The Solana Policy Institute (SPI), a non-partisan, non-profit organization, was established on March 31 to engage with lawmakers, educate them on the role of decentralized networks in the digital economy, and advocate for Solana (SOL) in Washington.

SPI aims to promote legal clarity for developers and users of Solana-based applications. Founded by Miller Whitehouse-Levine, former CEO of the DeFi Education Fund, he will serve as SPI’s CEO.

According to SPI’s announcement, the institute will collaborate with other crypto advocacy organizations in Washington and present the Solana ecosystem as a case study of how decentralized technologies can contribute to economic and social infrastructure.

Its mission includes convening Solana’s developer and user communities to highlight real-world use cases and inform public policy.

Whitehouse-Levine stated:

"I am honored to lead the Solana Policy Institute in our mission to educate policymakers on the tremendous potential of decentralized networks like Solana. This is a pivotal moment for our industry, and clear regulations are essential to unlocking innovation for the digital economy of the future."

Educating on Solana

SPI seeks to position Solana as a prime example of blockchain’s utility across economic sectors, including finance, data storage, and digital identity.

The institute argues that decentralized networks are emerging as foundational infrastructure for the next phase of the internet and that legal certainty is crucial to fostering responsible innovation.

SPI will engage directly with congressional staff, federal regulators, and executive agencies.

It will emphasize the importance of distinguishing between centralized and decentralized models when shaping legislation and regulatory guidance, particularly in securities classification, consumer protection, and market integrity.

SPI’s strategy includes convening voices from within the Solana ecosystem—such as infrastructure providers, developers, and decentralized application (dApp) users. These stakeholders will offer policymakers case-specific insights, demonstrating blockchain applications in practice and identifying areas where regulatory uncertainty hinders adoption.

As a result, the Solana Policy Institute will act as a dedicated bridge between the Solana network and federal policymakers, focusing on structured, evidence-based advocacy to shape legislative and regulatory frameworks.

Improving Solana’s Legal Status

Since the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued major exchanges in 2023, SOL and other altcoins have been classified as securities by the regulator.

However, SOL’s legal standing has improved in recent weeks. On March 2, former President Donald Trump floated the idea of a digital asset stockpile and mentioned SOL among other altcoins.

Solana is also gaining traction with U.S. investors through new investment vehicles. On March 17, the first SOL futures contracts began trading on CME Group, followed three days later by the launch of SOL futures-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Analysts believe that the introduction of futures products increases the likelihood of a spot SOL ETF in the U.S. Additionally, the SEC has dismissed most high-profile lawsuits where SOL was considered a security.

The launch of SPI coincides with these major legal developments for Solana, reinforcing the network’s growth prospects in the U.S.