Summer Mersinger will leave as CEO of the Blockchain Association on October 16, 2026, the association announced on September 25, and remain an advisor through the end of the year. Kristin Smith, the group’s former CEO and current board chair, will become interim CEO on October 17 while continuing to lead the Solana Policy Institute. The transition follows the Senate’s failure to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in a 49-50 vote. Mersinger joined the association in June 2025 after serving as a commissioner at the CFTC, and the group recorded more than 300 meetings with congressional and agency staff and organized seven member fly-ins in 2026. Smith’s return provides continuity as the association searches for permanent leadership, while her dual role raises questions about how the Solana-focused institute will fit alongside an organization representing the broader crypto industry.