Blockchain Association
Non profit organizations promoting blockchain applications
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Blockchain Association the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a pro-innovation policy environment for the digital asset economy. They work with their members to educate policymakers about blockchain technology and its ability to pave the way for a more secure, competitive, and consumer-friendly digital marketplace.
Crypto industry lobbying group asks court to halt Illinois digital assets tax
According to CoinDesk, the Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI) and the Blockchain Association filed a motion for a preliminary injunction with an Illinois court on Wednesday, seeking to halt the state's Digital Assets Tax Act before its effective date of January 1, 2027. The tax act was passed on the final day of this year's legislative session, imposing a 0.2% rate on entities headquartered in the state or providing services there with annual gross revenues exceeding $100,000. Both organizations previously sued the bill alongside the Digital Chamber last month, alleging it violates the principle of federal preemption. The filing states that member enterprises have already suffered "irreparable harm" due to the necessity of building compliance systems. CCI CEO Ji Hun Kim stated that businesses are required to spend millions of dollars developing systems for a tax that is unconstitutional and unclear in both scope and timing; Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger stated that since the state cannot collect the relevant taxes during the litigation, "[t]he loss to the state government from waiting is minimal, while the loss to all parties if they continue to proceed would be significant."
Blockchain Association and CCI File for Injunction to Halt Illinois' 0.2% Digital Asset Transaction Tax
Odaily News – The Blockchain Association and the Innovative Crypto Council (CCI) have filed a motion for a preliminary injunction with the Circuit Court of Sangamon County, Illinois, seeking to halt the 0.2% digital asset franchise transaction tax scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, during the pendency of litigation. The tax applies to crypto entities established in Illinois or providing services to Illinois residents with annual gross revenues exceeding $100,000. The two lobbying groups had previously sued Illinois over the measure and, together with the Chamber of Digital Commerce, argue that the law violates the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act as well as the Due Process and Interstate Commerce clauses of the U.S. Constitution.
Blockchain Association calls for SEC and CFTC coordination to establish a U.S. regulatory pathway for equity perpetual contracts.
According to an announcement by the Blockchain Association, the organization submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) this week, calling on both agencies to strengthen coordination, clarify regulatory rules for innovative financial products under the existing legal framework, and establish a clear pathway for products such as equity perpetual contracts to enter the compliant U.S. market. The Blockchain Association noted that equity perpetual contracts are currently traded primarily outside the United States, causing the U.S. market to miss out on related price discovery, liquidity, and innovation opportunities. It recommended that regulators maintain the joint securities and futures regulatory framework and apply existing authorities for novel derivatives as appropriate; the new framework should focus on transparency, auditability, market surveillance, client asset protection, financial integrity, and operational resilience. The association stated that persistent regulatory uncertainty is driving liquidity, employment, and market data overseas.
Blockchain Association Supports GENIUS Act Implementing Rules for Stablecoin Issuers, Advocates Narrowing Customer Identification Scope
According to The Block, the Blockchain Association has submitted comments on the stablecoin issuer rules under the GENIUS Act, proposed jointly by U.S. Treasury agencies including the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Reserve. The association supports limiting Customer Identification Program (CIP) obligations to direct customer transactions in the primary market, emphasizing that they should not extend to peer-to-peer transfers in the secondary market. It also calls on regulators to further clarify the definitions of "account," "customer," and "digital asset service provider," exempt one-time redemptions and other non-recurring activities, and avoid duplicative compliance burdens alongside anti-money laundering regulations. The association stated that the implementation of the rules must strike a balance between ensuring stablecoin security, maintaining operational feasibility, and preserving room for industry innovation.
CCI and Blockchain Association Sue Illinois Officials Over 0.2% Digital Asset Tax
Odaily News: Digital asset advocacy groups Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI) and the Blockchain Association (BA) have filed a lawsuit against Illinois officials, opposing the state's 0.2% cryptocurrency tax. The tax, expected to take effect in January 2027, is levied on transaction volume rather than income.The two organizations filed the complaint in the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Sangamon County, arguing that the tax violates the U.S. Constitution, the Illinois Constitution, federal and state due process laws, and the Internet Tax Freedom Act, and could result in double taxation. The complaint also states that the tax rules are overly vague, placing compliance burdens on residents and brokers while exposing them to civil and criminal penalties.Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger stated that Illinois cannot implement a tax system that discriminates against digital commerce and increases uncertainty for consumers and businesses. The Digital Chamber filed a similar lawsuit in July over the same tax, claiming it discriminates against digital asset traders. (Cointelegraph)
Crypto industry association sues Illinois, challenges 0.2% digital asset tax
The Crypto Innovation Committee and the Blockchain Association have joined a lawsuit against Illinois' new tax law, alleging it is unconstitutional and discriminatory against digital assets. The 0.2% tax policy is projected to generate $60 million in state revenue but has drawn controversy for being levied on transactions rather than profits.
