From bitcoin mining to the Hill: AIP plants crypto-savvy fellows inside congressional offices
The American Innovation Project (AIP) has tapped industry-trained talent to help shape Washington’s approach to digital assets. Jacob Smagula, a 2026 graduate of Claremont McKenna College, will join Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres’ (D-NY) staff after being selected as a crypto policy fellow by AIP — part of the group’s push to bring hands-on crypto expertise directly into Congress.
Smagula brings a mix of private-sector and policy experience. He worked on government relations for publicly traded bitcoin miner Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA) and currently serves on the policy team at the DeFi Education Fund. He also has Capitol Hill experience from internships with Representative Jake Auchincloss and Senator Angus King.
The appointment is part of AIP’s Policy Innovation Fellowship, a two-part program designed to give congressional staffers direct exposure to emerging technologies and practical policy work inside Congress. The goal: help lawmakers and their teams better understand the technologies reshaping the economy, national security, and everyday life.
A second fellow announced by AIP, Hugo Swangstu, is a 2025 graduate of the University of Washington. Swangstu — who previously interned for Representatives Adam Smith and Ritchie Torres — will serve in the Washington office of Representative Shomari Figures (D-AL).
“The next generation of policymakers must understand the technologies reshaping our economy, national security, and daily lives,” Representative Ritchie Torres said. Representative Figures added that “as technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, it's essential that Members of Congress are informed and prepared to craft sound tech policy."
Allie Page, AIP’s executive director, said the organization is deliberately recruiting talent with domain expertise as lawmakers take up consequential decisions around AI, crypto and other emerging sectors.
AIP launched in August 2025 as a digital-assets advocacy organization. Its backers include crypto venture firm Digital Currency Group and the Cedar Innovation Foundation (whose funders remain anonymous). Other listed supporters are Coinbase, Kraken, Andreessen Horowitz, the National Cryptocurrency Association, Paradigm, the Solana Policy Institute, Stand With Crypto and Uniswap Labs.
By embedding fellows with both industry and Capitol Hill experience, AIP aims to narrow the expertise gap between technology communities and the policymakers who will regulate them — at a moment when Congress is increasingly focused on writing the rules for crypto and other fast-moving technologies.
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