One week out from the midterms, we’ve got hot new research from @Ipsos and @fund_defi on how Americans view the US financial system and new technologies like crypto and DeFi. Americans are using crypto more and want to try DeFi for everyday finance. Candidates should take note. A few things stand out: More than 1 in 5 Americans (22%) have owned or used crypto, up from 18% in 2025. It holds across parties: 24% of Republicans and 21% of Democrats. Crypto use is growing faster than understanding. Only 9% of Americans say they’re extremely or very familiar with crypto, and 35% aren’t sure how to describe it. DeFi’s appeal is practical. Among Americans likely to try it, 85% would use it to save money and 82% to send money to friends or family in the US Both numbers are up from last year. 1 in 3 Americans (35%) say it’s important for candidates to support building the next generation of financial technology in the US. Republicans (15%) and Democrats (13%) are nearly identical in calling it extremely or very important that candidates back crypto, blockchain, and DeFi. Full findings:

SPI filed comments supporting @SECgov’s Reg Crypto proposal, a significant step toward a fit-for-purpose fundraising, disclosure, and transition framework for crypto assets. Our letter includes targeted recommendations to make the framework work in practice. Read it here:

"The next is trading those tokens and tokenized U.S. equities onchain. This has probably been one of the most compelling stories on Solana over the last 18 months outside of the United States." – @millercwl, CEO at @SolanaInstitute at Solana Summit Korea

The crypto industry has come a long way in Washington. From regulation by enforcement and de-banking to the Genius Act and agencies with the political cover to act. "I think crypto, as an industry and a technology, is winning right now in Washington." - @KristinSmith

A full rulemaking process at the SEC or CFTC takes 18 to 24 months, setting up a big push to get crypto rules finalized before 2028. @KristinSmith, President of @SolanaInstitute, tells @RemyBlaireNews once people start relying on products like tokenized equities, which can trade all hours of the day, "nobody's going to want to undo those rules."

1/ Today is Commissioner @HesterPeirce's last day at the SEC. She joined the Commission in 2018 and for almost nine years, nobody in government stood up for American developers more consistently. She leaves behind a deeply American idea: people should be free to build. 🧵

“We come here to get things done.” Thank you to @Sen_Alsobrooks for joining SPI at Crypto Mornings with @PuckNews and sharing why you remain committed to working across the aisle to advance market structure legislation.

Mark Wetjen, president of @Backpack US, on the growing demand for tokenized securities: “There’s clearly appetite for trading these assets around the clock.” Much of the trading in Backpack’s tokenized securities on @Solana is happening after U.S. markets close.

Thank you @SteveDaines, @SenLummis, @berniemoreno and @SenatorTimScott for introducing the ADAPT Act. We look forward to working with Congress on tax rules that support everyday use of digital assets and advance U.S. innovation.

The SEC's innovation exemption for tokenized securities is huge for the industry. @KristinSmith, President of @SolanaInstitute, tells @RemyBlaireNews chains like Solana can integrate with the existing financial system to make issuing and trading securities cheaper and faster.

At Solana Summit DC, @AlliumLabs’ @ethanyish breaks down how Solana is serving two sides of the market: Institutions are using Solana for issuance. Retail is using it for trading. Low fees + high throughput + global reach. @solana's infrastructure enables it all.

🔥 NOW: Our second panel at Cointelegraph Connect: Seoul Edition is underway, with @SolanaInstitute, @CodexFX, @FTDA_US, @0xMiden and @Edenaofficial discussing how stablecoins are evolving after the GENIUS Act.

Few people have done more to bring principle and common sense to crypto policy than @HesterPeirce. I’m grateful for her leadership at the SEC, and for her willingness to keep asking the hard questions about innovation, privacy, and individual freedom.

On October 17, @KristinSmith will step in as interim CEO of @BlockchainAssn to guide the organization during this transition. Kristin will continue to serve in her full capacity as President of SPI. The SPI team is incredibly grateful to @SummerMersinger for her leadership and partnership through the most consequential period in crypto policy history. Thank you, Summer; we’re wishing you the best in your next chapter!

Last year, SPI, @SuperstateInc and @orca_so brought @SECGov Project Open, a proposal to trade tokenized stocks on public, permissionless blockchains like Solana. Last week's Innovation Exemption fits that design. @millercwl on what it means for @solana.

The forecast calls for rain. Our plan calls for popcorn. 🍿 Join SPI + @BlockchainAssn tonight for SOL Out Movie Night and a screening of The Ides of March. Doors at 5:30. Movie at 6. See you soon!