Blockchain Association Supports GENIUS Act Implementing Rules for Stablecoin Issuers, Advocates Narrowing Customer Identification Scope
According to The Block, the Blockchain Association has submitted comments on the stablecoin issuer rules under the GENIUS Act, proposed jointly by U.S. Treasury agencies including the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Reserve. The association supports limiting Customer Identification Program (CIP) obligations to direct customer transactions in the primary market, emphasizing that they should not extend to peer-to-peer transfers in the secondary market. It also calls on regulators to further clarify the definitions of "account," "customer," and "digital asset service provider," exempt one-time redemptions and other non-recurring activities, and avoid duplicative compliance burdens alongside anti-money laundering regulations. The association stated that the implementation of the rules must strike a balance between ensuring stablecoin security, maintaining operational feasibility, and preserving room for industry innovation.
The Blockchain Association Supports U.S. SEC Rescinding Certain Outdated NMS Rules
The Blockchain Association stated that it has submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, supporting its proposal to rescind Rule 611 and Rule 610(e) under Regulation National Market System. The association believes that the relevant rules were based on the 2005 market structure and are no longer able to adapt to the current faster, automated, and interconnected market environment.
Blockchain Association Supports Custodia v. Federal Reserve Case to Supreme Court
The Blockchain Association filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court supporting Custodia Bank's challenge to the Federal Reserve's decision to deny its master account application, with the dispute centering on whether the Federal Reserve has the authority to deny qualified state-chartered banks access to payment systems.
Blockchain Association Supports Custodia Bank's Application to Supreme Court for Federal Reserve Master Account Access
According to The Block, the Blockchain Association filed an amicus curiae brief on August 13 supporting Custodia Bank's appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, requesting a review of the legality of the Federal Reserve Bank's refusal of its master account application. The Blockchain Association pointed out that this case concerns whether legitimate digital asset enterprises can compete in a fair environment, and warned that the lower court ruling provides a precedent for federal regulators "to debank unpopular industries in the future without the intervention of state regulators." Custodia Bank was founded by Wall Street veteran Caitlin Long, applied for a Fed master account in October 2020, was rejected by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in January 2023 on the grounds that the crypto business model posed risks, subsequently lost twice in the district court and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and was denied rehearing by the full court in a 7 to 3 vote in March 2026. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City must respond to the Supreme Court application by September 11.
Blockchain Association Refutes Wall Street Journal: Clarity Act Is Pro-Innovation Legislation Promoting Competition, Not A Regulatory Loophole
Mersinger pointed out that the bill explicitly prohibits the portion of stablecoin holding rewards equivalent to bank deposit interest, but allows reward mechanisms based on user activity, consistent with the credit card points model; regarding DeFi regulation, Section 10301 of the bill requires the SEC to establish rules for protocols that are "nominally decentralized, substantially controllable," rather than exempting them, while Section 10201 has incorporated digital commodity brokers into the full reporting obligations under the "Bank Secrecy Act" and allocated $3 billion to support state-level enforcement, contrary to the "Wall Street Journal"'s claim of "inadequate regulation of illicit finance."
Digital Chamber and other crypto organizations urge the U.S. Senate to advance the Clarity Act
Odaily News: Fox Business crypto reporter posted on platform X that Digital Chamber, Crypto Council, and Blockchain Association are urging U.S. Senate leadership to bring the Clarity Act to a full floor vote, despite the bill currently lacking the necessary support for advancement.
