- A delegation of Massachusetts blockchain entrepreneurs recently met with a senior staffer in Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office to educate her on blockchain technology
- The group aims to correct Warren on her misconceptions over crypto and highlight the benefits of blockchain
- The meeting surpassed expectations, fostering optimism about bridging the knowledge gap
A delegation of Massachusetts-based blockchain entrepreneurs recently met with a senior staffer in Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office in an attempt to educate the senator on blockchain. Warren has been a fierce critic of cryptocurrencies and has waged war on their very existence, but the group is hoping to educate her on the benefits of the technology and put her right on some of her false assumptions. The group told Fortune that the meeting exceeded expectations, raising hopes of bridging the opinion and knowledge gap between Warren and blockchain leaders.
Group Pushed Blockchain Benefits
Fortune reports that the meeting was facilitated ahead of a planned visit to Washington, D.C., as part of Coinbase’s ‘Stand With Crypto’ advocacy initiative, with Phil McMannis, founder of the Boston-based tokenization firm Waev Data, leading the group.
McMannis, accompanied by representatives from other crypto companies and a Coinbase lobbyist, raised concerns about Senator Warren’s proposed crypto legislation during the meeting with Gabrielle Elul, Warren’s economic policy advisor. They also highlighted non-financial use cases of crypto, such as health data privacy and creator financial empowerment.
According to McMannis, Elul suggested that continued engagement from industry players was the best way for the staff to gain a deeper understanding of the crypto sector, telling Fortune that he got the impression that Warren’s office remained open to ongoing discussions.
In response, a spokesperson from Senator Warren’s office emphasized the engagement with diverse stakeholders, stating that strengthening anti-money laundering rules for the crypto industry is a top national security priority.
First Step on the Road to Rapprochement?
Although the meeting might not signal a significant shift in Warren’s stance on crypto—Coinbase has had previous interactions with her office—McMannis stressed the importance of ongoing dialogue, highlighting the complexity of the legislative process and the need for entrepreneurs and industry representatives to provide feedback and educate lawmakers.
However small this step may appear in isolation, it could be the first on a path that will turn out to be of huge benefit to the crypto space in the US.
