Colorado has long been a hub for innovation. From aerospace to clean tech to decentralized technology, we’ve always bet on what’s next — and done it with grit and independence, true to the American west. Now, a new frontier is well established: blockchain technology and the next evolution of the internet, known as Web3. Colorado is once again positioned to lead — but to stay ahead, we need one thing we’re sorely lacking: clear federal rules of the road.

So what exactly are blockchain and Web3?

Blockchain technology is like a notebook everyone can see, but no one can secretly change. Instead of being stored in one place, it’s copied across thousands of computers. That makes it very hard to fake or tamper with. Because it’s stored and maintained by a network of thousands of independent computers, no single person or company controls it — and that’s what makes it decentralized. It’s the technology behind well-known digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, and people use it to track money, ownership and all kinds of important information.

Web3 is the next version of the internet built on that idea. It lets people send money, share data, or use services online without needing a bank, tech company, or middleman to be in charge. It’s about giving regular people more control of their digital lives. It’s a different way of thinking about the internet, where power and control shift from centralized companies back to everyday people.

Colorado has already embraced this future. In 2019, our state passed the Colorado Digital Token Act, initially giving blockchain startups clearer paths to operate here. Colorado also became one of the first states to let residents pay taxes using cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. Events like ETHDenver bring tens of thousands of developers and investors to Colorado each year. It’s now the world’s largest Web3 innovation festival, right in our backyard. And local universities like CU Boulder and Colorado State are preparing students for high-growth careers in this sector. Our ecosystem is vibrant, entrepreneurial and full of momentum.

But federal policy hasn’t kept pace.

Right now, there’s no consistent framework for how blockchain-based projects are regulated — especially when it comes to whether digital tokens are treated like securities. That uncertainty forces startups to spend hundreds of thousands on legal opinions instead of hiring locally or building useful tools. Some are leaving the U.S. altogether for countries like Singapore or the United Arab Emirates, where rules are clearer.

This isn’t just a policy gap — it’s costing Colorado jobs and innovation.

That’s why I, along with many others in the blockchain community, support the CLARITY Act, a bipartisan proposal in Congress that aims to bring much-needed structure to how digital assets are regulated. The bill would:

• Provide a clear legal process for tokens to exit securities regulation as their networks become decentralized and fully functional;
• Set objective standards for what “decentralized” means to guide both projects and regulators;
• Offer clearer rules for how regulators like the SEC should oversee digital assets, helping reduce uncertainty.

This isn’t about special treatment. Our industry values consumer protection, anti-fraud enforcement, and responsible innovation. But we need clear, consistent rules. Vague guidance doesn’t stop bad actors — it just makes it harder for the good ones to stay and build.

Passing the CLARITY Act would show Colorado and the U.S. are serious about supporting innovation while keeping guardrails in place.

I urge our congressional delegation — including U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and our House members — to support this legislation and ensure we’re writing the rules proactively through policymaking, not after-the-fact enforcement. Builders, investors and users deserve to know the rules before they build — not after they’re penalized.

Colorado’s Web3 industry doesn’t just want to survive— we want to thrive. But we need Washington to match our ambition with real regulatory clarity. It’s time to stop treating blockchain as a legal gray area and start recognizing it as the infrastructure of the next economy.

Passing the CLARITY Act would prove Colorado — and the U.S. — still has the courage to lead from the frontier, just as we always have: with grit, independence, and a belief in what’s next.

Hannah Laut is a strategist focused on emerging technology, public policy and ecosystem development. Based in Colorado, she advises Web3 companies and supports responsible innovation across the blockchain tech space. Since 2018, she has worked to keep builders and startups rooted locally. She also serves in a leadership role at ETHDenver, the world’s largest Web3 innovation festival.