2025 Speakers | Bitcoin Policy Summit

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2025 SPEAKERS

Michael Ellis is the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He previously served in senior national security roles across the U.S. government, including General Counsel of the National Security Agency, Senior Director for Intelligence Programs at the National Security Council, and General Counsel for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. A former intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Ellis brings deep legal and intelligence expertise to his leadership at the CIA.

Michael Ellis

Deputy Director of the CIA

Bo Hines is the Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisers on Digital Assets. He is a former college football player for NC State Wolfpack and Yale Bulldogs who transitioned into politics, running as the Republican nominee for North Carolina's 13th congressional district in 2022. Hines now leads White House initiatives on digital asset policy and cryptocurrency regulation.

Bo Hines

Executive Director, White House Council on Digital Assets

Tom Emmer is the U.S. Representative serving Minnesota's 6th congressional district since 2015 and current House Majority Whip. Known for his leadership on Bitcoin and blockchain policy in Congress, Emmer champions innovation in financial technology and regulatory clarity for digital assets.

Tom Emmer

U.S. Congressman and Majority Whip (R-MN)

Hester Peirce is a Commissioner at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, recognized for her forward-looking approach to digital asset regulation. She is widely known for her principled dissenting opinions that advocate for innovation-friendly frameworks, and is a frequent speaker on the need to balance technological advancement with investor protection.

Hester Peirce

Commissioner, Securities and Exchange Commission

Marsha Blackburn is the United States Senator from Tennessee serving since 2019, previously representing Tennessee's 7th congressional district in the House from 2003 to 2019. Known for her work on telecommunications, technology policy, and digital privacy issues, Blackburn is a strong advocate for effective digital asset policies.

Marsha Blackburn

U.S. Senator (R-TN)

Ritchie Torres is the U.S. Representative serving New York's 15th congressional district and youngest member of the New York City Council when elected. Known for his progressive advocacy and support for cryptocurrency innovation, Torres champions technological advancement and financial inclusion.

Ritchie Torres

U.S. Congressman (D-NY)

Andrew Hohns is the Founder and CEO of Newmarket Capital, established in 2020 through the acquisition of the IIFC strategy platform, overseeing transaction structuring for approximately $50 billion of notional risk transfer. He previously served as Managing Director at Cohen & Company and was named one of Institutional Investor's '20 Rising Stars of Fixed Income,' while also serving as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at NYU Stern. Hohns holds multiple degrees from the University of Pennsylvania including a PhD in Applied Economics, and serves on several boards including UNICEF USA and Battery Finance Inc.

Andrew Hohns

CEO, Newmarket Capital and Battery Finance

Alex Gladstein is the Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation and a prominent advocate for Bitcoin as a tool for human rights. He is widely known for his work connecting Bitcoin with human rights and financial freedom globally. Gladstein is a regular speaker and author on the intersection of technology and civil liberties.

Alex Gladstein

Chief Strategy Officer, Human Rights Foundation

Nick Begich is the U.S. Representative serving Alaska's at-large congressional district. As a member of Congress, he brings expertise in technology and business to national policy discussions. Begich represents Alaska's interests in federal legislation while focusing on technological innovation and economic development.

Nick Begich

U.S. Congressman (R-AK)

Cynthia Lummis is the United States Senator from Wyoming. She is widely known for her pioneering work on cryptocurrency legislation and digital asset policy in the Senate. As the sponsor of the BITCOIN Act, Senator Lummis has placed Bitcoin on the legislative agenda.

Cynthia Lummis

U.S. Senator (R-WY)

Jim Justice is the United States Senator from West Virginia, elected in 2025 after serving two terms as Governor from 2017 to 2025. With a business background in coal and agriculture, he is known for championing economic innovation in West Virginia, including support for emerging technologies like Bitcoin. Justice advocates for pro-growth policies that aim to transform traditional energy regions into technology hubs while reinforcing West Virginia’s leadership in energy production.

Jim Justice

U.S. Senator (R-WV)

Warren Davidson is the U.S. Representative serving Ohio's 8th congressional district since 2016. He is a former Army Ranger and businessman who has become a leading voice on financial technology and cryptocurrency policy in Congress.

