Policy Wonks Meet DeFi Degens: DC Summit Hosts 'Regulatory Speed-Dating'

The Digital Chamber is partnering with conference behemoth Money20/20 to orchestrate more policy chinwags—think roundtables and podcasts—just as Congress attempts to draft crypto rules without, presumably, using crayons.

The partnership was announced Tuesday at the start of The Digital Chamber's DC Blockchain Summit. The speaker lineup is a veritable hall of fame for regulatory ambiguity, featuring Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott, former SEC Chair Paul Atkins, and CFTC Commissioner Michael Selig, all set to pontificate.

"Our mission is to connect policymakers with the builders," stated Digital Chamber CEO Cody Carbone, essentially pitching a glorified, high-stakes mixer where the dress code is suits and the anxiety is palpable.

This new alliance lands as lawmakers continue their multi-year wrestling match with comprehensive crypto legislation. They scored a win with a stablecoin bill last year, but the main event remains stuck in the Senate, held up by the classic blockers: endless debates on how to regulate DeFi protocols and whether stablecoin yields count as a forbidden fruit.

The partnership will also support a Money20/20 series titled "The Intersection: Where TradFi & DeFi Converge." Its aim? To explore how traditional finance and decentralized finance might clumsily cohabitate, like a boomer and a degen forced to share a wallet.

"Money20/20 is where the old guard meets the new builders," said Scarlett Sieber, the group's chief strategy officer. She highlighted the event's mix of global bankers, fintech bosses, and crypto pioneers, implying deals get inked because everyone is trapped in the same venue—ideally before the regulators remember they have a rulebook.