence, and law enforcement professionals signed their own letter. Their argument: regulatory clarity isn't just good for business, it's an enforcement advantage. When rules are clear, prosecutors can focus on real crimes instead of chasing code.
What comes next
The CLARITY Act is now in the Senate's hands. Smith said her coalition intends to keep up the pressure — the four demands aren't a wish list, they're the floor for any compromise. Lawmakers haven't set a timeline for a floor vote, but the volume of signatories on both letters suggests the bill is gathering momentum. For now, the crypto industry is watching which senators sign on — and whether developer protections survive any last-minute rewrites.
