Joining Paradigm

I’m delighted to announce that I’m joining Paradigm as a Scholar in Residence and Senior Advisor, working with Fred, Matt, and the rest of the team as they tackle some of the most interesting and exciting developments in crypto.

Doing good research on crypto, whether it be at a world-class university or a world-class investment firm, requires more than just hard work and curiosity. It also requires sharing insights and expertise both within an organization—and across the wider ecosystem. If you don’t have engineers talking to regulators talking to economists talking to start-ups, society is going to miss something, and probably something big. It’s a lesson I’ve learned over my career researching innovation and the law, and creating internationally respected forums for engaging regulators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and thought leaders.

Which is exactly why I’m looking forward to working with and learning from Paradigm’s community of preeminent researchers and engineers. All stakeholders—startups, investors, regulators, and yes, even academics—need better tools, frameworks, and information for guiding and assessing the development of technology poised to transform the digital economy. Combining sophisticated legal tools with top-flight technologists and builders will be essential to asking good questions, and getting the right answers.

In the months ahead, I’ll be spending a lot of time with the Paradigm team on technology and financial regulation, as well as exploring crypto’s capacity to advance financial inclusion in ways that serve more people effectively. It’s my belief that distributed technologies may eventually have the potential to deliver opportunities that legacy systems cannot. But unlocking that potential is not just a technological exercise. It requires time and patience—and thinking creatively about technology, regulatory policy, and the myriad future sources of adoption, demand, and need. I’m thrilled to jump headfirst into that adventure.