Working alongside prominent organizations in the blockchain ecosystem such as Coinbase, Circle, Digital Currency Group, and Polychain, eToro will help further the Blockchain Association’s goal of building more inclusive, efficient, and distributed financial systems as well as more decentralized web applications.

Guy Hirsch, USA Managing Director, eToro, said: “As a company, we prioritize compliance with the regulations of all the jurisdictions we operate in around the world. As the United States’ blockchain industry evolves and matures, regulators and the industry need to prioritize conversations around ensuring consumers are informed and protected from bad actors. We are looking forward to collaborating with regulators and major industry players on how to provide guardrails without hindering innovation so that blockchain companies can flourish in a compliant manner. The Blockchain Association promotes policies that balance consumer protection and innovation and we’re proud to help drive its mission forward.”

The Blockchain Association was founded in September 2018 to bolster innovation in the industry and meet growing demand for accessible, transparent financial and technical systems. The group pursues these goals by encouraging collaboration between the broader community and industry leaders, as well as educating lawmakers and the general public on the benefits of blockchain and related technologies.

Kristin Smith, Director of External Affairs, Blockchain Association, said: “The power of open blockchain technology lies in the control it returns to individual consumers. eToro’s groundbreaking investment platform operates in that spirit, giving users the opportunity to trade across multiple asset classes, including cryptocurrencies, safely and securely. We’re excited to add eToro to a growing group of leading companies as we push for informed and responsive regulation that spurs innovation and protects consumers in this rapidly-developing industry.”

Hirsch continued: “Empowering people to reach their financial goals begins with providing access to a diverse range of assets. Education allows investors to harness the full potential of these assets. By providing educational tools and resources to the growing blockchain community, eToro aims to ensure that this technology and the crypto asset class benefits the many, not just the few.”

eToro announced in May 2018 that it would expand into the U.S. market with a cryptoasset investment platform for U.S. investors, set to launch in Q1 2019. eToro’s trading platform will offer U.S. investors easy access to the crypto markets, providing the opportunity to invest in a growing range of crypto coins, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP, Dash, Bitcoin Cash, Stellar, Ethereum Classic, NEO, EOS, and ADA. eToro’s CopyTrader feature will also allow casual investors to follow successful U.S. investors on the platform, giving them the ability to copy their trades and benefit from their investment expertise. The platform will also offer the opportunity to invest in a CryptoPortfolio which provides a diversified portfolio of major crypto assets.

Upon launch in Q1, eToro’s crypto platform will be available in multiple states across the region. Ahead of the launch, users can experience the interface and practice mock cryptoasset trading via the virtual portfolio feature.