This is a segment from the Forward Guidance newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe . I enjoyed taking the Digital Asset Summit stage with Algorand Foundation CEO Staci Warden a few hours ago. Our opening act? The president of the United States . There wasn’t exactly market-moving crypto news out of Donald Trump’s mouth (i.e. another executive order) — though he did utter the word “Blockworks” upon kicking off his three-minute virtual address. What's the best crypto media company? pic.twitter.com/HmVEcueDZi — Jack Kubinec (@whosknave) March 20, 2025 Warden and I watched Trump on a screen backstage. Strategy executive chairman Michael Saylor — the speaker to follow us — was close by, getting mic’d up. It was an interesting moment. The president doubled down on some of what we heard on the campaign trail and during his first couple months in office. Trump vowed the US would “dominate crypto and the next generation of financial technologies.” He labeled the so-called Operation Chokepoint 2.0 as “a form of lawfare through government weaponization” that “went beyond regulation.” To that point, Warden told me: “Frankly, we don’t even need directive support. We just need to not be hampered. “We have the deepest, most liquid financial markets in the world,” she added. “If we could just have a level playing field, we can definitely compete globally.” Trump reaffirmed in his pre-recorded remarks that he’s called upon Congress to pass legislation creating “simple, common-sense rules” for stablecoins and market structure. Casey wrote yesterday that Trump has told lawmakers he wants a bill on his desk by summer’s end. Dollar-backed stablecoins will help expand dominance of the US dollar, the president added. Trump flattered the DAS crowd, noting, “Pioneers like you will be able to improve our banking and payment system.” Warden also spoke about these applications and broader blockchain adoption. The Trump appearance offered a bit of a jolt to the conference for some — and it’s safe to assume legislation is coming. The questions, of course, are how quickly, what the final versions will look like, and how exactly the legislation will spur the next generation of financial markets. Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters: Blockworks Daily : The newsletter that helps thousands of investors understand crypto and the markets, by Byron Gilliam. Empire : Start your morning with the top news and analysis to inform your day in crypto. Forward Guidance : Reporting and analysis on the growing intersection of crypto and macroeconomics, policy and finance. 0xResearch : Alpha directly in your inbox. Market highlights, data, degen trade ideas, governance updates, token performance and more. Lightspeed : Built for Solana investors, developers and community members. The latest from one of crypto’s hottest networks. The Drop : For crypto collectors and traders, covering apps, games, memes and more.
