In this episode of Tangents, Peter and Jerry discuss the recent decision in the SEC v. Ripple case. They explain that the decision follows the same interpretation of the securities laws that Coin Center has longe advocated, namely that commodity tokens can be the subject of securities offerings without being securities themselves. Jerry and Peter a…

In this episode of Tangents, Peter and Jerry discuss the Tornado Cash sanctions list designation by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. As they explain in a legal analysis of the case, they believe that OFAC has overstepped its legal authority by adding certain Tornado Cash smart contract addresses to the SDN List, that this…

In this episode of Tangents, Peter and Jerry discuss the SEC's proposed rulemaking on the definition of ‘exchange’ and Alternative Trading Systems. Bottom line: The Commission’s proposed redefinition of “exchange” violates the First Amendment by requiring a license to speak–even of open source developers. It’s unconstitutional and they should chang…

In this episode of Tangents, Peter, Jerry, and Neeraj discuss the narrative and substance how cryptocurrency is implicated in the sanctions on Russia, as well as the Biden executive order on digital assets.By Jerry Brito, Peter Van Valkenburgh, Neeraj Agrawal

In this episode of Tangents, Peter and Jerry discuss a new backgrounder just published by Coin Center that explains what is "staking" to policymakers who sometimes are confused about how that word is used in different cryptocurrency contexts.By Peter Van Valkenburgh, Jerry Brito

In the second part of their discussion of the crypto tax provisions in the infrastructure bill, Jerry, Peter, and Robin recount what happened after the Senate passed it and bring us up to date on efforts to fix the provisions in the House and elsewhere.By Jerry Brito, Peter Van Valkenburgh, Robin Weisman

Jerry, Peter, and Robin discuss the crypto tax provisions in the infrastructure bill that passed the Senate and is now stuck in the House. They recount what's in the bill, why it's bad, and the efforts in the Senate to stop it. In the next part they'll discuss what's happening now in the House and what's being done to fight it.…

Jerry and Peter discuss the stablecoin regulation and the forthcoming report from the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets on that subject. Are stablecoins securities? Are they systemically risky? Is any of this graven in stone? Find out in this episode.By Jerry Brito, Peter Van Valkenburgh

Jerry and Peter discuss the third comment letter that Coin Center has filed in FinCEN’s ongoing crypto rulemaking. Topics include privacy issues surrounding currency transaction reports and why the current CTR proposal is not tech-neutral and prejudices cryptocurrency technologies.By Peter Van Valkenburgh, Jerry Brito

In the wake of the WSB/GameStop saga, Jerry and Peter discuss the intersection of DeFi and regulation, plus an update on FinCEN’s now unfrozen crypto rule making.By Peter Van Valkenburgh, Jerry Brito

We discuss FinCEN extending the comment period in its crypto rule making, which is a bit of a victory, though we’re not out of the woods yet. We also discuss crypto in the NDAA and Gary Gensler appointed to chair the SEC. FinCEN Extends Comment Period for Rule Aimed at Closing Anti-Money Laundering Regulatory Gaps for Certain Convertible Virtual Cu…

Jerry and Peter discuss FinCEN's proposed new crypto midnight regulation, as well as the President's Working Group on Financial Markets statement on stablecoins, and FinCEN's announcement that it will develop rules applying FBAR requirements to cryptocurrency accounts.By Peter Van Valkenburgh

The second in a mini-series within Tangents in which Robin asks the same three questions of different guests. Today’s answers by Michale Casey lead to a discussion of changing narratives dating back hundreds of years, reporting on cryptocurrency, the use of blockchain technology in enabling community-owned energy economies, and the future of media.…

Dan is executive director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and previously worked at the American Enterprise Institute and the R Street Institute. They discuss how think tanks’ traditional role in developing policy ideas has evolved as politics and the media environment have changed over the last decade.…

Abe’s research has spurred Coin Center to advocate for different tax treatment of block rewards. The IRS issued guidance in 2014, explaining that cryptocurrency was property and should be taxed as income when received by a miner. As Abe has pointed out, no other newly created property is taxed at the moment it is made by the taxpayer. A farmer owes…

Robin tries out a new format where she asks three basic questions of her guests. Today’s answers by @Bitcoinmom Brooke Mallers and her husband, and partner in everything, Bill Mallers leads to a discussion of the value of Bitcoin, the importance of having a de minimis tax exemption, some of the shared policy challenges faced by cryptocurrency busin…

Neeraj talks with Jerry and Peter for a cryptocurrency policy update. Topics include the recent travel rule rulemaking from FinCEN, privacy and CBDCs, and a de minimis tax exemption.By Peter Van Valkenburgh, Neeraj Agrawal, Jerry Brito

