PGP* (Pretty Good Policy) for Crypto Podcast

Peter Van Valkenburgh, Director of Research at Coin Center

S1E9
1:37:26
April 24th 2023

Peter Van Valkenburgh is the Director of Research at Coin Center. With a diverse background in law, economics, and technology, Peter has dedicated his career to examining the interplay between policy and cryptocurrencies with the goal of fostering a regulatory environment that encourages innovation and safeguards individual rights.

Coin Center's mission is to champion the rights of individuals to create and utilize free and open cryptocurrency networks, while upholding the rights to write and publish code form peer-to-peer networks and maintain privacy. To realize its objectives, Coin Center conducts and disseminates policy research, educates policy makers and the media about cryptocurrencies, advocates for well-informed public policy, and participates in litigation to protect digital civil liberties. By nurturing a regulatory atmosphere that supports innovation and personal freedoms, Coin Center plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of blockchain and cryptocurrency.

EPISODE LINKS

Peter's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valkenburgh/

Peter's Twitter: https://twitter.com/valkenburgh

Coin Center website: https://www.coincenter.org/

Coin Center on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coin-center/

Coin Center on Twitter: https://twitter.com/coincenter

PODCAST INFO

Podcast website: https://podcast.pgpforcrypto.org

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pgp*-pretty-good-policy-for-crypto-podcast/id1669504720

RSS: https://feed.pod.co/pgp-for-crypto-podcast

HOST INFO

Gary Weinstein's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gary_Weinstein_

Gary Weinstein's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyweinstein/

Paul Brigner's Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulbrigner

Paul Brigner's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulbrigner/

Electric Coin Co. Website: https://electriccoin.co

Electric Coin Co. Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElectricCoinCo

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome

01:14 Introduction

03:43 Coin Center: Mission, Education, Research, and Advocacy for Cryptocurrencies

09:24 Journey to Coin Center and a Passion for Technology Law

15:31 The Importance of Electronic Cash and Decentralized Exchanges in Protecting Constitutional Rights

25:37 Dangers of Eliminating Cash and the Impact on Privacy and Individual Rights

28:31 AI, Blockchain, and the Future of Privacy in Electronic Transactions

33:48 The Perils of Aggregating and Weaponizing Personal Information

37:38 The Importance of Advancing Cryptography and Preserving Privacy Rights

43:00 Coin Center's Lawsuits and Defending Privacy Rights in the Cryptocurrency Space

52:25 The Connection Between Software and Speech in the Tornado Cash Case

57:45 Coin Center's Impact on Privacy, Free Speech, and Decentralization if Successful Against OFAC

01:01:45 Balancing Technology Advancements and Educating Policy Makers on Crypto and AI

01:07:31 Promoting Encryption and Privacy in Policy Making and Upholding Constitutional Rights

01:17:21 The Future of Encryption and Privacy Cases in the US Court System

01:22:37 Defending Freedom, Privacy, and Innovation in the US and Europe

01:26:41 Central Bank Digital Currencies: Pros, Cons, and Complexities

DISCLAIMER

Please be advised that the information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not to be taken as legal or financial advice. The opinions and views expressed by our guests are their own and may not reflect the official stance of the organizations they represent or those of Electric Coin Co. Always consult a legal or financial professional before making any decisions.

PGP for Crypto Podcast

Welcome to the “PGP* (Pretty Good Policy) for Crypto Podcast," an initiative of Electric Coin Co.!

We explore the intersection of blockchain technology, public policy, and global regulatory topics. Our goal is to provide our audience with in-depth insights and expert perspectives on the key issues shaping the future of blockchain and cryptocurrency.

You’ll hear interviews with industry leaders, government officials, and academics at the forefront of shaping the public policy environment for blockchain technology. Our guests will share their unique perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry and the impact of current and proposed regulations and policy approaches on the growth and development of the blockchain ecosystem.

Hosted by Paul Brigner, Head of US Public Policy and Strategic Advocacy at Electric Coin Co.

Paul Brigner

Head of U.S. Policy and Strategic Advocacy at Electric Coin Co. (ECC)

I am Head of U.S. Policy and Strategic Advocacy at the Electric Coin Co. (ECC), creators and supporters of Zcash. Zcash facilitates a privacy‐preserving cryptocurrency, ZEC, for confidential value transfer using zero‐knowledge proof cryptography. The Zcash protocol facilitates options for transactions to be either shielded (confidential) or visible (non-confidential) on the Zcash blockchain.

I have extensive experience in technology policy advocacy and government relations. In addition to leading U.S. Policy and Advocacy for ECC, I am Chair of the Industry Advisory Board of the CyberSMART Research Center, an NSF-chartered Industry/University Collaborative Research Center on blockchain and cybersecurity. I have held senior-level roles in two trade associations (the Motion Picture Association of America and the Chamber of Digital Commerce), I have managed a blockchain research center at Georgetown University, I have led the North American Bureau of the Internet Society, and I have worked on emerging internet and technology policy issues for Verizon.

Prior to working in policy, I had a ten-year career developing software, culminating as a software architect and senior technical manager for Verizon – experiences that have given me a high degree of technical knowledge and credibility in my current policy career.

I live in the DC area with my wife, 17-year-old son, and 1-year-old daughter. I am a U.S. Army veteran (appointed to the United States Military Academy), I have a JD and MBA from Georgetown University, and I have a bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin State University where I was named the Outstanding Computer Science Graduate.