Related news
Crypto industry lobbying group asks court to halt Illinois digital assets tax
According to CoinDesk, the Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI) and the Blockchain Association filed a motion for a preliminary injunction with an Illinois court on Wednesday, seeking to halt the state's Digital Assets Tax Act before its effective date of January 1, 2027. The tax act was passed on the final day of this year's legislative session, imposing a 0.2% rate on entities headquartered in the state or providing services there with annual gross revenues exceeding $100,000. Both organizations previously sued the bill alongside the Digital Chamber last month, alleging it violates the principle of federal preemption. The filing states that member enterprises have already suffered "irreparable harm" due to the necessity of building compliance systems. CCI CEO Ji Hun Kim stated that businesses are required to spend millions of dollars developing systems for a tax that is unconstitutional and unclear in both scope and timing; Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger stated that since the state cannot collect the relevant taxes during the litigation, "[t]he loss to the state government from waiting is minimal, while the loss to all parties if they continue to proceed would be significant."
Blockchain Association and CCI File for Injunction to Halt Illinois' 0.2% Digital Asset Transaction Tax
Odaily News – The Blockchain Association and the Innovative Crypto Council (CCI) have filed a motion for a preliminary injunction with the Circuit Court of Sangamon County, Illinois, seeking to halt the 0.2% digital asset franchise transaction tax scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, during the pendency of litigation. The tax applies to crypto entities established in Illinois or providing services to Illinois residents with annual gross revenues exceeding $100,000. The two lobbying groups had previously sued Illinois over the measure and, together with the Chamber of Digital Commerce, argue that the law violates the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act as well as the Due Process and Interstate Commerce clauses of the U.S. Constitution.
Blockchain Association calls for SEC and CFTC coordination to establish a U.S. regulatory pathway for equity perpetual contracts.
According to an announcement by the Blockchain Association, the organization submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) this week, calling on both agencies to strengthen coordination, clarify regulatory rules for innovative financial products under the existing legal framework, and establish a clear pathway for products such as equity perpetual contracts to enter the compliant U.S. market. The Blockchain Association noted that equity perpetual contracts are currently traded primarily outside the United States, causing the U.S. market to miss out on related price discovery, liquidity, and innovation opportunities. It recommended that regulators maintain the joint securities and futures regulatory framework and apply existing authorities for novel derivatives as appropriate; the new framework should focus on transparency, auditability, market surveillance, client asset protection, financial integrity, and operational resilience. The association stated that persistent regulatory uncertainty is driving liquidity, employment, and market data overseas.
Blockchain Association Supports GENIUS Act Implementing Rules for Stablecoin Issuers, Advocates Narrowing Customer Identification Scope
According to The Block, the Blockchain Association has submitted comments on the stablecoin issuer rules under the GENIUS Act, proposed jointly by U.S. Treasury agencies including the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Reserve. The association supports limiting Customer Identification Program (CIP) obligations to direct customer transactions in the primary market, emphasizing that they should not extend to peer-to-peer transfers in the secondary market. It also calls on regulators to further clarify the definitions of "account," "customer," and "digital asset service provider," exempt one-time redemptions and other non-recurring activities, and avoid duplicative compliance burdens alongside anti-money laundering regulations. The association stated that the implementation of the rules must strike a balance between ensuring stablecoin security, maintaining operational feasibility, and preserving room for industry innovation.
Crypto firms sue Illinois, opposing the implementation of a digital asset tax
The Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI) and the Blockchain Association (BA) filed a lawsuit in Illinois state court challenging the state's 0.2% digital asset tax, alleging that it violates due process law and discriminates against digital commerce.
CCI and Blockchain Association Sue Illinois Officials Over 0.2% Digital Asset Tax
Odaily News: Digital asset advocacy groups Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI) and the Blockchain Association (BA) have filed a lawsuit against Illinois officials, opposing the state's 0.2% cryptocurrency tax. The tax, expected to take effect in January 2027, is levied on transaction volume rather than income.The two organizations filed the complaint in the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Sangamon County, arguing that the tax violates the U.S. Constitution, the Illinois Constitution, federal and state due process laws, and the Internet Tax Freedom Act, and could result in double taxation. The complaint also states that the tax rules are overly vague, placing compliance burdens on residents and brokers while exposing them to civil and criminal penalties.Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger stated that Illinois cannot implement a tax system that discriminates against digital commerce and increases uncertainty for consumers and businesses. The Digital Chamber filed a similar lawsuit in July over the same tax, claiming it discriminates against digital asset traders. (Cointelegraph)