Marc Andreessen urges US crypto regulations, says industry survived crackdown

Industry endures despite official hostility

Appearing on the “a16z Crypto Show,” Andreessen outlined how an aggressive stance from the previous White House administration, which declined to establish regulations and instead launched widespread prosecutions, actually demonstrated the sector’s staying power. He referred to this official approach as essentially a declared war against the industry, but noted that those efforts failed to extinguish crypto’s momentum.

Some lawmakers on Capitol Hill, he said, have started to take notice. According to Andreessen, several legislators have even cited crypto’s persistence through regulatory clampdowns as their reason for shifting to a supportive stance. He described these exchanges in Washington, explaining that officials now view the sector’s survival as evidence of its inherent merits.

Crypto’s survival despite a determined crackdown has prompted lawmakers to reconsider their position, with some stating that if the industry withstood such intense pressure, it may indeed be worthy of support.

At the same time, Andreessen expressed concern about the lack of a comprehensive legislative framework for digital assets in the United States. He argued that regulatory uncertainty leaves compliant domestic companies at a disadvantage while encouraging bad actors to operate overseas.

Urgent call for regulatory clarity

Andreessen emphasized the need for a stable and permanent regulatory structure for cryptocurrencies, similar to the regulatory frameworks that govern stocks and bonds. He cited the Clarity Act, which is currently under consideration in the Senate, as an essential step toward proper oversight.

He drew attention to the collapse of offshore exchange FTX as a prime example of the dangers posed by regulatory gaps. Andreessen argued that without domestic rules, users and their assets remain vulnerable and the winners in the sector risk being short-term operations based outside US jurisdiction.

A permanent set of rules, Andreessen asserted, is not about protectionism or subsidies, but about responsible business: protecting users, ensuring the security of funds, and favoring reputable operators over unregulated actors.

He insisted that industry leaders do not seek special treatment, but want policies that allow legitimate firms to compete fairly while holding bad actors accountable.

Response to criticism and national security claims

Andreessen also addressed criticisms from public figures such as Senator Elizabeth Warren, who have raised national security concerns about cryptocurrency.

He said that most national security experts he has consulted do not share these fears. Instead, he noted, some officials actually see benefits in the transparency of blockchain transactions, which create detailed trails for investigators. This perspective challenges the narrative that digital assets primarily aid illicit activities.

As regulatory and market conditions evolve, Andreessen’s comments echo broader industry calls for lawmakers to create clear rules that both protect users and enable the US to remain competitive in crypto innovation.