Warren Davidson

U.S. Congressman (R-OH)

Zach Nunn is the U.S. Representative serving Iowa's 3rd congressional district since 2023, bringing expertise in national security and technology policy to Congress. Prior to Congress, he served as an Iowa State Senator and combat veteran with experience in cybersecurity and intelligence operations. Nunn champions innovation in financial technology and digital assets while advocating for practical regulatory frameworks that promote American competitiveness.

Zach Nunn

U.S. Congressman (R-IA)

Max Miller

U.S. Congressman (R-OH)

Buddy Carter has served as the U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 1st Congressional District since 2015. A pharmacist by training, he brings a deep understanding of healthcare to his legislative work, with a focus on pharmaceutical policy, public health, and digital innovation. Carter is recognized for advancing policies that promote technological progress and modernize the healthcare system.

Earl L. "Buddy" Carter

U.S. Congressman (R-GA)

Patrick Witt holds dual roles as Deputy Director of the White House Council on Digital Assets and Acting Director of the Office of Strategic Capital at the Department of Defense. His work bridges monetary policy and national security, with a focus on how the Bitcoin ecosystem can enhance U.S. technological infrastructure, industrial capacity, and strategic resilience.

Patrick Witt

Deputy Director, White House Council on Digital Assets

Berta Valle is a Nicaraguan journalist and human rights activist who successfully campaigned for the release of over 200 political prisoners—including her husband, former presidential candidate Félix Maradiaga—from the Ortega regime in 2023. She has become a leading voice against authoritarianism in Nicaragua, bringing global attention to human rights violations through her journalism and advocacy. Now working from exile, Valle continues to champion the restoration of democracy and the release of remaining political prisoners, while also highlighting the critical role of financial freedom in resisting authoritarian control.

Berta Valle

Nicaraguan Journalist and Human Rights Activist

Anaïse Kanimba is a global development expert and human rights activist, and the daughter of Paul Rusesabagina—the real-life hero of Hotel Rwanda. She successfully led an international campaign that secured her father’s release from wrongful detention in Rwanda between 2020 and 2023. A prominent voice on transnational repression and human rights, her work has been featured in The Washington Post, CNN, and other major outlets. She currently works at Ridgely Walsh, advising transformational companies and causes while continuing her advocacy against authoritarian regimes.

Anaïse Kanimba

Rwandan Human Rights Advocate and Bitcoin Educator

Leopoldo López is a Venezuelan opposition leader and pro-democracy activist who has been a prominent voice for freedom and human rights in Latin America. A former political prisoner, he continues to advocate for democratic reforms and economic liberty in Venezuela. López is widely recognized for his efforts to promote democratic values and financial inclusion in the face of authoritarian repression.

Leopoldo López

Venezuelan Opposition Leader

Anna Chekhovich is the Nonprofit Adoption Lead at the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) and the Financial Director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF). She specializes in using technology to advance human rights and promote financial transparency in the fight against corruption. Her work focuses on equipping nonprofits with innovative financial tools to strengthen accountability and drive systemic change.

Anna Chekhovich

Financial Director, Anti-Corruption Foundation

Roya Mahboob is an Afghan tech entrepreneur and the CEO of the Digital Citizen Fund, where she focuses on advancing digital literacy for women and girls. A pioneer in bringing technology education to young women in Afghanistan, she was named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2013 for her groundbreaking work. Mahboob continues to champion women’s empowerment through access to digital tools and education.

Roya Mahboob

Afghan Tech Entrepreneur

Fadi Elsalameen serves as an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the American Security Project and has established himself as a prominent advocate for human rights, democracy, and anti-corruption initiatives. His experience includes prestigious fellowships at Johns Hopkins SAIS Foreign Policy Institute and New America Foundation's American Strategy Program. He dedicates his work to exploring and promoting Bitcoin as a powerful tool for advancing freedom and combating corruption globally.

Fadi Elsalameen

Adjunct Senior Fellow, American Security Project

Conner Brown serves as Counsel to Senator Cynthia Lummis, advising on digital asset policy and financial regulation. He plays a key role in shaping legislative efforts related to Bitcoin and emerging financial technologies in the U.S. Senate.

