Candace Kelly, Chief Legal and Policy Officer at Stellar Development Foundation, discusses her 17-year career spanning the FBI, DOJ, and U.S. Attorney's Office before transitioning to crypto policy. She reflects on why government expertise combined with sector experience is critical for navigating regulatory landscapes.
Candace Kelly spent 17 years in the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI, handling national security, public corruption, and excessive-force policy before moving to the Stellar Development Foundation's policy leadership. Her career—from working with Attorney General Janet Reno to running the FBI's national security unit in San Francisco—shaped her belief that effective policy work requires deep understanding of both government machinery and private-sector realities. An FBI colleague told her: you've been on only one side; the sector needs people who understand both. That insight propelled her into blockchain policy, where she now applies her dual perspective to help a global payment network navigate institutional adoption and regulatory change.
