Jerry Brito
Public Policy
I started my D.C. career at the Cato Institute in 1999. After law school, I went to the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where I started and directed its Technology Policy Program until 2014. After that I co-founded Coin Center where I served as executive director through 2024, and where I remain on the board of directors. Below is some of my work during that time.
- Scholarly Articles
- Op-Eds
- Testimony
- Citations in Print & Web Publications
- Radio & Podcast Interviews
- Television Interviews
- Lectures & Panel Discussions
Scholarly Articles
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Op-Eds
- The SAFT is a Symptom of Regulatory Uncertainty
CoinDesk, November 13,2017.
- What Bitcoiners Are Doing to Fight Ransomware
Fortune, June 30, 2017.
- Why Bitcoin Needs Washington to Go Mainstream
Fortune, June 1, 2017.
- IRS Quest for Coinbase Data Sets Dangerous Precedent
American Banker, November 29, 2016.
- Let Bitcoin into the campaign
The Hill, April 10, 2015.
- The Price of Bitcoin Doesn’t Matter Right Now
WIRED, January 14, 2015.
- Regulators Need to Take It Easy on Bitcoin Startups
WIRED, March 6, 2014.
- Bitcoin: More than Money
Reason, December 2013.
- US regulations are hampering Bitcoin's growth
The Guardian, November 18, 2013.
- Why Regulators Should Embrace Bitcoin
American Banker, August 21, 2013.
- Cyber-Security: Stand Down, for Now, Congress
TIME, February 22, 2013.
- Free WiFi for the masses? Not so fast
Washington Examiner, February 8, 2013.
- Measured Response to a Limited Threat
The New York Times, October 17, 2012.
- Debate: This house believes that a hyperconnected world is more rather than less secure.
The Economist, June 26, 2012.
- A Note to Congress: The United Nations Isn’t a Serious Threat to Internet Freedom—But You Are
The Atlantic, June 19, 2012. With Adam Thierer.
- A Shift Toward Digital Currency
New York Times, April 4, 2012.
- Cyberwar Is the New Yellowcake
Wired, February 14, 2012. With Tate M. Watkins.
- The Cybersecurity-Industrial Complex
Reason, August/September 2011. With Tate M. Watkins.
- BRAC the federal budget: Fiscal commission needs real power to cut programs
The Washington Times, May 28, 2010.
- Cyberattacks: Washington is hyping the threat to justify regulating the Internet
Christian Science Monitor, April 29, 2010. With Tate M. Watkins.
- Can Congress tweet? Should bloggers care?
Ars Technica, July 28, 2008.
- Failure to Communicate
The Wall Street Journal, March 27, 2007.
- Who’s your daddy?
The Wall Street Journal, March 25, 2006. With Bridget Dooling.
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Testimony
- Cryptocurrencies: What are they good for?
Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, July 27, 2021.
- Virtual Currencies, Related Futures Products, and Market and Regulatory Developments and Challenges
CFTC Technical Advisory Committee, February 14, 2018.
- Virtual Currency: Financial Innovation and National Security Implications
Terrorism and Illicit Finance Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee, June 8, 2017.
- Digital Currency and Block Chain Technology
House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, March 16, 2016.
- Innovation and Transformation in Payment Technology
Testimony before California State Assembly Banking & Finance Committee, March 16, 2015.
- Hearing on Digital Currency
Testimony before New Jersey State Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, February 5, 2015.
- Digital Currency Introduction – Bitcoin
CFTC Global Markets Advisory Committee, October 9, 2015.
- Bitcoin: Examining the Benefits and Risks for Small Business
House Committee on Small Business, April 2, 2014.
- Beyond Silk Road: Potential Risks, Threats, and Promises of Virtual Currencies
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, November 18, 2013.
- Transparency Through Technology: Evaluating Federal Open Government Efforts
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations, and Procurement Reform, March 9, 2011.
- Economic Stimulus Oversight
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, March 19, 2009.