Conner Brown

Counsel, Senator Lummis

Matthew Pines is the Executive Director of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, where he oversees strategic initiatives at the intersection of Bitcoin, national security, and geopolitics. He previously served as Director of Intelligence for PinnacleOne at SentinelOne, advising multinational firms on cyber risk and resilience. With over thirteen years of experience in security strategy, Pines holds degrees from the London School of Economics (MSc in Philosophy and Public Policy) and Johns Hopkins University, bringing deep expertise in national preparedness and strategic security assessment.

Matthew Pines

Executive Director, Bitcoin Policy Institute

Matt Corallo is a distinguished Bitcoin developer who has made significant contributions to Bitcoin Core development. As a co-founder of Blockstream, he has played an instrumental role in improving Bitcoin's protocol and infrastructure. He continues to be an active advocate for decentralization and the advancement of open-source technology.

Matt Corallo

Bitcoin Developer

Zack Shapiro serves as Head of Policy at the Bitcoin Policy Institute and brings his expertise as an accomplished attorney specializing in Bitcoin ventures and regulatory navigation. As a Yale Law School graduate, he previously served in federal court clerkships for the Southern District of New York and Second Circuit, following work at Davis Polk & Wardwell.

Zack Shapiro

Head of Policy, Bitcoin Policy Institute

Faryar Shirzad is the Chief Policy Officer at Coinbase, where he leads the company’s global engagement with policymakers and has been instrumental in shaping crypto regulatory discourse in the U.S. Prior to joining Coinbase, he served as Global Co-Head of Government Affairs at Goldman Sachs and held senior roles in the U.S. government, including Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs under President George W. Bush, as well as Assistant Secretary for Import Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He holds degrees from the University of Maryland (BS), Harvard Kennedy School (MPP), and the University of Virginia School of Law (JD).

Faryar Shirzad

Chief Policy Officer, Coinbase

Fred Thiel is the Chairman and CEO of Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA), where he led the company’s growth from a $30 million market cap to over $5 billion, establishing it as the world’s largest Bitcoin mining operation with a presence on four continents. With more than 35 years of experience in the technology sector, his expertise spans digital assets, AI, and semiconductors.

Fred Thiel

CEO, MARA

Joe Kelly is the Co-founder and CEO of Unchained, where he has led the company since 2016 in building a platform that secures over $10 billion in bitcoin through self-custody solutions, trading, commercial lending, and IRA services. Under his leadership, Unchained has grown into a venture-backed firm with over 100 employees and more than $100 million in funding, pioneering a new category of bitcoin-native financial services. He also serves on the board of the Texas Bitcoin Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing Bitcoin research and education.

Joe Kelly

CEO, Unchained

Brent Buchanan is the founder and CEO of Cygnal, a national public opinion and analytics firm recognized for its cutting-edge research in politics, policy, and corporate strategy. With a background in political consulting and data-driven campaigning, he has advised elected officials, advocacy groups, and Fortune 500 companies across the United States.

Brent Buchanan

CEO, Cygnal

Rob Hamilton is the Co-Founder and CEO of AnchorWatch, a company pioneering insured custody solutions for Bitcoin held in multi-signature wallets. Under his leadership, AnchorWatch is building the infrastructure to make Bitcoin custody more secure, transparent, and compliant for institutions. Prior to founding AnchorWatch, Rob was a Senior Managing Consultant and Data Scientist at IBM, where he led machine learning initiatives for Watson Advertising.

Rob Hamilton

CEO and Co-Founder, AnchorWatch

Alexander Leishman is the Founder, CEO, and CTO of River, where he leads investor relations, corporate strategy, and engineering, drawing on a background in software engineering, information security, and Bitcoin. He previously worked at Polychain Capital, Airbnb, Deloitte, and Maicoin, and holds an Aerospace Engineering degree from the University of Maryland and a Master’s in Computer Science from Stanford, where he helped teach the university’s first Bitcoin course.

Alex Leishman

CEO and CTO, River

Alex Thorn is Head of Firmwide Research at Galaxy Digital, where he leads a team focused on analyzing developments across the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Prior to joining Galaxy, he spent 12 years at Fidelity Investments, serving as Director of Blockchain Research at the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology and co-managing Avon Ventures, an early-stage crypto venture fund. Thorn brings a unique blend of traditional finance experience and deep expertise in blockchain research and venture capital.

