Emerging Financial Technologies
NAFSA & Emerging Financial Technologies
NAFSA has long stood at the forefront of defending Tribal sovereignty in financial services. Today, we are expanding that leadership into the next frontier of Indigenous economic empowerment: digital finance policy and innovation.
From cryptocurrency and blockchain to decentralized lending, stablecoins, and tokenized assets, Tribal Nations face growing pressure to engage in—and protect—their rightful place in the emerging digital economy. These technologies offer powerful tools to strengthen Tribal economic sovereignty, diversify revenue, and build self-determined financial systems—but only if Tribes are empowered to shape the policies that govern them.
As the only national 501(c)(6) trade association solely focused on Tribal financial services, NAFSA is actively advocating for Tribal inclusion, regulatory autonomy, and jurisdictional clarity in federal digital finance policy. We believe that Tribes must not only participate in this space—but lead it.
Through direct lobbying, policy development, and sovereign capacity-building, NAFSA is ensuring that Indian Country is not left behind, undermined, or preempted in the digital financial era.
Why This Work Matters
Digital Finance: A Sovereign Opportunity—And a Jurisdictional Imperative
Emerging technologies are reshaping how value is created, transferred, and stored—ushering in a global transformation of financial systems. For Tribal Nations, this evolution represents not just innovation, but a generational opportunity to lead.
By engaging early and assertively, Tribes can:
- Exercise sovereign authority over digital finance and financial technologies
- Launch tribally governed crypto, stablecoin, and tokenized asset systems
- Build new revenue streams through innovation, investment, and digital infrastructure
- Create jobs, technology pathways, and intergenerational wealth
- Reduce overreliance on gaming and federal funding
- Secure tribal data, capital, and assets through blockchain governance and cybersecurity
Yet alongside this opportunity lie significant risks:
- Ambiguous legal frameworks
- Increased federal and state regulatory encroachment
- Potential erosion of tribal jurisdiction in emerging markets
That’s why NAFSA is leading national efforts to ensure Tribal Nations are:
- Informed, protected, and positioned for long-term digital finance success
- Building sovereign digital finance codes, tools, and governance systems
- Represented in national and global policy conversations around crypto, blockchain, and AI
- Prepared to advocate for policy that defends tribal authority in the digital domain
The future of finance is being written now. NAFSA is working to ensure it includes—and empowers—Tribal Nations.
How We’re Leading This Work
- Research & Policy Advocacy: NAFSA is analyzing federal and state crypto regulations for Tribal implications and engaging policymakers to protect Tribal interests.
- Legal Strategy Development: Supporting Tribal nations in crafting crypto and blockchain laws that reinforce sovereignty and create legal clarity.
- Tribal Member Education: Providing technical assistance and educational opportunities for Tribal leaders, regulators, and compliance professionals.
- Annual National Convening: Hosting the Native Finance Summit, where Tribes lead the conversation on emerging financial technologies.
Join NAFSA: Advocate. Innovate. Protect Sovereignty.
As the national 501(c)(6) trade association for Tribal financial services, NAFSA invites all Tribal governments and Tribally owned financial enterprises to become members. Gain access to policy updates, legal resources, exclusive trainings, and a national voice in shaping the future of Tribal finance.