Three members of Congress framed regulation of digital assets as a matter of national security and economic competition during a panel discussion at the Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas on Monday.
Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks Zach Nunn (R-IA) and Mike Lawler (R-IA) spoke on “The Bitcoin Block: A New Force in American Politics,” moderated by Faryar Shirzad, Chief Policy Officer at Coinbase.
Miller-Meeks described Bitcoin as a “financial democracy” and linked cryptocurrency adoption to the United States. 250 anniversary, and frame support for digital assets as national. She cited the Chinese Communist Party as a threat and called cryptocurrency policy a national security issue.
The Iowa congresswoman shared her background working in medical school and highlighted Bitcoin’s ability to protect women suffering from domestic abuse or violence.
She said digital assets could provide women with resources beyond the government’s reach, citing the truck drivers’ protest in Canada as an example of government interference in financial accounts. Miller-Meeks acknowledged that older Americans are expressing concerns about the safety of digital assets.
The Chinese are driving the urgency of Bitcoin policy
Both MillerMix and Noon emphasized competition with China as a driver of US cryptocurrency policy. Miller-Meeks said that China continues to seek leadership in the digital assets sector, but said that the United States remains the best environment for innovation.
Noun warned against failure to advance US leadership in Bitcoin Digital assets create national security risks. He called for China to be held accountable and said losing the midterm elections in November could undo 18 months of legislative progress, allowing adversaries to make gains while the United States falls behind.
“Decisions and elections have consequences,” Nunn said, referring to specific anti-crypto Democrats while discussing the risks of the upcoming midterm elections.
Nunn highlighted progress in Congress and the cryptocurrency sector, noting that the SEC under former Chairman Gary Gensler imposed millions of dollars in fines for violations involving concepts Gensler did not understand. Gensler was fired earlier by the Trump administration.
Lawler pointed to the GENIUS Act as a positive step, but said Congress must create a comprehensive federal regulatory framework.
He cited statements by Treasury Secretary Scott Besent Editorial in The Wall Street Journal He stated that passing regulatory clarity will put America at the forefront of the digital assets field. Lawler said SEC regulations should serve the best interests of the cryptocurrency industry.
As a New Yorker, Lawler said he wants the cryptocurrency industry to remain in New York and to feel safe operating in the state.
“Double Taxes” of Bitcoin Mining
Nunn criticized double taxation Bitcoin mining operations, questioning why the United States taxes Bitcoin mining differently than other forms of asset extraction. He said that excessive taxes drive innovation to other countries, and stressed the need to avoid making it difficult to do business in the United States.
The panel discussion reflected a broader shift in congressional Republicans’ attitudes toward digital assets, with lawmakers framing cryptocurrency policy through the lens of geopolitical competition and individual financial freedom rather than the consumer protection or financial stability concerns that have dominated previous regulatory debates.
