Techquitable

Jane Khodarkovsky, a former federal prosecutor who is now a partner at Arktouros, and Nikhil Raghuveera, co-founder and CEO of Predicate, join the Decentralization Research Center’s Tony Douglas to discuss regulation by enforcement, developer liability, privacy tools, AI agents, and how to responsibly build the next generation of financial infrastructure.Timestamps:01:42 - From public service to blockchain innovation04:03 - Why work on blockchain and emerging tech?07:50 - Developer liability and regulation16:37 - Building policy infrastructure into networks26:05 - How regulators keep pace with AI and crypto33:26 - Advice for students and early-career builders38:00 - Closing thoughts and reflections& much more. 

How does bipartisan education occur in Washington? Where can it be improved? George Leonardo (@CapHillCrypto) of Cap Hill Crypto joins the Techquitable podcast to discuss what he's seeing on the Hill.Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and background01:35 - Why George launched Cap Hill Crypto03:31 - Educating DC policymakers about decentralization05:15 - Insights into House-Senate collaboration on stablecoin bills06:56 - Exploring the partisan dynamics of crypto policy in 202409:55 - George's outlook for crypto policy this Congress& much more. You can also listen to the full episode on the podcast player of your choice, here: https://podfollow.com/1730611363

Jonathan Galea (@ImpermanentGain), counsel at Cahill, Gordon, & Reindel LLP, joins Connor Spelliscy (@c_spelliscy) to break down the evolving definition of decentralization under MiCA and the broader EU regulatory framework. They explore what “sufficient decentralization” means in Europe, how regulators like ESMA and national authorities like Denmark’s FSA are approaching DeFi, and what U.S. policymakers can learn from the EU's years-long legislative process.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:03 - Why MiCA mentions decentralization but doesn’t define it clearly04:58 - ESMA’s closest attempt: the “permissionless” standard06:31 - Critique of Denmark’s decentralization paper08:10 - The importance of the definition of a CASP (crypto asset service provider)13:30 - Will DeFi see real exemptions under MiCA?14:58 - The EU's risk-based, “light touch” DeFi approach17:08 - How European regulators compare to the SEC on decentralization22:30 - Why the term “decentralization” may be overrated25:45 - A practical approach for lawmakers: reverse-engineer from DeFi best practices& much more.

Miles Jennings of a16z (@milesjennings) and Sarah Brennan of Delphi Ventures (@SH_Brennan) join Connor Spelliscy to discuss the critical control test for decentralization, which has been mentioned in Safe Harbor proposals, including one proposed by Sarah and the Decentralization Research Center.Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:28 The latest on legislation discussions in Washington 04:26 Zooming out: Is the current industry approach the right one?09:51 Updated control test for decentralization16:18 Key concerns about prior control tests21:16 Wish lists for market structure bills27:35 What happens if FIT21 doesn’t pass?& much moreYou can also listen to the full episode on the podcast player of your choice, here: https://podfollow.com/1730611363

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce spoke with us at the Decentralized Tech Summit to share her thoughts on how decentralization should impact securities regulation, her work leading the SEC's Crypto Task Force and exit tests for her proposed Safe Harbor. It was one of her most detailed public conversations focused solely on decentralization.Timestamps:[1:06] How crypto roundtables impact rulemaking[4:12] Marrying existing regulation with future rules[9:40] How the industry can best engage with the administration[11:17] Managing retail protection without harming builders[13:26] Her changing perspective on the Safe Harbor exit test[19:40] What to expect next from the SEC[21:14] How the SEC achieves their crypto-related goals& much more. 

Dr. Michael Abramowicz, Associate Dean for Strategy and Innovation at George Washington University, unpacks the evolution of decentralized blockchain governance. He highlights how blockchain adjudication methods are revolutionizing decision-making, while emphasizing the importance of incentives in these systems. Dr. Abramowicz critiques current practices and discusses historical frameworks like Kleros. He also touches on the tension between traditional business hierarchies and newer decentralized models, revealing how technology challenges existing legal structures.

The authors of recently published “Blockchain Governance”  joined the Techquitable podcast to discuss how governance over blockchain communities is formed. It was a pleasure to learn about their research on governance and the importance of decentralization in blockchain communities.Timestamps:[2:40] - Why collaborate to write a book on blockchain governance?[6:15] - Who should read the book? Why?[17:00] - Tension between how regulation should work, and how it actually does[28:35] - Different governance structures[34:11] - Will we reach a consistent perspective on the optimal blockchain governance approach?[41:00] - What each author hopes readers learn from their bookFor more on each guest:Primavera (@yaoeo) is a Director of Research at the National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS) in Paris, Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.Wessel (@WesselReijers) is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Media Studies, Paderborn University, where he explores the nature of distributed governance.Morshed (@MannanMorshed) is a Research Fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute, where his research focuses on blockchain governance.

Andy Hall, a political economy expert at Stanford and advisor to major tech firms, delves into the evolution of governance in the context of emerging technologies. He reflects on how the 2016 election pivoted his career towards blockchain and Web3 governance. The discussion highlights the importance of decentralized decision-making, the potential longevity of excitement in crypto, and the need for academia to tackle real-world challenges. With a tone of optimism, Andy envisions a future where technology enhances democratic processes and fosters user agency.

@sheila_warren is the CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, a premier global alliance for advancing the promise of digital assets through research, education and advocacy. In 2023, Sheila was voted one of the most influential women in DC by the Washingtonian and previously founded the World Economic Forum’s blockchain and digital assets team. It was a pleasure to have her join the Techquitable podcast to share her perspective on the stalled crypto policy in America, her work at CCI and much more.  Timestamps: [1:50] - Sheila’s background in data  [6:39] - The new Trump administration’s impact on crypto [14:25] - The importance of crypto in the recent U.S. election [19:45] - CCI’s approach to policy engagement [20:40] - Decentralization as the next foundational question [23:20] - Interoperability between critical jurisdictions [29:10] - Sheila’s biggest concern for the crypto industry

Dr. Kelsie Nabben, an ethnographic researcher focusing on the social impacts of emerging technologies, discusses the intricacies of decentralized systems. She shares insights into resilience within blockchain and the challenges of researching in the digital realm. The conversation navigates vulnerabilities in digital networks and highlights community-driven solutions. Kelsie also addresses the ethical implications of blockchain security, emphasizing the role of accountability in decentralized finance and the future potential of these technologies.