Summer Mersinger is a public policy and government affairs professional who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Blockchain Association. She has over two decades of experience in Washington, D.C., holding senior positions in federal regulatory agencies, the United States Congress, and the private sector. Before leading the crypto industry's primary trade group, Mersinger was a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a position to which she was nominated by President Joe Biden and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. ^{[1] [2]}​

Education

Summer Mersinger received a Juris Doctor from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, completing her studies between 2003 and 2007. She previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, where she studied from 1995 to 1999. ^[1]

Career

Mersinger has built a career spanning more than 20 years at the intersection of public policy, financial regulation, and legislative affairs. Her professional background includes leadership roles within the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government, as well as experience in the private sector.

Blockchain Sector

In June 2025, Summer Mersinger became Chief Executive Officer of the Blockchain Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing companies, investors, and projects in the digital asset sector. In this role, she leads the organization’s policy and advocacy efforts related to the regulatory treatment of digital assets in the United States. She succeeded the association’s founding chief executive following a leadership transition in mid-2025. ^{[1] [2] [5]}

U.S Government Service

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)

Mersinger served at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission from 2019 to 2025, including as a Commissioner from April 2022 to May 2025. During her tenure, she participated in regulatory oversight of U.S. derivatives markets and policy discussions involving emerging financial technologies, including digital assets. Earlier at the CFTC, she held senior staff positions, including Chief of Staff to Commissioner Dawn Stump and Director of the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. ^{[1] [4]}

Capitol Hill

Prior to her work in federal regulatory agencies, Mersinger built a career in Congress. She served as Deputy Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator John Thune from 2012 to 2020 and earlier held roles in his Senate office, including Executive Director and Director of Scheduling. She also worked in the U.S. House of Representatives as an Executive Assistant, gaining experience across both chambers of Congress. ^{[3] [1]}

Media Appearances

In November 2025, she delivered a policy update at the PGP* (Pretty Good Policy) for Crypto meeting in Washington, D.C., addressing recent regulatory developments affecting the blockchain industry and outlining potential legislative and regulatory trajectories. In December 2025, she also appeared as a speaker at Modern Money: The Next Chapter in Banking, Regulation & Financial Trust, an event hosted by The Hill, where she discussed banking, regulation, and financial trust in the context of emerging technologies.