Congressman Brian Jack Convenes Hearing on the Impact of Digital Assets on Small Businesses

September 15, 2026 Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 15, 2026 Contact: Joseph Brannan WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Brian Jack, who serves as the Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development, convened a hearing entitled “Main Street Meets Crypto: What Digital Assets Mean for Small Businesses.” This hearing explored the impact of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology on small businesses and examined strategies to make these technologies more accessible to American entrepreneurs. Congressman Jack said, “Today, as the Senate deliberates consideration of the landmark Clarity Act, I convened a bipartisan hearing entitled ‘Main Street Meets Crypto: What Digital Assets Mean for Small Businesses.’ Our hearing examined opportunities to lower costs for small businesses, reduce payment friction for entrepreneurs, and utilize emerging technology to benefit Main Street across America. Thank you to our witnesses for your insightful testimony before our Subcommittee today!” Testifying before Chairman Jack’s Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development were: Faryar Shirzad , Chief Policy Officer at Coinbase Ben Leventhal , Chief Executive Officer of Blackbird Labs, Inc. Dr. Andrew Wu , Associate Professor of Technology and Operations at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business Together, the witnesses discussed how cryptocurrency and blockchain technology intersects with small businesses, and they emphasized the importance of clear rules, practical guidance, and better education to support broader adoption of this technology. Following the hearing, Congressman Jack hosted a reception featuring burgers from PubKey, a small business that accepts Bitcoin, and Papa John’s pizza, a nod to the first known commercial Bitcoin transaction: a 2010 purchase of two Papa John’s pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoin. The Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development is a subcommittee of the House Committee on Small Business, on which Congressman Jack serves. Congressman Jack is one of only five freshmen U.S. Representatives to chair a subcommittee in the 119th Congress. ###