What Was DC Blockchain Summit 2023?
The DC Blockchain Summit 2023 was the premier annual crypto policy event in the United States, held in Washington D.C. on 21 March 2023. Hosted by the Chamber of Digital Commerce (the world's largest blockchain trade association, founded by Perianne Boring), it brought together 800+ innovators — representing the biggest names in crypto and politics — for one day of regulatory advocacy, education, and engagement with US policymakers and digital asset stakeholders. Details sat on the official DC Blockchain Summit website. Featured in Time Magazine, the summit is described as "the one day of the year where the most influential people focused on policy and regulations for the digital asset industry assemble in our Nation's Capital."
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Key Themes and Event Highlights
Running in March 2023 — just months after FTX's collapse — the summit's regulatory agenda was more urgent than any previous edition.
Event Highlights
- Perianne Boring (Founder and CEO, Chamber of Digital Commerce) hosted and opened the event, setting the tone for a year in which regulatory clarity had become the industry's most critical need.
- Jared Bernstein (Member, Biden administration's Council of Economic Advisers) provided the executive branch's economic perspective on digital assets.
- CFTC representation: CFTC Commissioner Summer K. Mersinger, CFTC Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero, and CFTC Commissioner Caroline D. Pham all spoke — with Pham joining Perianne Boring for a headline fireside chat titled "Forward Thinking: Policies Shaping the Digital Asset Markets, Act II."
- Congressional voices: Rep. Tom Emmer (Co-Chair, Congressional Blockchain Caucus) and Rep. French Hill (Chair, Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion) represented Capitol Hill — two of the most crypto-engaged members of Congress.
- Himamauli Das (Acting Director, FinCEN) addressed AML compliance and the Treasury Department's approach to digital asset regulation.
- Erik Voorhees (Founder, ShapeShift) represented the crypto industry's freedom-first perspective on self-custody and decentralized exchange.
- Dan Held (Bitcoin educator; Marketing Advisor, Trust Machines) provided Bitcoin-specific industry perspective.
- Nic Carter (General Partner, Castle Island Ventures) brought the institutional VC perspective on blockchain policy's impact on investment.
- IRS representation: Julie Foerster (Project Director, Digital Assets, IRS) addressed crypto tax enforcement — a topic of direct concern to every attendee in the room.
How Crypto Policy Is Developing in the United States
The USA has the world's largest institutional crypto market. Spot Bitcoin ETFs (approved January 2024) and Ethereum ETFs brought hundreds of billions in institutional capital. The GENIUS Act (2025) established a federal stablecoin framework. The CLARITY Act and FIT21 Act addressed market structure. The SEC and CFTC jurisdictional debate over crypto has been the defining regulatory question of 2023-2025. The Congressional Blockchain Caucus (co-chaired by Rep. Tom Emmer) has been the primary legislative body advocating for crypto-friendly frameworks. For more shows, see CoinGabbar's crypto conferences list.
Impact of the Summit on US Crypto Regulation
The 2023 summit ran at the most pivotal moment in US crypto policy history: post-FTX collapse (November 2022), with the SEC and CFTC locked in a jurisdictional dispute over crypto, and Congress debating comprehensive legislation. Having CFTC Commissioners, FinCEN's Acting Director, and an IRS Digital Assets Director together with the industry's leading voices created a rare productive dialogue. The Chamber of Digital Commerce's mission — creating a more inclusive business environment that incentivises blockchain innovation — found its clearest expression in a year when the stakes could not have been higher.
Why Sponsors, Exhibitors and Projects Should Join
- Blockchain and crypto companies: the DC Blockchain Summit is the highest-leverage policy event in the US — putting your brand in the room where digital asset regulation is directly influenced.
- Law firms and compliance advisors: CFTC, FinCEN, and IRS officials in one room creates unmatched opportunities for regulatory relationship building.
- Institutional investors and funds: engage with the Congressional and regulatory ecosystem shaping the rules of US crypto markets.
- Bitcoin and DeFi companies: advocate alongside a community of thousands for regulatory frameworks that protect self-custody and decentralized protocols.
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Why KOLs, Media and Influencers Attend
DC Blockchain Summit generates significant policy-focused crypto media coverage — it is the event where regulations get shaped and news gets made. Coverage from Washington carries institutional credibility that no other venue provides. Coverage can spread through the crypto press release network.
Why Participants and Industry Leaders Join
Blockchain executives, policy advocates, lawyers, and investors come to DC Blockchain Summit because influencing regulation before it's written is infinitely more efficient than lobbying for changes after it passes. One day in Washington alongside 800 peers and multiple government officials is the best investment in regulatory outcomes the industry can make.
Tickets and PR Offers With CoinGabbar
CoinGabbar covers major US crypto policy events. Free or discounted press release publishing is available. Email event@coingabbar.io.
How the Event Concluded and What Came Next
DC Blockchain Summit 2023 closed after one intensive day of policy dialogue — having placed crypto regulation at the top of Washington's technology agenda. The summit continued annually, with the 2026 edition featuring SEC Chairman Paul Atkins and CFTC Chairman Michael Selig jointly keynoting — reflecting how significantly the US regulatory environment had shifted toward crypto-friendliness. Track upcoming shows on the crypto events calendar and our crypto conferences page.
Glossary of Key Terms
- Chamber of Digital Commerce: the world's largest blockchain trade association, founded by Perianne Boring, advocating for pro-innovation digital asset policy in the US.
- FinCEN: the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network — a bureau of the US Treasury Department responsible for AML/CFT enforcement, including for crypto service providers under the Bank Secrecy Act.
- CFTC: the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which has claimed jurisdiction over crypto commodities (Bitcoin, Ethereum) in ongoing turf battles with the SEC over digital asset regulation.
- Congressional Blockchain Caucus: a bipartisan caucus of US Congress members led by Rep. Tom Emmer and others, advocating for crypto-friendly legislation and education of fellow legislators on digital asset technology.
- Trust Machines: a Bitcoin Layer 2 company focused on expanding what's possible on Bitcoin, which Dan Held joined as Marketing Advisor after his time at Kraken.
Disclaimer
This page is for general information only. It is not financial, legal, or investment advice. The event described was held in March 2023; future dates may differ. Verify with the official source and do your own research. Crypto assets are volatile.
