Please join Georgetown Law’s Institute of International Economic Law on Thursday, September 21, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET. for National Security and Digital Assets Seminar, a half day policy that delves into how the future of digital assets intersects with national security. This seminar brings together experts from economics, technology, and China to discuss the risks, rewards, and importance of digital assets in the context of national security and economic power.
8:30 a.m. Doors Open (Refreshments Served)
9:00 a.m. Welcome
- Chris Brummer, Agnes Williams Sesquicentennial Professor of Financial Technology, Georgetown Law; Faculty Director, Institute of International Economic Law
9:05 a.m.Fireside Chat with Senator Pat Toomey: American Technology Policy Leadership and National Security
Overview: Countries around the world are exploring the utility of the blockchain and many are taking steps to help ensure their regulatory frameworks encourage use of this technology as it scales and grows. Join Senator Pat Toomey and Georgetown Law’s Daniel Gorfine as they discuss the U.S. approach to digital assets and blockchain technology in this context, as well as the long-term implications for national security.
9:20 a.m. Panel: Digital Assets and National Economic Power: Truths, Myths, and Grey Areas
Overview: A country’s currency and technology are routinely considered core to its economic power, but the reasons are diverse, and even disputed. To what extent do these theories apply to digital assets? What features or characteristics do they have that are relevant to the projection of national economic power? And how are the risks associated with digital assets relevant to understanding economic strategy? What are the relative benefits and risks of leadership—and can the United States use its other considerable resources and advantages to catch up with other countries if and when it fits its national interest?
Moderator: Anup Malani, Professor, Chicago Law
Panelists:
- Peter Kerstens, Counselor, European Commission
- Stephanie Murphy, Former U.S. Representative
- Faryar Shirzad, Chief Policy Officer, Coinbase
- Juan Zarate, Managing Director, K2 Integrity, Former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes
10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. A Conversation with Colonel Sara Dudley
- Colonel Sara Dudley, U.S. Army Special Operations Command Comptroller
10:50 a.m. Panel: China, AI and Crypto: The Next Great Power Frontline?
Overview: China has stated ambitions to have the world’s most advanced blockchain technology by 2025—and, in conjunction with major investments in payments, it is making substantive strides in fintech, AI and crypto. Following its success in industries as varied as 5G, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, its $71 trillion in mobile payments, efforts to boost AI, and designation of Hong Kong as an offshore crypto center, how should the U.S respond?
Moderator: Yesha Yadav, Professor, Vanderbilt Law
Panelists:
- Linda Lourie, Former Assistant Director for Research and Technology Security in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, WestExec
- Sujit Raman, Chief Legal Officer, TRM Labs
- Tomicah Tillemann, Policy Director, Haun Ventures
11:00 a.m. Break
11:20 a.m. Panel: Law, Technology, and Power: A Conversation with Global Entrepreneurs
Moderator: Omid Malekan, Professor, Columbia Business School
Panelists:
- Daniel Goldsmith, Cofounder, Heights Labs
- Evan Kohlmann, Founder, Cloudburst
- Samridh Saluja, Cofounder, Guardrail
IIEL thanks Coinbase for its support of this event .