Validated A Decade on the Frontlines of Crypto Policy w/ Peter Van Valkenburgh
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Jun 3, 2025 
Peter Van Valkenburgh, executive director of Coin Center, discusses his organization's journey in advocating for sensible cryptocurrency regulations. He shares insights on navigating the evolving crypto landscape, including the challenges of recent DOJ guidance and the political implications of meme coins. The conversation also touches on critical legal issues, such as anti-money laundering measures and the ethical tensions in blockchain governance. Peter emphasizes the need for nuanced policies that foster innovation while ensuring oversight in the rapidly changing world of crypto.
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Origins of Coin Center
- Coin Center was founded in 2014 to educate policymakers on Bitcoin and open blockchain technology.
- Early efforts focused on clear explanations to prevent overbroad laws and foster sound crypto regulations.
Shift in U.S. Crypto Policy
- Before 2022, crypto policy in the U.S. was relatively favorable with clear regulatory guidance.
- Later aggressive prosecutions, the Infrastructure Act, and Tornado Cash sanctions shifted the landscape negatively.
Privacy Tools Are Societal Necessity
- Privacy tools like Tornado Cash protect personal data and enable living in society without total transparency.
- Better technology combining privacy and compliance can deter illicit finance more effectively.