Alex Thorn

Head of Firmwide Research, Galaxy Digital

Dr. Pippa Malmgren is a former Presidential adviser and prominent economist known for her insights on global economic trends and geopolitical risk. She is a regular commentator on the impact of emerging technologies on international economics and policy. The author of several books, Dr. Malmgren explores the intersection of technology, markets, and strategic decision-making.

Pippa Malmgren

Former White Advisor and Economist

Brendan Pedersen is a financial services reporter at Punchbowl News, where he co-authors The Vault, focusing on the intersection of Congress, financial regulation, and the economy. Since 2018, he has covered the politics and influence of the financial services sector, previously reporting for American Banker, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, NBC News Chicago, and BusinessDen in Colorado. A Chicagoland native, Pedersen holds degrees in journalism and political science from DePaul University.

Brendan Pedersen

Financial Services Reporter, Punchbowl News

Eleanor Terrett is a journalist and co-host of the Crypto In America podcast and newsletter, focusing on U.S. cryptocurrency policy and regulation. Formerly a reporter and producer at Fox Business, she worked alongside senior correspondent Charles Gasparino, covering major stories like the SEC v. Ripple lawsuit. Terrett is recognized as a leading voice in crypto journalism, with her reporting acknowledged by industry figures such as David Sacks and Michael Saylor.

Eleanor Terrett

Journalist, Crypto in America

Miranda Nazzaro is a technology reporter at The Hill, where she covers the intersection of tech and politics, focusing on topics such as artificial intelligence, online misinformation, antitrust law, and data privacy. She co-authors The Hill’s Technology newsletter and previously served as a breaking news reporter for the outlet. Before joining The Hill, Nazzaro worked on the digital production team at WJAR-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, and is a graduate of The George Washington University, where she studied journalism and mass communications.

Miranda Nazzaro

Reporter, The Hill

Pierre Rochard is the CEO of The Bitcoin Bond Company and Co-Founder of the Satoshi Nakamoto Institute, with over a decade of leadership in Bitcoin development and advocacy. He previously served as VP of Research at Riot Platforms and as a Product Manager at Kraken, where he launched Lightning Network integration and shaped Bitcoin product strategy. Rochard is also the founder of Lightning Power Users, a Steward for Catholic Bitcoiners, and an active contributor to Bitcoin infrastructure, protocol research, and education.

Pierre Rochard

CEO, Bitcoin Bond Company

Brian Morgenstern is Head of Public Policy at Riot Platforms (NASDAQ: RIOT) and a board member of the Texas Blockchain Council. He brings extensive government experience, having served as White House Deputy Press Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury during the Trump administration, where he played a key role in the pandemic response and CARES Act rollout. A graduate of Georgetown and Columbia Law, Morgenstern combines legal acumen with deep policy expertise to advance innovation in digital infrastructure and blockchain technology.

Brian Morgenstern

Head of Public Policy, Riot Platforms

Jayson Browder serves as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Social Responsibility at MARA (NASDAQ:MARA), where he has led government relations strategy since 2023. He holds a position as a founding Board Member of the Bitcoin Voter Project, an initiative supported by major players in the digital asset space. His work focuses on advancing sustainable digital asset compute and fostering blockchain technology adoption through strategic policy and stakeholder engagement.

Jayson Browder

SVP of Government Affairs, MARA

Seth Hertlein serves as VP and Global Head of Policy at Ledger, where he leads the company's policy initiatives to promote economic freedom worldwide, with particular focus on European policy development. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Blockchain Association and previously served as Head of Policy & Government Relations at the Stellar Development Foundation, where he significantly elevated SDF's presence in Washington. Drawing from his experience as one of the first in-house blockchain industry lobbyists, he combines his legal background and MBA in finance to shape digital asset policy.

Seth Hertlein

Global Head of Policy, Ledger

Margeaux Plaisted is Vice President of Policy and Government Relations at CleanSpark, where she leads the company’s policy strategy and legislative outreach. With over 20 years of experience in government relations, she specializes in bridging the gap between lawmakers, regulators, and industry leaders on issues related to digital assets, energy policy, and financial regulation. Plaisted is a recognized leader in advancing Bitcoin mining policy and driving innovative, bipartisan legislative solutions.

