The American Innovation Project (AIP), a non-profit advocacy group, has added a crypto policy specialist to its ranks as it expands its work on digital asset legislation.

Jacob Smagula, a 2026 graduate of Claremont McKenna College, will join Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres’ (D-NY) team, AIP said. Smagula brings a background in crypto policy and industry affairs, having worked on the government relations team at publicly traded bitcoin miner MARA and currently serving on the policy team at the DeFi Education Fund.

He has also held roles on Capitol Hill, including internships with Representative Jake Auchincloss and Senator Angus King.

Smagula’s appointment comes as part of AIP’s Policy Innovation Fellowship, a two-part…