The Digital Delta
What Crypto Week Means for Arkansas
This past week, Congress held what some called Crypto Week—a historic turn toward national policy on digital assets. On the floor of the House, bills were debated to regulate stablecoins, block central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and finally bring clarity to the U.S. crypto economy.
Bitcoin surged. Ethereum rallied. But more importantly—the future showed up at our doorstep.
And if we’re not careful, Arkansas will let it walk right by.
📖 This moment was captured powerfully in “The South Rises Again: Crypto Week and Atlanta’s Ascent as a Tech Hub” by LA EXEC 9.
It’s more than a recap. It’s a roadmap. And it puts into focus the question that should guide us now:
Are we building the future—or just watching others do it?
Tech Hubs Aren’t Born—They’re Built
What Atlanta has done isn’t magic. It’s movement. And it’s modeled by the work of visionaries like Ron Falls Jr., who has helped shape a first of its kind launchpad ecosystem for Black entrepreneurs, crypto creatives, and future-forward investors.
That’s the type of leadership that creates ecosystems—not just opportunities.
And Arkansas can do the same.
We already have the bones:
The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub
Where I served as Executive Director! Their mission is to equip Arkansas with the tools and skills necessary to be leaders in the 21st Century and beyond.
The Innovation Hub is a space innovators and entrepreneurs are inspired to expand the range of educational and economic opportunities for themselves, for their communities, in our state, and throughout the world.
We didn’t just talk about innovation—we made it real for Arkansans.
The Venture Center
Fintech accelerators shaping the future of banking. They have also launch “America’s first lithium technology accelerator”. It will “generate new commercial-ready innovations through industry-driven collaboration.”
The RockIt Lab
The RockIt! Lab (RIL) helps entrepreneurs “navigate the early stages of your entrepreneurial journey and help you build a viable business.” It’s a space “where under-resourced entrepreneurs are given the tools, guidance, and training necessary to start, grow, and scale their businesses.”
Startup Junkie
The Startup Junkie team is “improving lives through innovation and entrepreneurship.” It is “a coalition of multiple entities, brands, and programs that work together towards a shared mission of empowering existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators and small business owners and helping to illuminate the path for their journeys toward success.”
But There Are Flags We Cannot Ignore
This new economy comes with very real risks.
Crypto and digital infrastructure have major red flags if left unchecked:
Fraud and money laundering without proper oversight
Massive environmental impact from energy-hungry crypto mining
Exploitation of rural communities for cheap land, water, and silence
Noise pollution and strain on infrastructure from unregulated data centers
Water extraction that threatens local ecosystems and drinking water
We've seen it already—companies coming into small towns across America, promising “jobs” while draining local resources and leaving behind little ownership.
Arkansas must not become the dumping ground for crypto infrastructure while others build wealth off our backs.
The Digital Delta—Centered in Arkansas’ Second Congressional District
We don’t need to chase Silicon Valley.
But right here—in Pulaski, Faulkner, Conway, Saline, White, Perry, Van Buren, and Cleburne counties—we can lead the nation in responsible, inclusive innovation.
We should not settle for being:
A low-cost data center corridor
A water well for big tech
A quiet zone for noisy crypto farms
We must own the future—not rent it out.
That means:
Digital literacy in every high school and public library
Blockchain and smart contract education at UAPB, UA-Little Rock, Philander Smith, and technical schools
Incentives for Black and rural entrepreneurs to build digital-first businesses
Clean, community-owned energy projects—not exploitive crypto mines
Policies that protect our natural resources and make sure Arkansas gains, not just gives
The Truth About French Hill and the Crypto Debate
Let’s talk about our current representative.
Rep. French Hill is right to focus on crypto. Regulatory clarity, consumer protections, and innovation frameworks are important steps—and in this moment, the right thing to do.
But let’s not pretend this tells the whole story.
Democrats have been blind to crypto, and that blindness only widens the wealth gap. Blockchain and digital tools can unlock generational wealth and protect against exploitation—but only if they’re paired with smart, inclusive policy.
The real question is:
“Will French Hill and his GOP colleagues support policies that truly lift the middle class and provide ladders out of poverty?”
His record says no. And it doesn’t help that he seems to be unwilling to use the power of his seat to hold this administration accountable.
Which is exactly why Democrats must wake up—this is another moment to lead. Not just with slogans, but with solutions.
We’ve Built the Foundation. Now Let’s Build the Future.
This isn’t about hype. It’s about hard work.
The question for Arkansas isn’t whether crypto is real—it’s whether we’ll use it to uplift or exploit.
Will we lead with equity and innovation?
Or let others define our destiny?
In Arkansas’s 2nd Congressional District, we have the talent, the tools, and the tenacity to build a new economy that works for us.
Let’s get to work.
Chris