The American Innovation Project (AIP) has expanded its policy team with the addition of two new fellows, Jacob Smagula and Hugo Swangstu.
Smagula brings a strong background in crypto policy and industry affairs to his role. He previously worked on the government relations team at publicly traded bitcoin miner MARA and currently serves on the policy team at the DeFi Education Fund.
As part of AIP's Policy Innovation Fellowship, Smagula will join Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres' team on Capitol Hill. This two-part program is designed to give congressional staff hands-on exposure to emerging technologies and direct experience in Congress.
AIP was founded in 2025 as a digital assets advocacy organization backed by major crypto industry players. The group aims to ensure lawmakers are better informed on fast-evolving technologies such as AI and digital assets.