Margeaux Plaisted

VP of Policy and Government Relations, CleanSpark

Michael Enright is the Senior Vice President at Terawulf.

Michael Enright

Senior Vice President, TeraWulf

Tim Hite is the Policy Director at Exodus, where he leads the company’s crypto policy and regulatory strategy. He previously served as Senior Counsel on the House Financial Services Committee’s digital assets panel, playing a key role in shaping federal cryptocurrency legislation from 2023 to 2025. Hite brings deep legislative experience and a strategic perspective to advancing sound digital asset policy.

Tim Hite

Director of Policy, Exodus

Dr. Troy Cross is a Professor of Philosophy and Humanities at Reed College and a Senior Fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI). His decade-long involvement in Bitcoin has focused particularly on examining the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining. Drawing from his previous academic positions at Yale and Merton College, Oxford, he brings valuable expertise in metaphysics and epistemology to discussions of Bitcoin's role in society.

Troy Cross

Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Reed College

Margot Paez is a Fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute and is completing her PhD in Civil Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology, where she specializes in climate change statistical modeling with a focus on water resources. She holds an MS in Physics from Georgia Tech and brings diverse research experience in robotics, astrobiology instrumentation, and physics of living systems. She combines expertise in data management systems and advanced statistical modeling to address environmental challenges while contributing to Bitcoin policy discussions.

Margot Paez

Fellow, Bitcoin Policy Institute

Dr. Sarah Kreps serves as the John L. Wetherill Professor and Director of the Tech Policy Institute at Cornell University, while also holding a position as a non-resident senior fellow at Brookings Institution's AI and Emerging Technology Initiative. As a former U.S. Air Force officer, she has authored five books and numerous publications on emerging technologies, digital currencies, and national security. She holds degrees from Harvard, Oxford, and Georgetown, and brings extensive expertise in the political economy of security and technology policy through her work at Cornell's Law School and Johnson School of Business's Fintech Initiative.

Sarah Kreps

Director, Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute

Peter Van Valkenburgh is the Executive Director at Coin Center, where he focuses on cryptocurrency policy and blockchain technology regulation. He has established himself as a leading voice on cryptocurrency law and policy, particularly regarding privacy and innovation. He regularly provides testimony before Congress on digital asset policy, helping shape the regulatory landscape for emerging technologies.

Peter Van Valkenburgh

Executive Director, Coin Center

Michael Mosier is a co-founder of Arktouros and a longtime leader at the intersection of digital assets, financial regulation, and national security. He previously served as Acting Director of FinCEN, where he helped shape U.S. policy around Bitcoin and digital privacy, and held senior roles at OFAC, the DOJ, and the National Security Council.

Michael Mosier

Partner, Arktouros

He is an investor with over seven years of experience analyzing businesses and evaluating transactions. His previous roles include positions at Goldman Sachs, Citadel, and Crestline.

John Arnold

Principal, Ten31

Dr. Andrew Bailey is a Professor and founding faculty member at Yale-NUS College, where he teaches in the humanities and social sciences. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute and regularly advises journalists and policymakers on the societal implications of Bitcoin and digital assets. In August 2025, he will join the University of Wyoming as a Professor of Philosophy at the newly established Bitcoin Research Institute.

Andrew Bailey

Associate Professor of Philosophy, Yale-NUS College

Ken Egan is the Director of Government Affairs at the Bitcoin Policy Institute and formerly served as Head of Operations at BlockTrace, a blockchain analytics and cyber intelligence firm supporting government clients. Before entering the private sector, he spent over 20 years in federal service, including roles at the CIA and Department of State, with a focus on Middle East and East Asia operations. He retired in 2022 as Deputy Chief of Operations at the CIA’s Center for Cyber Intelligence.

Ken Egan

Director of Government Affairs, Bitcoin Policy Institute

Dr. Bradley Rettler is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wyoming and a Senior Fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute. His teaching and research explore metaphysics, ethics, and the philosophical foundations of Bitcoin. As a founding member of Resistance Money, a Bitcoin research collective, he brings academic rigor to Bitcoin discourse and contributes to advancing thoughtful, interdisciplinary engagement with digital currency. Rettler holds a PhD in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame.

