Former White House official will lead Ripple’s policy and government arm

Ripple’s newest head of U.S. public policy previously worked in similar roles at Softbank Group, Zoom, and Lyft following six years in government.

Lauren Belive, a former official with the White House’s Office of Legislative Affairs and policy director with the United States House Committee on Rules, has joined crypto firm Ripple as its head of U.S. public policy and government.

In a Sept. 26 announcement on LinkedIn, Belive said she had accepted the policy position at Ripple to lead engagement in Washington D.C. and across the United States. She had previously worked in similar roles at Softbank Group, Zoom, and Lyft following her experience in government.

“With regulatory landscapes evolving, it’s paramount that we advocate for policies that not only support the crypto industry but also the countless individuals and businesses that could benefit from these advancements,” said Belive.

The addition of Belive to Ripple came amid the firm’s lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over the XRP token. Though the case is ongoing, a judge in July ruled that the token was largely not a security, with the impact rippling through the crypto space.

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Members of major U.S.-based crypto firms seemed to be stepping up advocacy efforts among lawmakers attempting to address regulatory clarity in the space. Coinbase’s ‘Stand with Crypto’ campaign encourages users to vote for crypto-friendly candidates at the state and federal levels.

At the time of publication, U.S. lawmakers were at odds on spending bills aimed at avoiding a government shutdown after Sept. 30. Several crypto bills awaiting a floor vote in the House of Representatives could be delayed if members of Congress are unable to come to an agreement within the week.

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