Bringing jobs back to the United States and embracing new technology are two ideas that most Americans agree on. Whether you're a big business executive or a startup founder, it's clear: the future of the American economy depends on innovation, creativity and producing goods here again—and that includes “revolutionizing” our financial systems.

This is the very reason digital assets and blockchain technology matter. They’re not just buzzwords. They’re tools that can increase efficiency and transparency, expand access to financial services for everyone, and create new kinds of jobs and opportunities. But if we want those benefits to stay in America, we need to get the rules right.

Over the past few months, we’ve seen encouraging signs from Washington. The White House has shown interest in blockchain and digital innovation, and lawmakers have started drafting bills like the GENIUS Act, which takes important steps toward setting standards for crypto—starting with stablecoins. That’s a good start. But now is the time to effectuate bills into law so the United States does not lose its status as a digital asset regulatory leader and a global digital asset innovation hub.

We need laws that don’t just legitimize and regulate crypto—they should support American businesses, protect American consumers, and make sure foreign companies follow the same rules as everyone else. Quite frankly, it is in the best interest for our national security to not miss out on this critical opportunity.

This is personal to me. I spent over two-plus decades in traditional finance—at institutions such as Merrill Lynch, Permal, Man Group, BlackRock and Wells Fargo Private Bank—before founding H2cryptO, a digital asset marketplace based right here in Georgia. I started the company because I saw a better way: a digital asset marketplace that is built around trust, transparency, security, compliance, and helping people understand what they’re investing in. Unlike most of all of our competitors, we don’t hide behind anonymous interfaces or offshore accounts. We provide real client service and provide real assistance.

The industry is long overdue for trusted and compliant marketplaces that clients can feel truly safe using. Because too many people have been burned by crypto. The two major pain points preventing the widespread and mass adoption of digital assets is trust and complexity. Asset owners have been scammed, ghosted, or misled by companies that don’t care what happens after they get your money. That’s not just bad for individuals and entities—it’s bad for the whole digital asset economy.

The solution isn’t to shut crypto down or provide intimidation by litigation. It’s to make it safer, clearer and more trusted. That starts with smart regulation—rules that encourage innovation but also create guardrails to protect consumers. And it means holding every digital asset company, whether based in Atlanta or overseas, to the same standards.

Currently, we’re asking U.S. startups to play by the rules while foreign competitors often skate by without oversight. That’s not fair, not good for our national interests—and it’s not sustainable. Foreign banks that operate in the United States are held to the same standards as US domiciled banks, and crypto shouldn’t be any different.

With proper legislation that doesn’t hold back creativity and innovation while simultaneously providing consumer protection, this industry will be a big win for America. It will create thousands of jobs, attract billions in investment, and give more people access to the financial system unlike any other time in human history. But that only happens if people trust it. And trust comes from knowing someone’s watching out for you.

The GENIUS Act is a strong first step. It brings stablecoins out of the shadows and gives them a legal framework. But we need to go further. Future legislation should make it clear: if you want to do business with Americans, you follow American rules. Period.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about protecting consumers and building an economy that is entirely inclusive and works for everyone. It’s about giving honest businesses a fair shot and making sure consumers aren’t left in the dark. And it’s about making sure the next wave of financial innovation is made—not just in Silicon Valley or Wall Street—but in communities across the country.

Digital assets are here to stay. The timing is now, and the question is whether we want it to work for us or against us. If we act now—the United States will position itself as both a digital asset innovation hub as well as a benchmark for prudent, clear, regulatory rules and laws for digital assets.