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Citations in Print & Web Publications
-
Exit interview with Coin Center chief
Axios, October 3, 2024
-
Founding Coin Center Chief Jerry Brito Stepping Down After Decade
CoinDesk, September 30, 2024
- Why a Crypto Podcaster Is Suing Janet Yellen
New York Magazine, October 13, 2022
- Crypto Advocacy Group Sues U.S. Treasury Over Tornado Cash Sanctions
Wall Street Journal, October 12, 2022
- Crypto Think Tank Coin Center Sues US Treasury Over Tornado Cash Sanctions
CoinDesk, October 12, 2022
- U.S. bars Americans from using crypto service Tornado Cash
Washington Post, August 8, 2022
- A legal challenge over crypto reporting could strike down decades-old anti-money laundering laws
The Verge, June 21, 2022
- Crypto industry says it is complying with Russian sanctions, as some policymakers ring alarms
Washington Post, March 3, 2022
- Bitcoin Fans Are Suddenly a Political Force
Wall Street Journal, August 16, 2021
- The Way the Senate Melted Down Over Crypto Is Very Revealing
New York Times, August 12, 2021
- Owners of BitMEX, a Leading Bitcoin Exchange, Face Criminal Charges
New York Times, October 1, 2020
- IRS quietly deletes guideline that Fortnite virtual currency must be reported on tax returns
CNN, February 14, 2020
- An elegy for cash: the technology we might never replace
MIT Technology Review, January 3, 2020
- The Week in Tech: Some Workers Hate Robots. Retraining May Change That.
New York Times, July 19, 2019
- Facebook Questioned on Cryptocurrency, But Battle Looms With Global Regulators
Wall Street Journal, July 16, 2019
- Pay Taxes With Bitcoin? Ohio Says Sure
Wall Street Journal, November 26, 2018
- Get ready for Big Bitcoin: Cryptocurrency industry opens a D.C. lobbying arm
Washington Post, September 11, 2018
- Crypto Industry Frustrated by Haphazard Regulation
New York Times, June 27, 2018
- Bitcoin and ether shouldn’t be regulated like stocks and bonds, a top SEC official says
Washington Post, June 14, 2018
- Crypto Market Rallies on SEC’s Official’s Ether Stance
Wall Street Journal, June 14, 2018
- Silicon Valley Is Into Bitcoin. It Wants to Keep Washington Out.
Wall Street Journal, April 19, 2018
- Cyberattackers’ Apparent Take: Just $51,000 So Far
Wall Street Journal, May 15, 2017
- IRS Crackdown on Bitcoin Exchange Fuels Privacy Worries
Wall Street Journal, March 27, 2017
- S.E.C. Rejects Winklevoss Brothers’ Bid to Create Bitcoin E.T.F.
New York Times, March 10, 2017
- For Fintech Start-Ups, Efforts to Rethink Rules That Cramp Innovation
New York Times, April 6, 2016
- Regulator Moves to Create New Fintech Framework
Wall Street Journal, March 28, 2016
- A Bitcoin charm offensive on law enforcement
Washington Post, October 22, 2015.
- Bitcoin Rules Completed by New York Regulator
New York Times, June 3, 2015
- NY Financial Regulator Lawsky Releases Final BitLicense Rules for Bitcoin Firms
Wall Street Journal, June 3, 2015
- New York regulator issues final virtual currency rules
Reuters, June 3, 2015
- London stakes its claim as global bitcoin hub
Reuters, April 15, 2015
- Bitcoin: will 2015 be a make-or-break year?
The Guardian, February 3, 2015
- Introducing the Bitcoin Lobby
New York Magazine, January 12, 2015
- Bitcoin gets an industry-backed advocacy group
Washington Post, September 18, 2014
- Academics Call for Revisions to New York’s BitLicense Proposal
CoinDesk, August 18, 2014
- Bitcoin ATM builder takes aim at traditional financial services
Los Angeles Times, July 8, 2014
- Bitcoin Evangelist Is Bound but Not Out
Wall Street Journal, June 30, 2014
- Who created Bitcoin? Regulators don’t care
Politico, March 7, 2014
- Newly Revealed, Could Satoshi Nakamoto, Worth $400M In Bitcoin, Be In Danger?
Forbes, March 6, 2014.
- Bitcoin backers unfazed by more setbacks
The Hill, March 1, 2014
- Bitcoin Forever!
Daily Beast, February 27, 2014
- Legal Troubles Barely Subdue a Bitcoin Evangelist’s Sermons
New York Times, February 6, 2014
- Bitcoin — boom or bubble?
