A new era in technology and finance is underway—and Georgia has the opportunity to lead it.
Across the country, there’s growing momentum behind a simple but powerful idea: America should be the best place in the world to build. That means encouraging innovation, empowering entrepreneurs, and crafting clear, consistent rules that protect consumers without stifling growth.
I’ve spent over two decades living here in Georgia but working for Silicon Valley technology companies. In those roles, I consulted with Fortune 100 companies, mid-tier businesses and startups alike. Today, I’m proud to help lead Atlanta’s blockchain ecosystem as Principal Consultant at Skyrocket Financial Solutions. Our mission is to build resilient financial infrastructure—and to ensure Georgia is at the forefront of shaping what comes next.
We’re not starting from scratch. Georgia is already a payments and logistics powerhouse, home to financial institutions, global brands, and a rising generation of tech talent. This talent also includes blockchain through organizations like the Atlanta Blockchain Center. Gov. Brian Kemp, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, and Speaker Jon Burns have each made clear that embracing innovation is a strategic priority—not a partisan issue.
That’s a smart approach. Just as the internet once transformed how we communicate and shop, blockchain is transforming how we execute and verify transactions, move value, and manage data. The technology is already being used to reduce remittance costs for working families, improve supply chain traceability, and enable real-time payments with fewer intermediaries.
But policy hasn’t caught up. Too many innovators are forced to navigate unclear rules, overlapping jurisdictions, or outdated regulatory frameworks. As a result, we’ve seen talent and capital move abroad.
To stay competitive, we need to modernize our regulatory approach. That means updating laws to reflect the realities of today’s economy, providing legal clarity for emerging technologies, and holding bad actors accountable without penalizing responsible builders. When done right, regulation should unlock opportunity—not limit it.
We should be protecting consumers with clear rules and strong oversight while enabling responsible risk-taking, financial inclusion, and open competition. That’s how we foster a thriving digital economy rooted in American values and designed for long-term success.
I recently spoke at the Georgia State University Robinson Leadership Conference in Atlanta about what it takes to bounce back from disruption and move forward with strength. The lesson applies just as much to public policy as to private enterprise: resilience comes from having a full commitment to your end goal, not just a desire to achieve it. In the words of Sir Winston Churchill: “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” I personally believe that the state I was born in and love so much has a destiny of greatness to lead in our nation, not follow.
We don’t abandon an emerging industry because it presents challenges—we build better systems around it. Think about how early concerns around electricity led to fire codes, not bans. Or how policymakers treated the internet—not with rigid pre-approval regimes, but with thoughtful guardrails like Section 230, which allowed innovation to flourish.
That’s the posture we need now: one that welcomes builders, pilots new ideas in real-world settings, and makes Georgia a jurisdiction where startups want to set up shop—not fight for survival.
This approach isn’t just good policy—it’s good politics. Voters want to see their communities benefit from job creation, investment, and next-generation infrastructure. They want smart rules, not knee-jerk reactions. And they want their elected leaders to be proactive, not reactive, in shaping the future.
That’s why recent momentum in Washington matters. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-SC, the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, recently expressed confidence that a comprehensive market structure bill could be passed by August. That would mark a watershed moment—bringing long-overdue clarity to how digital assets are regulated federally. Georgia should not wait to align with that vision.
By acting now—through targeted legislation, innovation sandboxes, and public-private partnerships—Georgia can position itself at the front of the pack. States like Wyoming and Texas are already moving. If we want to compete for the next generation of talent and capital, we need to make Georgia the easiest place in America to build responsibly.
The window is open, but not forever. The decisions made this year—by lawmakers, regulators, and business leaders—will determine whether Georgia is leading the digital economy or watching it pass by.
This is our moment. Let’s innovate and secure a more empowered future!
Tony Erwin is principal consultant at Skyrocket Financial Solutions and director of business development for a blockchain business in Georgia, OnlyX.io.
