Lightspeed
Lightspeed
February 18, 2026·52:55

Solana’s Policy Push: Crypto’s New Regulatory Era | Kristin Smith

Gm! In today’s episode we are joined by Kristin Smith to discuss her transition to the Solana Policy Institute, recent U.S. crypto policy shifts, and progress under the Genius Act. We also discuss the CLARITY Act, market structure reform, DeFi and developer protections, institutional adoption, and the importance of durable regulatory clarity.

Enjoy!

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Follow Solana Policy Institute: https://x.com/SolanaInstitute

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Join us at DAS (Digital Asset Summit) in New York City this March!  Use the link below to learn more, and use code LIGHTSPEED200  to get $200 off your ticket! See you there!

Learn more + get your ticket here: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-nyc-2026

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Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(3:01) Kristin Smith’s Move to Solana

(7:57) Crypto’s Regulatory Turning Point

(14:59) CLARITY Act & Market Structure

(29:37) Protecting DeFi Developers

(35:54) Institutional Access to Crypto

(40:55) The Path to Lasting U.S. Crypto Clarity

(50:49) Closing Comments

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Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation.

Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Solana’s Policy Push: Crypto’s New Regulatory Era | Kristin Smith

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