In a letter to Massachusetts Democrats on Tuesday, the Blockchain Association pushed back against Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s increased scrutiny of former government employees’ employment status.
Elizabeth Warren previously accused the Blockchain Association and other industry groups in a letter of allegedly trying to undermine Congressional efforts to address issues related to the use of cryptocurrencies to fund terrorist groups by hiring former defense and law enforcement officials.
Kristin Smith, CEO of the Blockchain Association, countered: “While the Blockchain Association does not currently employ anyone with the above qualifications, we are fortunate and proud to have many former military, national security, intelligence officials and law enforcement professionals joining the association as members. "The Blockchain Association and its individual members intend to continue to exercise our constitutional rights by petitioning the government and speaking freely on this issue." (The Block)
Prior to the news in December 2023, Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren intensified her criticism of the encryption industry in a new letter she sent to industry groups and the Coinbase exchange.
In a letter to the crypto advocacy group Coin Center, she accused industry groups of "wiring a not-so-secret weapon" of hiring former defense and law enforcement officials in an attempt to undermine Congress' response to the role of cryptocurrencies in funding terrorists, including Hamas. role in the organization.
Elizabeth Warren said in a letter to Coin Center: “This revolving door abuse is shocking and shows that the crypto industry is spending millions of dollars to give itself a veneer of legitimacy while fighting to thwart attempts to restrict Common-sense rules for the use of cryptocurrencies for terrorist financing — rules that could cut into crypto companies’ profits.” The letter was also sent to the Blockchain Association and Coinbase.