Learn more about the Bitcoin Policy Institute and our work in 2024.
The Bitcoin Policy Institute began nearly three years ago with a mission: to inform policymakers, journalists, and the public about Bitcoin and emerging monetary networks. In early 2022, we started publishing research and sparking dialogue about Bitcoin’s relevance for financial inclusion, global human rights, U.S. national security, economic competitiveness, and energy innovation. Our research demonstrated that Bitcoin is fundamentally distinct from other digital assets, likely to become increasingly geopolitically relevant, and that increased network adoption would promote American values and spread freedom worldwide.
At the same time, Bitcoin has faced an array of criticisms, often ill-informed or in bad faith, from lawmakers like Elizabeth Warren and various actors in the crypto industry. In the aftermath of FTX’s collapse, we met with hundreds of Congressional offices and civil society organizations to explain why Bitcoin would remain relevant despite the FTX’s implosion and a 70% drop in bitcoin’s price. During the bear market, we provided written analyses to the federal agencies tasked with researching digital assets and organized the first Bitcoin Policy Summit, a one-day conference focused on Bitcoin’s unique characteristics and the opportunities and risks that come from its wider adoption.
Since then, we’ve continued to advance our vision of how increased adoption of the Bitcoin network–coupled with sensible policy frameworks–can make the United States and the world freer, fairer, and more prosperous through novel policy-relevant research, educational events, and supporting a robust network of Bitcoin scholars through our fellowship program.
2024 was our most impactful year to date. Below are some of our key accomplishments:
BPI’s experts published 22 articles, including:
We released seven comprehensive briefs and reports to inform policymakers, including:
We launched a podcast and webinar series, using video formats to connect with broader audiences. Highlights include:
For the past two years, BPI has hosted a conference in Washington, DC for policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by digital currencies. Our 2024 Bitcoin Policy Summit built on last year’s success:
We launched the P2P Rights Fund to safeguard developers and users of non-custodial, peer-to-peer software from the prospect of damaging precedent in the US federal courts in the wake of the Tornado Cash and Samourai Wallet prosecutions. Our aim is to secure legal precedent that protects Americans’ rights to use non-custodial tools through intervention in civil and criminal court cases, our own strategic impact litigation, and no-cost educational resources for developers working on open-source, non-custodial software projects.
Highlights:
We’re researching a series of model policy proposals for consideration in the upcoming Presidential administration.
BPI supports nearly two-dozen Fellows. Throughout the year, we awarded grants to support their academic research, conference travel, and various initiatives that further our mission. You can learn more about our Fellows and their impactful scholarship by visiting our About Page. Here are some highlights of Fellows initiatives we supported this year:
Though much has been done, much remains. Despite receiving unprecedented attention on the national political stage and forging new all-time price highs, the Bitcoin network and its native asset are still widely misunderstood and strategically underappreciated.
BPI is dedicated to protecting the core rights of Bitcoin users, including the ability to mine, self-custody, run Bitcoin nodes, develop and operate decentralized open-source software, transact privately, peer-to-peer, and access banking services for lawful businesses.
To that end, BPI is better positioned than ever to spread our ideas and make a difference in 2025. We’re growing our team and opening a physical office in Washington, D.C. as part of a collaboration with PubKey. We hope to see you at the launch party!
Finally, we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit reliant entirely on donations to operate. If you like our work, we humbly ask you to consider making a tax-deductable gift to BPI. To everyone who engaged with our ideas, attended our events, shared our work, or donated this year: Thank you.
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