Washington Post, January 19, 2014
- The mystery of Bitcoin is how it keeps users’ trust
Financial Times, November 22, 2013
- Five years of Bitcoin in one post
Washington Post, January 3, 2014
- Here’s how Bitcoin charmed Washington
Washington Post, November 21, 2013
- Bitcoin Gaining Validity Fuels Rally in Virtual Currency
Bloomberg, Nov. 19, 2013
- U.S. Agencies to Say Bitcoins Offer Legitimate Benefits
Businessweek, November 18, 2013
- Bitcoin hits $700 high as Senate stages hearing on virtual currency
The Guardian, November 18, 2013
- Arrests a breakthrough in global battle against secretive ‘hacktivist’ movement
Chicago Tribune, November 14, 2013
- How FBI brought down cyber-underworld site Silk Road
USA Today, October 22, 2013.
- Study Suggests Studios Aren’t Offering Enough Online Legal Options to Counter Movie Piracy
Variety, October 15, 2013
- Many of the most-pirated movies aren’t available for legitimate online purchase
Washington Post, October 15, 2013
- Can digital rentals block piracy? New site gathers the data
Ars Technica, October 15, 2013
- Who Should Be Blamed for Facilitating Online Piracy?
Adweek, October 15, 2013
- The Magic of Bitcoin Turns FBI’s Seized Booty Into Government Protest
WIRED, October 4, 2013
- Bitcoin value drops after FBI shuts Silk Road drugs site
BBC, October 3, 2013
- The End of the Internet’s Biggest Black Market Is Good for Bitcoin
Businessweek, October 2, 2013
- Cyber security: The new arms race for a new front line
Christian Science Monitor, September 15, 2013
- Inside the Bitcoin advocates’ closed-door meeting with federal regulators
Washington Post, August 27, 2013
- Bitcoin: Tax haven of the future
Politico, August 9, 2013
- The Bitcoin drug business is getting more competitive
Washington Post, June 28, 2013
- Digital currency firms rush to adopt anti-money laundering rules amid global crackdown
Reuters, June 4, 2013
- Seven men charged in Liberty Reserve global money-laundering operation
Washington Post, May 28, 2013
- The coming political battle over Bitcoin
Washington Post, May 15, 2013
- Is the Drone’s Potential Being Shot Down Too Fast?
Harvard Business Review, April 23, 2013
- In Bitcoin we cannot trust
CBS News, April 17, 2013.
- Yes, Bitcoin is volatile. But it’s still got defenders.
Washington Post, April 11, 2013
- A Six-Strike Rule for Internet Piracy
Wall Street Journal, March 3, 2013
- Internet Turns UN Telecoms Talks Into Reality Show
Reuters, December 14, 2012
- Editorial: Global Internet Diplomacy
New York Times, December 12, 2012
- GOP sides with Mickey Mouse on copyright reform
Washington Examiner, December 5, 2012
- A Free-Market Fix for the Copyright Racket
Bloomberg, November 29, 2012
- The U.N.’s Internet Power Grab
Wall Street Journal, June 18, 2012
- Shedding Light on the UN’s Internet Plans, WikiLeaks-Style
Mashable, June 12, 2012
- Porn, gambling, and malware: Bitcoin as the ‘Net’s Wild West
Ars Technica, June 8, 2012
- Curtain of mystery partially pulled back on computer hacker groups
Chicago Tribune, March 7, 2012
- Why the cyber security bill in Congress is getting big push from Pentagon
Christian Science Monitor, March 7, 2012
- ‘Mega’-Indictment Shows U.S. Already Has International Piracy Chops
National Journal, January 20, 2012
- Google Speaks Truth to Power
Wall Street Journal, October 24, 2011
- Taming and Reining in Cyberspace.
National Journal, September 15, 2011
- Speed Bumps on the Road to Virtual Cash
New York Times, July 4, 2011
- Stealing "entertainment services" now a crime in Tennessee
Ars Technica, June 3, 2011
- USA erklären das Netz zum Kriegsschauplatz
Der Spiegel, June 1, 2011
- The rise of the cybersecurity-industrial complex
Washington Examiner, April 27, 2011
- Two Fascinating Exhibits on Data Security
The Atlantic, April 26, 2011
- Take $787 Billion. Now Show Where It’s Going.
New York Times, March 21, 2010
- Eye Opener: What to watch with the stimulus
Washington Post, October 20, 2009
- Contract to Upgrade Recovery.gov Stimulates Criticism
Wall Street Journal, July 9, 2009
- Web Users Offer Their Two Cents On How to Spend Stimulus Billions
Wall Street Journal, April 10, 2009
- Could Crowdsourcing Help Control the Stimulus?
