At the 2025 Crypto Summit, Representatives Dusty Johnson of South Dakota (R) and Bryan Steil of Wisconsin (R) delivered a session that was as insightful as it was entertaining. The two Congressmen, both leading voices on digital asset policy, brought a refreshing blend of urgency, bipartisan spirit, and good-natured ribbing to a topic often bogged down by technical jargon and political gridlock.
From the outset, Johnson set the tone with a dose of Washington realism. “Congress only really acts when there’s a deadline,” he quipped, highlighting the notorious tendency of lawmakers to work best under pressure. With the digital asset landscape evolving at breakneck speed, Johnson warned that the next 18 months could bring as much change as the last 18 years—and that the U.S. couldn’t afford to fall behind. “We better get our s*** together,” he joked, “or we’re going to miss out on some incredible opportunities.”
Steil, never one to miss a comedic opening, jumped in with a jab at the previous administration’s regulatory approach. “What the hell was going on at the SEC?” he asked, drawing laughs from the audience. But beneath the humor was a serious point: with new leadership and a pro-innovation attitude in Washington, there was finally momentum to bring stablecoin and market structure bills across the finish line. “Let’s build on that energy,” Steil urged, “and move both of these bills as quickly as possible.”
What set this session apart was the genuine camaraderie between Johnson and Steil. Their banter about prom photos and late-night drinks wasn’t just for show—it reflected the real relationships that, as Johnson explained, make bipartisan progress possible. “Bryan and I are legitimately good personal friends,” he said. “We can just cut through the noise and get things done.” Steil agreed, noting that the digital asset debate had attracted some of the most thoughtful members of Congress from both sides of the aisle. “This isn’t about partisanship,” he said. “It’s about making sure America is leading the way in Web3 and blockchain.”
As the conversation turned to legislative strategy, both Congressmen emphasized the need for urgency and cooperation. Johnson outlined the tight legislative calendar, warning that only a handful of weeks remained to push meaningful crypto legislation forward. “We need to run up the score in the House,” he said, “to strengthen our prospects in the Senate.” Steil echoed this, stressing that success would be measured not by passing a bill in the House, but by getting it signed into law and implemented effectively.
The discussion also ventured beyond the immediate bills on the table. Johnson expressed excitement about the transformative potential of blockchain and DeFi, cautioning that lawmakers must be careful not to stifle innovation with heavy-handed regulation. Steil, meanwhile, drew a clever parallel to Back to the Future, reminding the audience that the most significant technological shifts are often the hardest to predict. “Who could have imagined the iPhone?” he mused, we see the flying cars in these old films, but are still thinking phone booths. “The changes coming from blockchain could be just as profound.”
When asked how the industry could help, Johnson was candid: “Keep pestering us!” he said, encouraging advocates to persistently raise issues until Congress listens. Steil added that industry leaders should focus on communicating the big-picture benefits of crypto—how it can transform the U.S. economy and secure America’s leadership in the next wave of technological innovation.
As the session wrapped up, it was clear that Johnson and Steil were more than just policy wonks—they were champions for a collaborative, forward-thinking approach to digital assets. Their playful banter and mutual respect offered a hopeful vision for how Congress can tackle complex issues: with urgency, openness, and a willingness to laugh at themselves along the way.
And if you’re lucky, maybe one day you’ll catch a glimpse of that legendary prom photo.
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