Fintech Giants Forge Alliance to Shape US Crypto Policy

WASHINGTON, DC – March 17, 2026 – In a move signaling a new era of collaboration between the financial technology industry and policymakers, Money20/20, the world’s leading fintech show, has announced a strategic partnership with The Digital Chamber, the largest digital asset trade association in the United States. The alliance, unveiled at The Digital Chamber’s annual DC Blockchain Summit, aims to create a direct and influential channel between global financial innovators and the Washington regulators crafting the rules for the digital economy.

This partnership formalizes a critical link at a time when tokenization, stablecoins, and blockchain-based systems are rapidly moving from the fringe to the core of global finance. By combining Money20/20’s vast network of banks, payment processors, and fintech leaders with The Digital Chamber’s deep-seated policy expertise, the collaboration is poised to significantly influence the trajectory of digital asset regulation in the U.S. and beyond.

A Strategic Alliance for Regulatory Clarity

The timing of this partnership is no accident. It comes as Washington shows a renewed, and seemingly more constructive, interest in establishing clear rules for the crypto industry. This collaboration is designed to be a powerful engine for that process. The Digital Chamber is not a newcomer to the legislative battlefield; it has been a key force in advancing landmark legislation, including the Financial Innovation and Technology (FIT) for the 21st Century Act, which achieved a significant bipartisan victory in the House in 2024. Their strategy of consistent, unified advocacy has earned them a credible and influential voice on Capitol Hill.

Money20/20, meanwhile, provides the global stage. For years, its events in Las Vegas, Amsterdam, and across Asia have been the primary venues where deals are done and the future of money is debated. By formalizing its role in policy, the organization is acknowledging a fundamental shift: for the fintech industry to mature, innovation and regulation must move in lockstep.

“Money20/20 is where the most trusted institutions in finance meet the innovators building what comes next,” said Scarlett Sieber, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer of Money20/20, in the announcement. She emphasized that the partnership with The Digital Chamber, led by CEO Cody Carbone, is designed to “deepen the connection between traditional institutions and the builders driving the real-world convergence of TradFi and DeFi.”

Cody Carbone echoed this sentiment, framing the alliance as a direct extension of his organization's core mission. “Partnering with Money20/20 strengthens that mission by bringing policymakers, fintech leaders, and digital asset builders into the same room,” he stated. The shared goal is to accelerate the “responsible growth” of these technologies on a global scale.

Bridging the TradFi-DeFi Divide

Central to the partnership is the support for Money20/20’s global initiative, ‘The Intersection: Where TradFi & DeFi Converge’. This is more than a catchy slogan; it represents a concerted effort to mend the historically “somewhat combative past” between the worlds of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). The initiative aims to create a new financial paradigm that marries the stability and scale of established institutions with the innovation and efficiency of blockchain-based solutions.

This convergence is happening against a backdrop of significant regulatory movement. In a landmark step towards coordination, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding and launched a “Joint Harmonization Initiative.” This move, led by officials like the SEC's Robert Teply and the CFTC's Meghan Tente, aims to end the jurisdictional ambiguity that has long plagued the industry.

The new leadership at these agencies further fuels optimism. SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins has declared that the era of regulatory ambiguity is over, signaling a pro-innovation stance and even considering an “innovation exemption” for certain tokenized assets. At the CFTC, Chairman Michael S. Selig’s “Future Proof” initiative is a formal effort to overhaul cryptocurrency oversight through clear rulemaking. This partnership between Money20/20 and The Digital Chamber is perfectly positioned to provide the industry input needed to make such initiatives successful and practical.

The New Role of Industry Conferences

This alliance also highlights a broader evolution in the purpose of major industry events. What were once primarily venues for sales, networking, and product showcases are increasingly becoming critical platforms for policy advocacy and regulatory dialogue. The complexity and global nature of digital assets demand a forum where business leaders and government officials can engage directly, and conferences like Money20/20 are filling that void.

This trend is not unique to the United States. At events like Finovate in Europe, discussions around the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation have taken center stage, demonstrating a global need to balance innovation with consumer protection and financial stability. The Money20/20 and Digital Chamber partnership, however, represents a more structured and sustained approach. Rather than a single panel discussion, the collaboration will span exclusive roundtables, podcasts, and thought leadership throughout the year, ensuring a continuous dialogue between industry and government.

The partnership will build momentum through key events, starting with the DC Blockchain Summit and culminating at Money20/20 USA in Las Vegas this October. This sustained engagement is intended to move beyond theoretical debates and towards the creation of tangible, workable regulatory frameworks. As the digital asset industry matures, its future will not be decided in anonymous forums or on social media, but in the conference rooms and policy workshops where the world’s financial and political leaders convene. This new alliance has just built one of the most important rooms of all.