Washington Post, March 18, 2009
- A Zealous Watchman to Follow the Money
New York Times, March 9, 2009
- Some Agencies Are Slow in Handing Out Stimulus Grants
Wall Street Journal, March 2, 2009
- See-Through Stimulus
Columbia Journalism Review, February 6, 2009
- Tracking Stimulus Funds Presents Daunting Task
NPR, February 4, 2009
- Everything You Need to Know About the Stimulus Is Online
Fast Company, February 3, 2009
- Dems eye midnight regulations reversal
Politico, November 12, 2008
- Dear Mr. President
Popular Science, October 2008
- Outdated Radios Fail Capitol Police
Washington Post, June 2, 2008
- Flying Blind in a Red-Tape Blizzard
The Atlantic, July 2007
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Radio & Podcast Interviews
- The Current US Regulatory Landscape for Crypto
Epicenter, November 10, 2021.
- FinCEN’s Discriminatory Rulemaking
What Bitcoin Did, December 27, 2020.
- Financial Privacy, Digital Currency and Stablecoin Payments
The Money Movement with Jeremy Allaire, July 23, 2020.
- How is Bitcoin Legal
What Bitcoin Did, January 28, 2020.
- The Case for Electronic Cash in an Open and Free Society
Epicenter Podcast, July 19, 2019.
- Backed by Silicon Valley Cash, Bitcoin Begins to Mature
California Report, KQED, April 17, 2015.
- How cash is like Bitcoin. And how Bitcoin is like Kim Kardashian.
Marketplace, American Public Media, January 29, 2014.
- Bitcoin Rides High on the Hill
Cato Daily Podcast, November 19, 2013.
- FBI Shuts Down Silk Road, but the ‘Deep Web’ Lives On
Forum, KQED, October 4, 2013.
- Regulation and Bitcoin
Cato Daily Podcast, August 27, 2013.
- Lawmakers, Banking Regulators Take On Bitcoin
All Things Considered, NPR, August 13, 2013.
- Bitcoin blow: U.S. government freezes funds to trade the digital currency
Marketplace, American Public Media, May 16, 2013.
- Bitcoin 101
Davis & Emmer, KTCN, April 25, 2013.
- World Conference on International Telecommunication,
Federal News Radio, December 4, 2012.
- Is international cyber warfare a real threat?,
On the Media, WNYC, December 2, 2011.
- Skeptics Question AT&T’s Logic In T-Mobile Deal,
All Things Considered, NPR, June 20, 2011.
- Podcast: Jerry Brito on a Career in Ideas,
Kosmos, September 10, 2010.
- Watching the Stimulus,
Cato Daily Podcast, December 9, 2009.
- A look at where stimulus spending is going,
Kojo Nnamdi Show, WAMU, December 7, 2009.
- New Features on Stimulus Watch 2.0,
Federal News Radio, November 25, 2009.
- $9.5 million contract to redesign Recovery.gov,
Federal News Radio, July 10, 2009.
- Making Stimulus Spending Transparent,
All Things Considered, NPR, April 20, 2009.
- Online transparency and future of local news,
Kojo Nnamdi Show, WAMU, March 23, 2009.
- A More Transparent Federal Government,
Cato Daily Podcast, March 11, 2009.
- Sunshine Week and Government Data,
Cato Daily Podcast, March 21, 2008.
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Television Interviews
- Coin Center’s Brito skeptical about Bitcoin creator claims
Reuters, May 2, 2016.
- Do digital currencies make it easier for terrorists to move money?
Fox News, November 20, 2015.
- Professor Bitcoin
VICE, January 8, 2014.
- Grieving father sees some relief in Silk Road closure
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, October 7, 2013.
- The Bitcoin Revolution,
Stossel, Fox Business, September 19, 2013.
- Why Bitcoin is Here to Stay: Q&A with Jerry Brito,
Reason TV, April 17, 2013.
- Bitcoin Goes Big,
Huffington Post Live, April 12, 2013.
- Fears About A New Copyright Alert,
Huffington Post Live, January 9, 2013.
- Why Copyright Law is so Mickey Mouse - And How to Fix It,
Reason TV, December 13, 2012.
- Who Rules The Internet?,
Huffington Post Live, December 4, 2012.
