Avalanche Policy Coalition Launches Global Advisory Council to Shape International Crypto Regulations in 2026
Avalanche just fired the opening salvo in the 2026 crypto regulation wars.
The Avalanche Policy Coalition—the blockchain's lobbying arm—unveiled its new Global Advisory Council today. This isn't just another industry roundtable. It's a strategic play to embed Avalanche's architecture into the very fabric of international law.
The New Power Brokers
Forget waiting for regulators to catch up. The council's mandate is proactive: draft model legislation, influence key policymakers, and establish Avalanche as the technical benchmark for smart contract regulation. They're building the rulebook before the game even starts.
Why 2026 is the Battleground
Next year is shaping up as a global inflection point. From MiCA implementation in Europe to evolving frameworks in Asia and the Americas, nations are scrambling to define their digital asset stance. This council aims to be the first voice in every ear, positioning Avalanche's high-throughput, subnet-driven model as the regulatory-friendly solution.
The Finance Angle (With a Dash of Cynicism)
Let's be real—this is regulatory arbitrage dressed in a statesman's suit. The coalition isn't spending millions for altruism. They're betting that shaping favorable rules will funnel institutional capital and developers onto their chain, creating a moat that pure technology alone can't build. It's a classic move: if you can't beat the system, rewrite the system's code.
The message to competitors is clear. The fight for the next decade of crypto isn't just happening on GitHub or in DeFi pools. It's happening in the backrooms of Brussels, Washington, and Singapore. And Avalanche just secured its seat at the table.
What are the main goals of the Avalanche policy council for 2026?
The Avalanche Policy Coalition has announced a new advisory council that is designed to influence digital asset laws across the globe. This council is led by Lee Schneider, the General Counsel of Ava Labs.
The council’s primary members include Chris Holmes, a member of the UK House of Lords, and several senior executives. These executives are Bart Smith, the CEO of Avalanche Treasury Co., Laine Litman, the COO of Avalanche Treasury Co., and Jolie Kahn, the CEO of AVAX One Technology.
Lee Schneider described the launch as a “watershed moment.” He explained that the Avalanche ecosystem now operates through Ava Labs, the Avalanche Foundation, and two specialized treasury companies.
These groups being together in one council means that the Avalanche ecosystem can ensure that all parts are “rowing in the same direction” regarding global policy and the future of blockchain technology.
The advisory council has identified three Core priorities to focus on throughout 2026.
First, the council will focus on creating clear rules for how different types of digital assets are labeled by the law. Currently, some countries view tokens as securities, while others view them as commodities or currencies. The council wants to find “global synergy” so that a token launched in one country does not face completely different rules when it is used in another.
Second, the group will work on defining “intermediaries.” This refers to the businesses and platforms that help people buy, sell, or hold crypto. The council aims to help governments understand exactly who should be regulated and how. If these definitions are too strict or too vague, it can stop innovation or lead to unfair legal trouble for developers.
Third, the council is dedicated to protecting access to the internet on a global scale. Blockchain technology relies on an open and free internet. The group plans to advocate for policies that prevent governments from restricting the web in ways that WOULD hurt decentralized networks.
Lee Schneider clarified that the goal is not to make every country have the exact same laws, but to promote shared principles.
How are major governments changing their crypto laws right now?
Lawmakers in the U.S. are currently working to regulate the entire crypto industry following the successful passage of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act in the summer of 2025.
The GENIUS Act created a federal framework for stablecoins, officially clarified that they are not “securities” or “commodities,” and moved them under the oversight of banking regulators rather than the SEC or CFTC. Today, the SEC and CFTC are working together on defining boundaries as they modernize rules for other digital assets.
The European Union is currently in the final stages of implementing its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. Many companies are currently in a “grandfathering” period, which allows them to continue operating under old national laws. However, this period will end on July 1, 2026. After that date, all crypto service providers in the EU must have full MiCA authorization to stay in business.
The UK government is developing a new regulatory environment that is scheduled to come into full force in October 2027. Lord Chris Holmes, who is part of the new Avalanche council, recently spoke in the House of Lords about the need to separate stablecoins from unbacked assets like bitcoin in the law. He argued that treating them the same way could “stifle” the UK stablecoin industry.
The Japanese government is preparing to reclassify crypto assets as “financial products” under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA). Crypto will then be under the same strict rules as traditional stocks and bonds. As part of this trade-off, Japan is considering a plan to lower the tax rate on crypto gains from as high as 55% down to 20%.
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