The upcoming White House crypto summit, hosted by President Donald Trump, is drawing significant attention from industry leaders. Experts believe the event could mark a turning point for U.S. digital asset policy, potentially resolving years of regulatory uncertainty.
The Need for Regulatory Clarity
“The U.S. needs to signal it’s open for business,” said Rushi Manche, co-founder of Movement Labs, in an interview with TheStreet Crypto. He emphasized the importance of offering tax incentives for innovators, providing regulatory clarity for projects, and creating paths to compliance that avoid prolonged legal battles with regulators.
After a series of lawsuits with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the industry hopes the summit will provide the clarity needed to support domestic growth and job creation.
“Regulatory clarity is the single biggest lever the U.S. can pull to retain top-tier blockchain talent,” said Sid Powell, CEO of Maple, a blockchain institutional capital marketplace. He added that a well-structured regulatory framework would enhance innovation rather than stifle it.
Rebecca Liao, CEO of Saga and former advisor on tech for the Clinton and Biden presidential campaigns, echoed this sentiment. She stressed that clear regulatory actions are essential for projects to adjust their strategies and fully unlock the U.S. market.
The Role of Congress in Crypto Policy
While the summit could provide valuable insights, Liao noted that Congress will play a crucial role in advancing pro-crypto legislation. “Most of the policy wins crypto has been celebrating — including a strategic reserve and potential tax relief — are not under the president’s purview,” she said.
Les Borsai, co-founder of Wave Digital Assets and a crypto advisor to state and federal governments, added that the industry has a two-year window to push for regulatory rules that could define U.S. leadership in the crypto space for years.
What to Expect at the Summit
The White House crypto summit, scheduled for Friday, will be an exclusive event, featuring some of the industry’s top leaders. This includes figures like Michael Saylor, chairman of Strategy, BTC Inc. CEO David Bailey, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev, Paradigm co-founder Matt Huang, and Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi, among others.
Some experts predict that Trump’s recent mention of a U.S. crypto reserve will be a central topic at the summit. Syscoin Foundation President Jagdeep Sidhu believes this could be the top priority. However, many industry leaders have raised concerns about the inclusion of altcoins like XRP, ADA, and SOL in such a reserve.
Stablecoin Oversight: A Key Focus
Stablecoin regulation remains a critical issue. Autonomys CEO Todd Ruoff suggested the U.S. may look to international models, such as Hong Kong’s licensing system and the European Union’s MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) rules. He anticipates U.S. policymakers could push for clearer reserve requirements, increased transparency, and stronger consumer protections.
David Sacks’ Role in Shaping the Summit
The summit will be chaired by David Sacks, the White House’s AI and crypto czar. His leadership will be crucial in shaping the direction of the discussions. Ruoff believes Sacks could champion crypto as a core element of financial innovation, advocating for clear, risk-based oversight that protects consumers without stifling the industry.
Given Sacks’ background, experts suggest the conversation may also explore the role of AI in fraud detection, compliance automation, and risk management within crypto markets. Powell mentioned that AI’s influence on decentralized finance could also be a broader topic.
A Crucial Moment for U.S. Crypto Leadership
Experts agree that this summit represents a critical opportunity for the U.S. to drive growth in the domestic crypto industry after years of regulatory neglect. “This administration’s approach to crypto represents the most significant policy shift we’ve seen in decades,” said Borsai. “They’re treating digital assets as strategic infrastructure rather than just an asset class.”
Powell added, “The U.S. has the chance to set standards that allow for responsible growth, rather than pursuing reactionary policies that push businesses overseas.” He emphasized that the key to success will be ensuring consumer protections — like transparency, risk disclosures, and custody safeguards — are in place without burdening the industry with unnecessary bureaucracy.
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