On Wednesday, November 16, the Strauss Center hosted the mini-conference, “Crypto Wars: Blockchains, Cryptocurrencies, and American National Security” during its inaugural Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Policy Week.

This conference featured experts on the intersection of blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies and national security and law.

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.

This event was free and open to the public. No RSVP was required. Lunch was be served. For more information on this event, contact Susan Crane at scrane@austin.utexas.edu.

Agenda

2:00 – 2:30pm – Arrival

Coffee and lunch will be served

2:30 – 2:35pm – Welcome Remarks

Adam Klein, Director of the Strauss Center for International Security and Law

2:35 – 3:15pm – “Blockchain Investigations”

Sujit Raman, General Counsel with TRM Labs and former Associate Deputy Attorney General with the U.S. Department of Justice

3:15 – 4:15pm – Keynote Remarks

Juan Zarate, Global Co-Managing Partner and Chief Strategy Officer of K2 Integrity and former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes

4:15 – 5:00pm – Panel Discussion: “Crypto Ask Me Anything”

Cesare Fracassi, Director of the Blockchain Initiative at Texas McCombs and Associate Professor of Finance

Sina Kian, Chief Strategy Officer & General Counsel at Aleo and Technology, Security, and Global Affairs Fellow at the Strauss Center for International Security and Law

Sujit Raman, General Counsel with TRM Labs and former Associate Deputy Attorney General with the U.S. Department of Justice

Chinmayi Sharma, Scholar in Residence at the Strauss Center for International Security and Law and Lecturer at the University of Austin School of Law

Moderator: Adam Klein, Director of the Strauss Center for International Security and Law

5:00 – 6:00pm – Reception in Bass Lecture Hall Lobby

Light refreshments will be served

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