- Should the UN regulate the internet?,
Al Jazeera’s The Stream, November 29, 2012.
- Why Bitcoin Could Change the Shape of Currency,
Freedom Watch, Fox Business, November 22, 2012.
- Bitcoin virtual currency,
Al Jazeera’s The Stream, June 16, 2011.
- Bitcoin & the End of State-Controlled Money: Q&A with Jerry Brito,
Reason.tv, June 1, 2011.
- Tumbleroo for the iPad,
TWiT’s iPad Today, August 28 2010.
- Online earmark transparency,
Federal News Tonight, NewsChannel 8, March 18, 2010.
- Stimulus spending transparency,
Channel 9 News, November 17, 2009.
- Inside OpenRegs.com,
Federal News Tonight, NewsChannel 8, July 21, 2009.
- Redesigning Recovery.gov,
Fox and Friends, Fox News, July 10, 2009.
- House Testimony: Preventing Stimulus Waste and Fraud
C-SPAN, March 19, 2009.
- Bush’s Midnight Regulations,
NBC Nightly News, December 4, 2008.
- Lame Duck on the Clock,
CNN American Morning, November 20, 2008.
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Lectures & Panel Discussions
- Tech Innovations Building a Brighter Future
Atlas Network Freedom Forum, November 15, 2023
- Crypto and National Security: How to Validate American Innovation and Verify U.S. National Security
National Security Institute, March 30, 2022
- Cryptocurrencies: Money, Trust and Regulation
Federalist Society, February 24, 2022
- Blockchain in the Beltway, crypto at the Capitol
American Enterprise Institute, January 3, 2022
- Censorship Resistant Bitcoin as a Sponsor of Social Change
Harvard Law School Blockchain & Fintech Conference, March 4, 2021
- Trans-Atlantic Panel on Government and Privacy
Monero Konferenco & Zcon 1, June 22, 2019
- Legislating Certainty for Cryptocurrencies: Congressional Industry Convening
Library of Congress, September 25, 2018
- Main Stage Regulatory Update
Ethereum Devcon 3, October 23, 2017
- President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
The White House, July 6, 2016.
- What Coin Center Believes In and What We Do
Coin Center Annual Dinner, May 6, 2016.
- Where things Stand with Cryptocurrency & Public Policy
Cato Institute, April 12, 2016.
- Beyond Bitcoin
Brookings Institution, January 14, 2016.
- How the Blockchain Could Change Everything
Techonomy Policy, July 6, 2015.
- Debate: Is Bitcoin Here to Stay?
Third Way, March 20, 2015.
- Bitcoin Regulation: An Evolving Landscape
MIT Bitcoin Expo 2015, March 7, 2015.
- Foreign Affairs Cryptocurrency Policy Forum
Council on Foreign Relations, February 12, 2015.
- The Bitcoin Policy Prescription: Will Policymakers Get It Right (Again) Or Will Fear Stifle Innovation?
State of the Net Conference, January 23, 2015.
- Bitcoin: Beyond the Currency
Bloomberg, November 17, 2014.
- NYU Law Digital Currency Conference: Legal and Policy Issues
New York University School of Law, April 7, 2014.
- Let’s Get Real: Will You Ever Use Bitcoin at Walmart?
New America Foundation, February 11, 2014.
- Bitcoin: The Third Era of Currency
State of the Net Conference, January 28, 2014.
- Cell Phone Unlocking and Copyright
TechFreedom, June 17, 2013
- Laws of Creation: Property Rights in the World of Ideas
Cato Institute, March 20, 2013.
- Copyright Unbalanced: From Incentive to Excess
Cato Institute, December 6, 2012.
- The Search for Solutions: Looking Beyond Prescriptive Regulation
Congressional briefing, May 1, 2012.
- Hackers, Terrorists, and Rogue States: What Do They Mean for American Cybersecurity?
Congressional briefing, April 12, 2012.
- Cybersecurity: Will Federal Regulation Help?
Cato Institute, April 10, 2012.
- Panel on the Future of Government Transparency
Sunlight Foundation, April 29, 2010.
- Stimulating Accountability
Congressional briefing, March 17, 2009.
- The Dangers of Network Neutrality Regulation
Cato Institute, January 13, 2009.
- Just Give Us the Data! Prospects for Putting Government Information to Revolutionary New Uses
Cato Institute, December 10, 2008.
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