Blockchain.com CEO Says Crypto Has Record Bipartisan Support as Firm Launches Options Trading
Blockchain.com adds options trading as its co-CEO talks politics
Blockchain.com has launched options trading, according to Co-CEO Lane Kasselman. Options are a type of financial contract that gives a buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a set price before a certain date.
In the same interview, Kasselman said the digital asset sector has the most bipartisan support it has ever had in Congress, and that this support is still growing. Bipartisan means backing from both major political parties.
He described the current period as a "crypto spring" and said institutions are driving the market. The interview was published on October 21, 2026, with the midterm elections just weeks away.
Key points from the interview
- Kasselman says crypto has its strongest bipartisan support in Congress to date, and that it is increasing.
- He argues the industry should keep its momentum no matter which party leads, even with the CLARITY Act stalled.
- He points to more than 30 SEC and CFTC rulemakings.
- He describes a state-by-state money transmitter license problem for crypto businesses.
- He says institutions have taken over the crypto market.
- He discusses self-custody versus custodial wallets around the world.
- He describes Blockchain.com as a liquidity layer for tokenization.
- He talks about AI agents and Blockchain.com's June product, and whether AI agents will settle payments in stablecoins or bitcoin.
Where the political and legal picture stands
Kasselman said the CLARITY Act is stalled. He also referred to more than 30 rulemakings from the SEC and CFTC, the two U.S. agencies that oversee securities and derivatives markets. He said crypto firms face a state-by-state money transmitter license problem, meaning companies must deal with separate licensing requirements in each state.
These are Kasselman's descriptions of the situation. The source does not provide the text of the CLARITY Act or details of the individual rulemakings.
How Blockchain.com sees its own role
Kasselman described Blockchain.com as a liquidity layer for tokenization. Tokenization means putting real-world assets, such as funds or property, onto a blockchain, which is a shared digital record of transactions. He also compared self-custody wallets, where the user holds the private keys, with custodial wallets, where a company holds them, and discussed how this differs around the world.
He also spoke about AI agents and a June product from Blockchain.com, and raised the question of whether AI agents will settle payments in stablecoins or bitcoin. A stablecoin is a crypto token designed to keep a steady value, usually tied to a national currency.
Confirmed and unconfirmed details
Confirmed from the source: Blockchain.com announced an options trading launch, and the interview with Kasselman was published on October 21, 2026.
Reported as his views: the claim that crypto has its strongest bipartisan support ever in Congress and that it is growing; the claim that the industry should keep momentum regardless of which party leads; and his descriptions of the SEC and CFTC rulemakings, the state licensing problem, institutional market participation, and the roles of AI agents. These are opinions and assessments from Kasselman, not independently confirmed facts in the source material.
What is still unclear
The source does not give details on how the options trading product works, which assets it covers, when exactly it launched, or how many rulemakings are complete. It also does not name the AI agent products involved beyond a reference to "Blockchain.com's June." No timeline is provided for the CLARITY Act or for any change in the state licensing situation.
Why this matters
Kasselman's comments focus on two areas that affect crypto users: the rules that govern U.S. crypto businesses, and the products those businesses offer. His claim about growing bipartisan support suggests the political environment may matter less to the industry's direction than it did before. His description of institutions driving the market points to a shift in who is active in crypto. The options launch adds a new trading product for the company's users, though the source does not explain its scope.
Sources
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.