Because the cryptocurrency space is still relatively nascent, there haven’t been that many patents filed. And many of the patents that have been granted are held by innovative firms that understand that crypto is meant to be open source and open network, permissionless and unowned. If all crypto firms banded together now, at this early stage, they …

When Twitter was recently hacked, hundreds of popular accounts started tweeting out misleading advertisements for cryptocurrency scams. The problem was not cryptocurrency itself, but rather the broken centralized identity systems that Twitter (alongside all modern internet services) relied upon. The solution, as discussed in this podcast, may actua…

While many may know how a bill becomes a law, fewer may understand the important precursor of how a bill becomes a bill. Following the recent introduction of the Digital Commodities Exchange Act (DCEA), Robin and Paul talk a bit about that process as well as what it is like to work on Capitol Hill.By Robin Weisman

Taken as a whole, the internet is a resilient platform for free speech. However, individual platforms are increasingly being targeted by government and activist groups demanding censorship. Will and Neeraj discuss the recent history of this trend and how censorship might look at different levels in the internet infrastructure stack. Read: A History…

Jerry and Alex discuss what is lobbying and what lobbyists do, the differences between the House and Senate, why Congress is dysfunctional and what can be done about it.By Jerry Brito

Ian Mier’s graduate work in cryptography pioneered the integration of zero-knowledge proof systems and cryptocurrency blockchains. Along with co-authors, he published the Zero-Coin and Zero-Cash research papers that eventually informed the creation of the Zcash blockchain and cryptocurrency. Peter and Ian discuss the importance of privacy in crypto…

FIRE focuses on campus free speech issues. It may be most well known for its work on guest speaker controversies but threats to speech in academia run much deeper than that. Sarah McLaughlin focuses on tracking how colleges and universities grapple with issues caused by some of their curriculum being illegal to discuss in parts of the world, partic…

A pinch-hitting Peter Van Valkenburgh discusses what is Coin Center and what exactly we do in DC. Who do we represent and for what do we advocate? Find out as we address some common misconceptions about lobbying for crypto.By Peter Van Valkenburgh, Jerry Brito

Ivor’s background is chemical engineering, but three years ago, unsatisfied with answers he was getting from his physician about heart disease risk, he dedicated himself to researching nutrition. Now he has a popular podcast and YouTube channel where he applies his own brand of meticulous root cause and statistical analysis to questions about diet,…

Neeraj Agrawal is well known on crypto twitter but perhaps less known for his home cooking. Robin and Neeraj discuss Neeraj’s journey from “bro cook” to home chef, including the role of history, youtube and Instagram in his self education. Enjoy this narrative on 17th and 18th century cooking, a bit about food and policy and how lessons learned fro…

Saku is a fixture on Twitter who has crossed over into several smart communities with her consistently insightful commentary and writing. Her perspectives on the world are informed by a mix of rationalism and “tech optimism”--the idea that it’s indisputable that technology has and will continue to make the world a better place. We discussed today’s…

Former CIA analyst Martin Gurri discusses with Jerry the ideas in his prescient book, “The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium.” His thesis is that the explosion of information in the last two decades has exposed and undermined elites and led the public to revolt. In their discussion Jerry and Martin apply the fra…

Why is it important for digital money systems to protect user privacy? Are cryptocurrencies networks like Bitcoin truly public goods? Is the open source software model still free and open or has it been co-opted by corporate interests? What does it mean for money to be “public?” These questions and more are discussed by Peter and Rohan, who agree o…

Both Mark and Robin share a commitment to life work balance. In this episode they talk about the career paths that lead them to their current jobs and the importance of the right organization and team to maintaining the balance they both have worked to achieve. There are also a few extra tangents into COVID and working from home.…

Mike is a technology journalist, Neeraj is a technology communications person. So they have different views on how things unfold on Twitter. In this unstructured conversation they share their views on how the platform has changed over the years, how people tend to use it, incentives, and more.By Neeraj Agrawal

The topic du jour is central bank digital currency and in this episode we discuss why that is, as well as the finer points of how a CBDC could and should be designed. Is tiered anonymity acceptable and can it be built? Can privacy be reconciled with sanctions power? Would a larger Fed balance sheet politicize it? What are the prospects for continue…

Everyone depends on a handful of apps for online communications and productivity, and, more often than not, those apps are hosted by servers owned and controlled by a third party. Even protocols that were designed to be peer to peer, like email and bitcoin, are typically accessed by non-technical people through intermediaries, like Gmail and Coinba…