Marc Andreessen says crypto industry's survival is winning over US lawmakers

Andreessen Horowitz co‑founder Marc Andreessen argues that the cryptocurrency sector’s ability to endure years of regulatory pressure has become its strongest lobbying tool in Washington. He told the a16z Crypto Show that lawmakers now view the industry’s persistence as evidence of genuine demand and are more inclined to support clear legislation, such as the Senate‑pending Clarity Act.

Andreessen warned that without a stable, permanent regulatory framework, bad actors can thrive offshore while compliant domestic firms are disadvantaged, citing the collapse of the FTX exchange as a cautionary example. He also pushed back against critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, emphasizing that the industry needs rules comparable to those governing stocks and bonds rather than subsidies or protectionism.