Michelle Bond, anticipating her partner’s upcoming prison sentence in connection to the downfall of FTX, has unveiled the establishment of a crypto-focused think tank in Washington, DC.
In an announcement on June 20, Bond revealed the launch of Digital Future, a think tank she has been instrumental in creating. Notably, this marks one of her first professional ventures following the collapse of FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange. The contributions made to her 2022 U.S. House of Representatives campaign linked to FTX were among the charges faced by her partner, Ryan Salame, the former co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets.
The primary objective of the think tank, according to Bond, is to advocate for a regulatory framework that is conducive to financial technology, digital assets, and artificial intelligence in the United States. She emphasized the lack of significant legislation concerning crypto and AI by U.S. lawmakers.
Before the FTX debacle, Bond held the position of CEO at the Association for Digital Asset Markets. Additionally, she has been leading Capitol Advisory since 2023, a consulting firm specializing in regulatory, legal, and public policy matters for fintech firms. From 2011 to 2012, she also served as counsel for the U.S. Senate Banking Committee.
The exact timing of the launch of the crypto think tank remains ambiguous, particularly with less than five months left until the U.S. presidential election and various state primaries taking place in June. Despite attempts to reach out to Digital Future for comments, there has been no response as of yet.
In September 2023, Salame pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to make illegal political contributions and operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. Subsequently, in May, he was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison by a federal judge, with a report date set for August 29. These charges stemmed from Salame’s involvement in Bond’s failed congressional campaign in 2022.
Following his sentencing, Salame has resumed activity on his X account after a hiatus of approximately two years, engaging in discussions about the crypto market and the U.S. political landscape before his prison term commences. It is worth noting that he shares a seven-month-old child with Bond.
As the 2024 election approaches, crypto voters have already started to influence the political landscape, and this trend is expected to continue.