Crypto Needs Clarity to Continue Growing! with Miller Whitehouse-Levine

April 26, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Miller Whitehouse-Levine, CEO of the Solana Policy Institute, joins hosts Tony Edwards and Amanda Whitcroft at the Solana Policy Summit to discuss crypto policy challenges and progress. He explains his entry into the space through ideological interest in decentralization and outlines the institute's role in educating policymakers on blockchain technology, particularly Solana's strengths.

Origins in Crypto and Founding the Solana Policy Institute

Whitehouse-Levine first encountered Bitcoin in 2013-2014 while living in China, where he felt the heavy presence of government control compared to the U.S. This contrasted with crypto's promise: public blockchains empowering individuals over institutions or businesses, a rare trait in recent tech history. Lacking engineering skills, he pursued policy, working at the Blockchain Association under Kristen Smith, then the DeFi Education Fund focused on DeFi developers. He founded the Solana Policy Institute about a year ago to fill an advocacy gap—not because of targeted hostility toward Solana, but due to policymakers needing technological understanding to avoid misguided decisions. The institute spreads accurate information on Solana globally.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:38) **Guest Introduction** - Hosts Tony Edwards and Amanda Whitcroft introduce Miller Whitehouse-Levine, CEO of Solana Policy Institute, at Solana Policy Summit
2 (01:52) **Miller's Crypto Origin Story** - Details ideological entry into crypto while living in China (2013-2014), drawn to decentralization for individual empowerment vs. government presence
3 (03:08) **Policy Career Path** - Transition from engineering ineligibility to policy; worked at Blockchain Association and DeFi Education Fund
4 (03:30) **Founding Solana Policy Institute** - Created to fill ecosystem advocacy vacuum; educates policymakers on Solana's tech to prevent misguided regulations
5 (04:01) **Solana Spot ETFs Status** - Spot ETPs launched in Sept/Oct, now 11-12 trading; staking rewards face tax hurdles for passing to holders
6 (05:41) **Engagement with SEC and CFTC** - Prioritizes agency rulemaking alongside hoped-for Clarity Act; focuses on "innovation exemptions"
7 (06:12) **SEC Innovation Exemption** - Enables tokenized securities (e.g., Apple stock) trading on public blockchains and DeFi protocols in self-custody wallets

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Show Notes

Miller Whitehouse-Levine, CEO of the Solana Policy Institute, joined us at the SPI Summit to discuss the U.S.’s embrace of crypto, SEC and CFTC guidance, and the need for the Clarity Act to pass. Brought to you by 🌟 Build with BitGo - https://www.bitgo.com/?utm_source=thinking_crypto&utm_medium=brand
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