This past week has been crypto history in the making. Washington, DC declared it “Crypto Week” — and for good reason: the GENIUS Act passed with strong bipartisan support, creating the first comprehensive U.S. regulatory framework for stablecoins.
📜 The vote? 301 to 122 — with 206 Republicans and 102 Democrats behind it. That’s not just policy, it’s divine that’s alignment. I was on a friday AM call with a potential business partner and the person admitted that they are a Democrat, and was immediately intrigued as to why she thought it wise to make such a bias statement in a work setting. Nevertheless, I respected her confession and realized the bill is more important than I initially categorized it to be.
The act regulates the $250B+ stablecoin marketplace, finally giving on-chain money the clarity it needs. And while stablecoins are supposed to be stable (1:1 with the dollar), let me tell you from experience — they weren’t always that way.
DAO Lore: Paid in TerraUSD... and Then It Collapsed
Three years ago, I was working at a DAO helping with developing a global community of women and onboarding them to crypto. After wrapping a major conference called EthDenver, I was owed $2,500, as per outlined on an online forum post from the “founder.” But when it came time to get paid, the DAO lead gave me the round around.
Since everything was onchain, I could literally see the blockchain sponsor funds had been received, but this lady was still delaying. Eventually, I had to call her out in a comment on the forum post. I can’t believe the post is still up and easily searchable! See below for screenshots. After a few days of back and forth messages, I was paid in TerraUSD (UST) — yes, that Terra. At the time, it was supposed to be a 1:1 stablecoin. But when I converted it to fiat, I walked away with only $1,800.
Anyways, Terra was an algorithmic stablecoin — not backed by dollars, but instead held together by a mint-burn mechanism with its sister token, LUNA. That system unraveled in May 2022 in one of the biggest collapses in crypto history — a $40B+ wipeout that triggered a domino effect across the industry.
I was one of the “victims.” I didn't know it then, but I was part of the early warning signs: a stablecoin that wasn’t stable, and a system that didn’t protect its people.
So when I say regulation like the GENIUS Act matters — it’s not just policy. It’s personal.
🎓 Back at GW: Bitcoin + Academia
Another full-circle moment this week: I’ve started advising my alma mater, George Washington University, on a new Bitcoin Academic Center we’re building here in DC.
The center will be a space where students, researchers, and policymakers come together to explore Bitcoin, AI, and the next chapter of the internet — not from the sidelines, but as contributors. Working with with academic folks has been a breath of fresh air — the professor I’m working with is super professional and far from a crypto bro, lol. There is so much to do, so stay tuned for the roadmap.
🤖 Bonus: AI Agent Autonomy is Here
I would be remiss not to touch on how ChatGPT’s new AI agents are giving us tools to do more than chat. It’s also killing a lot of AI startups who have raised millions of dollars. Imagine booking a vacation, planning an outfit, or running an entire research project — all through one agent interface. That future isn’t far — it’s here and you can use it today. I’ll be playing around with this tool this week and will post what I’ve vibe-coded on Violet Verse. In the meantime, check out their product demo below. Also, if you’re interested in getting your hands dirty in AI, I may or may not have some a job plug! DM or Comment below.
See you in next time,
— Melissa
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