On Thursday, November 17, the Strauss Center hosted Strauss Technology, Security, and Global Affairs Fellow Sina Kian as he discussed legal careers in the realm of blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies.

Are cryptocurrencies the next frontier in innovation or a threat to national security? How will decentralized finance, the metaverse, and other “Web3” applications affect counterterrorism, sanctions, and intelligence gathering? Is Bitcoin a danger to the climate or a better way to finance green energy? Strauss Center experts considered these and other questions during the inaugural Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Policy Week.

The event was open to UT law students. Coffee and light refreshments were served. Contact Susan Crane at [email protected] with any questions.

Biography

Sina Kian is Chief Strategy Officer & General Counsel at Aleo, a startup building a decentralized blockchain that uses cryptography to provide significantly enhanced data security and privacy capabilities. Sina’s background is in law, policy, and finance. He graduated from Stanford Law School and clerked on the D.C. Circuit for Judge Thomas B. Griffith and Judge David S. Tatel, and on the Supreme Court for Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. Sina then practiced law at WilmerHale, where he worked on appellate litigation in federal courts around the country, including the Supreme Court, and with the Strategic Response Group, a bipartisan group that assists clients in navigating multifaceted challenges with legal, public policy, and media dimensions. Following his time at WilmerHale, he transitioned to an investing role, working as a Vice President at Blackstone, and then as a Director at Kennedy Lewis, where he led investments in technology across sectors. Sina has also served as an advisor at the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, and currently serves as an advisor to SentiLink, a company that provides identity verification and fraud prevention services. He is a Term Member on the Council of Foreign Relations.

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