Regulating Bitcoin

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Available at 4:10pm PDT

Session 1: Regulating Bitcoin Keynote

Session 2: Bitcoin and AML

Session 3: A Congressional Outlook on Bitcoin

Contrary to popular belief, Bitcoin is not an unregulated asset. As the next wave of participants adopt Bitcoin, it is imperative to continue to educate policymakers and advocate for sensible regulatory approaches to Bitcoin. In this track, hear what our speakers have to say about regulating Bitcoin.

Speakers on this Track

Hester PeirceRegulating Bitcoin Keynote

Hester M. Peirce was appointed by President Donald J. Trump to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and was sworn in on January 11, 2018. Prior to joining the SEC, Commissioner Peirce conducted research on the regulation of financial markets at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She was a Senior Counsel on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, where she advised Ranking Member Richard Shelby and other members of the Committee on securities issues. Commissioner Peirce served as counsel to SEC Commissioner Paul S. Atkins. She also worked as a Staff Attorney in the SEC’s Division of Investment Management. Commissioner Peirce was an associate at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering (now WilmerHale) and clerked for Judge Roger Andewelt on the Court of Federal Claims. Commissioner Peirce earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics from Case Western Reserve University and her JD from Yale Law School.

Anthony PomplianoRegulating Bitcoin Keynote (Moderator)

Anthony is an entrepreneur and investor. He has built and sold numerous companies, ran Product & Growth teams at Facebook, and manages a portfolio valued at more than $500 million in early-stage tech companies.

Mike MosierBitcoin and AML

Michael Mosier is Acting Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department, dedicated to safeguarding the integrity and opportunity of the financial system and countering exploitation and abuse that undermine national and personal self-determination. FinCEN serves as the administrator and primary regulator of the Bank Secrecy Act for bank and non-bank financial institutions, including emerging payments involving virtual currency. FinCEN also is the Financial Intelligence Unit of the United States. Mr. Mosier returns after serving as Counselor to the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. Before that, he was FinCEN’s Deputy Director and first Digital Innovation Officer, where Mr. Mosier oversaw FinCEN’s wide-ranging work to advance FinCEN’s engagement with emerging technology and financial innovation. Mr. Mosier was formerly the in-house counsel at Chainalysis, a blockchain analytics and investigations firm. He joined Chainalysis from FinCEN, where he was Chief of Strategic Advancement. Previously, Mr. Mosier was Deputy Chief in the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section. He also served a tour at the White House National Security Council as Director for Transnational Organized Crime. Mr. Mosier began his public service as a prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and has served as an adjunct law professor at Georgetown University Law Center. He also worked at a law firm representing technology, media, and financial services clients.

Jai RamaswamyBitcoin and AML

Jai Ramaswamy is the Chief Risk & Compliance Officer at cLabs, a fintech startup developing software applications on Celo, an open source, distributed ledger protocol designed to create a more accessible financial system. Jai's responsibilities also include leading the team engaging with the public sector on Central Bank Digital Currencies. Before joining cLabs, he was the Head of Enterprise Risk Management at Capital One and the Global Head of AML Compliance Risk Management at Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. Prior to joining the private sector, Jai served as the Chief of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section at the United States Department of Justice, and prosecuted complex fraud and cybercrime cases as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and a trial attorney with the DOJ's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. While at the DOJ, Jai oversaw the prosecutions of BNP Paribas, HSBC, Standard Chartered, ING and the virtual currency provider Liberty Reserve for AML and Sanctions violations. Jai has an undergraduate degree from Harvard University, a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a doctorate in political science from Cambridge University, U.K.

Peter Van ValkenburghBitcoin and AML (Moderator)

Peter is Director of Research at Coin Center.

Landon ZindaA Congressional Outlook on Bitcoin

Landon Zinda currently serves as Counsel on the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs handling fintech and cryptocurrency related issues. Previously, Landon was Legislative Director for Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN), handling his fintech work on the House Financial Services Committee and as co-chair of the Congressional Blockchain Caucus. Landon is a graduate of American University Washington College of Law and Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota.

Paul BalzanoA Congressional Outlook on Bitcoin

Paul Balzano is a professional staff member for the House Committee on Agriculture. His portfolio includes derivatives, digital commodities, and rural development. Prior to his time at the Committee, Paul serviced in the personal offices of Congressman Mike Conaway (TX-11) and Congressman Sherwood Boehlert (NY-24). Paul is a 2005 graduate of the University at Buffalo, where he graduated with a degree in Political Science

Bill RockwoodA Congressional Outlook on Bitcoin

Bill is the Executive Director of the Future Forum & Deputy Legislative Director for Representative Darren Soto of Florida’s 9th District. As a Congressional Staffer, Bill originated and drafted a variety of bills/amendments/appropriations requests with a particular focus on issues related to technology, finance, and the environment. Bill also serves as the principal policy advisor to Representative Soto as Co-Chair of the Congressional Blockchain Caucus. During the 115th, 116th, & 117th Congressional sessions, Bill drafted over 25 pieces of introduced legislative, introduction, having two bills and 9 amendments signed into law, and over 100 legislative requests language that made it into final FY19-FY21 appropriations packages, including those related to artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, cybersecurity, and coral reef restoration. This includes two blockchain and digital assets bills that recently passed the House of Representatives.

Robin WeismanA Congressional Outlook on Bitcoin (Moderator)

Robin Weisman is Senior Policy Council for Coin Center. She leads the organization’s efforts in building relationships with policymakers and helps shape its advocacy strategy. A 25 year veteran of DC, she began reaching out to Congress about public blockchains networks like Bitcoin before even the first hearings in 2013. She began her career working on Capitol Hill and later moved to Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP where she had a general lobbying practice with a focus on congressional investigations. Robin also spent time as an in-house lobbyist for the Nasdaq Stock Market and as a consultant advising clients across the financial services sector on their public policy needs.

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