Bradley Rettler

Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Wyoming

Dr. Josh Hendrickson is Professor and Chair of the Economics Department at the University of Mississippi and a Senior Fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, AIER’s Sound Money Project, and the Mercatus Center. His research spans monetary theory, political economy, and Bitcoin’s role in modern monetary systems, with work published in leading journals such as the Journal of Money, Credit and Banking. Hendrickson also serves on the board of the Mississippi Council on Economic Education and is an active voice in policy discussions on sound money and digital assets.

Josh Hendrickson

Professor and Chair of Economics Department, University of Mississippi

Dr. William J. Luther is an associate professor and graduate director in the Economics Department at Florida Atlantic University, director of the American Institute for Economic Research’s Sound Money Project, and an adjunct scholar with the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, where his research focuses on currency acceptance and government influence over money. An internationally recognized expert on cryptocurrencies, his work has been cited by major media outlets and published in top academic journals, with the Social Science Research Network ranking him among the top five percent of business authors.

William Luther

Associate Professor and Graduate Director of Economics, Florida Atlantic University

Avik Roy serves as President of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, where he has established himself as a leading healthcare policy expert. He is widely recognized for his comprehensive work on healthcare reform and economic policy analysis. He regularly contributes to major publications, offering insights on critical policy issues affecting healthcare and economic development.

Avik Roy

President, FREOPP

Dr. Craig Warmke is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Northern Illinois University and a Senior Fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute. His work examines the intersection of money, philosophy, politics, and economics, and he co-authored Resistance Money: A Philosophical Case for Bitcoin (2024), bringing scholarly rigor to Bitcoin discourse. Warmke regularly collaborates with scholars, technologists, and policymakers to explore the philosophical and economic implications of emerging monetary technologies.

Craig Warmke

Associate Professor of Philosophy, Northern Illinois University

Yaël Ossowski serves as Deputy Director at the Consumer Choice Center and Fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, where he brings over a decade of experience as a policy analyst, journalist, and consumer advocate across Europe and North America. As a prolific writer, he has published over 1,000 articles in major outlets including USA Today, The Hill, and Chicago Tribune, and previously served as Florida Bureau Chief for Watchdog.org. He holds an MA in Philosophy, Politics, Economics from CEVRO Institute in Prague and brings international perspective through his work between Austria and North Carolina.

Yaël Ossowski

Deputy Director, Consumer Choice Center

Jake Langenkamp is the Founder of Bridger, a Bitcoin mining company dedicated to partnering with African nations to expand energy infrastructure and drive national productivity through mining operations. He brings over two decades of international experience from his service with the U.S. Department of Defense across Europe, Asia, and Africa. As a guest author at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, Langenkamp applies his global perspective to advancing innovative approaches to energy development and Bitcoin mining.

Jake Langenkamp

CEO and Co-Founder, Bridger

Grant McCarty is the Co-Founder and Co-President of the Bitcoin Policy Institute and the former Executive Director of the Bitcoin Advocacy Project. A serial entrepreneur, McCarty previously founded an education startup focused on college admissions equity and led marketing initiatives in the fintech sector. He holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and leverages his background in technology, education, and policy to advance Bitcoin adoption and public understanding.

Grant McCarty

Co-President, Bitcoin Policy Institute

David Zell is the Co-Founder and Co-President of the Bitcoin Policy Institute. Prior to his work in the digital asset space, he co-founded ASAP, a nonprofit organization that successfully halted billions in private prison financing. Having studied Political Science at the University of Alabama, Zell brings a strong background in public policy and advocacy to advancing Bitcoin adoption and understanding.

David Zell

Co-President, Bitcoin Policy Institute

Renee Sorchik serves as Vice President of Research at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, where she brings 17 years of international research experience from work with the United Nations and global organizations across 30 countries. She specializes in translating complex data into actionable policy recommendations, drawing from extensive field experience in China, Egypt, and New Caledonia. She holds a master's in International Development from the University of Pittsburgh and focuses on Bitcoin's potential for global economic empowerment.

Renee Sorchik

VP of Research, Bitcoin Policy Institute

Zack Cohen is the Growth and Development Associate at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, where he leads the organization’s digital media program and strategic media partnerships. Since joining BPI in 2023, he has contributed across various departments, including government affairs, research, operations, and development.

Zack Cohen

Associate, Bitcoin Policy Institute

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