Speaking to an audience of Blockchain insiders and legal experts, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) advised them that “political engagement” with Congress is crucial to the future of their industry.
Gillibrand spoke at a fireside chat at Fordham Law’s Blockchain Regulatory Symposium, held on October 2. The annual event brings together regulators, legal professionals, academics, and business practitioners to discuss current issues around innovation and regulation shaping the blockchain sector.
“I would really urge you to start talking to your elected leaders and ask for meetings,” said Gillibrand. “Asking for meetings is the most important thing you could do with your time, because honestly [legislators]are just not knowledgeable about your industry and what you’re trying to accomplish.”
As American firms compete globally, the need to be heard by legislators isn’t just political, but existential, Gillibrand added.
“If you don’t engage politically, you won’t be heard, you’ll be ignored, and your industry won’t survive if it is ignored by Congress…Your place of business will be in London, or Singapore or some other place around the globe, where you’re going to have easier access to markets, easier access to regulation, easier access period. You cannot be complacent.”
This year’s symposium featured panels on “Navigating the Digital Asset Regulatory Terrain,” “Criminal and Sanctions Enforcement Developments,” and “Securities and Commodities Law Litigation Developments.”
Other topics covered included cryptocurrency bankruptcy, featuring Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York Martin Glenn and Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of New Jersey Michael B. Kaplan; and a fireside chat with Commissioner for the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Kristin Johnson.
The final panel of the day, “Global and U.S. Legislative Trends: Navigating Regulatory Climates,” looked to the future of the blockchain regulatory environment, the tension between innovation and regulation, and upcoming legislation that could affect the industry.
“The Fordham Law Blockchain Regulatory Symposium continues to grow in stature and is an important gathering of the thought leaders in the legal-regulatory field of digital assets and blockchain,” said Adjunct Professor Donna Redel ’95, who co-founded the symposium in 2019.
View more photos from the event below:
