10.24.2024 // USC Capital Campus in Washington, D.C.
Where Privacy,
Innovation, and
Policy Converge

Join us for
the inaugural
DC Privacy Summit

This groundbreaking event will explore the intersection of decentralized networks, advanced cryptography, and the law.

Emerging cryptographic privacy systems challenge the traditional regulatory mindset. The DC Privacy Summit will explore new approaches to managing illicit finance risk. It will foster a new dialogue between technologists, privacy advocates, and policy-minded professionals.

In-Depth Discussions

Engage with leading thinkers and technologists on the future of privacy online, and how recent advancements create novel challenges and opportunities for policymakers.

Spotlight on Innovation

Learn about breakthrough privacy technologies that have emerged from the world of blockchains and cryptocurrency—and how they could play a role in online privacy as well as financial compliance.

Envision the Future

Imagine a new design space for internet privacy and rules that shape the digital world.

Speakers

an elite lineup of Experts in policy and privacy.
Carole House

Carole House

White House, National Security Council Special Advisor for Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Policy

Biography

Faryar Shirzad

Faryar Shirzad

Chief Policy Officer, Coinbase

Biography

Michael Mosier

Michael Mosier

Co-Founder, Arktouros pllc

Biography

Rebecca Rettig

Rebecca Rettig

Chief Legal & Policy Officer, Polygon Labs

Biography

Josh Swihart

Josh Swihart

CEO, Electric Coin Company, creators and supporters of Zcash

Biography

Marta Belcher

Marta Belcher

President and Chair, Filecoin Foundation and Filecoin Foundation for the Decentralized Web

Biography

Nikhil Raghuveera

Nikhil Raghuveera

CEO, Predicate

Biography

Michele Korver

Michele Korver

Head of Regulatory, a16z crypto

Biography

Shashank Agrawal

Shashank Agrawal

Blockchain Security Research Engineering Manager, Coinbase

Biography

Tony Johnson

Tony Johnson

President & CEO, Truman Center

Biography

Asha Shankar

Asha Shankar

Privacy Program Management, Coinbase

Biography

Jay Stanley

Jay Stanley

Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, American Civil Liberties Union

Biography

Leena Im

Leena Im

VP Policy and Chief Strategy Officer, Aleo Ventures

Biography

Allison Behuniak

Allison Behuniak

Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion for Chairman Patrick McHenry on the United States House Committee on Financial Services

Biography

Zak Cole

Zak Cole

Cofounder, 0xbow

Biography

Paul Brigner

Paul Brigner

Head of Coinbase Institute

Biography

Ameen Soleimani

Ameen Soleimani

Strategic Advisor, 0xbow

Biography

Katherine Kirkpatrick Bos

Katherine Kirkpatrick Bos

General Counsel, Starkware

Biography

Justin Thaler

Justin Thaler

Research Partner, a16z

Biography

Peter Van Valkenburgh

Peter Van Valkenburgh

Research Director, Coin Center

Biography

Eric Chung

Eric Chung

Managing Director, VanEck Digital Assets (VEDA) Initiative – Marshall School of Business Adjunct Professor, Information Technology Program – Viterbi School of Engineering

Biography

Zooko Wilcox

Zooko Wilcox

Head of Product, Shielded Labs

Biography

Paul Brody

Paul Brody

Principal & Global Blockchain Leader, Ernst & Young

Biography

Miller Whitehouse-Levine

Miller Whitehouse-Levine

CEO, DeFi Education Fund

Biography

Mike Orcutt

Mike Orcutt

Journalist and Editor, Project Glitch

Biography

Casey Wagner

Casey Wagner

Senior Reporter, Blockworks

Biography

Nikhilesh De

Nikhilesh De

Managing Editor for Global Policy and Regulation, CoinDesk

Biography

Michael Reilly

Michael Reilly

Editor, Project Glitch

Biography

Agenda

The full agenda will be available at the summit. Programming occurs 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM EST.
9:30 AM
Kickoff

Featuring Paul Brigner, Head of Coinbase Institute, Geoffrey Garrett, Dean of the USC Marshall School of Business, and Eric Chung, Managing Director of the VanEck Digital Assets (VEDA) Initiative at USC Marshall School of Business.

9:45 AM
Why Tornado Cash matters

Featuring Peter Van Valkenburgh, Director of Research at Coin Center

10:10 AM
“Genuine” DeFi and a new opportunity for policymakers: Why old approaches to KYC/AML are a bad fit for decentralized systems—and a bold new proposal.

Featuring Rebecca Rettig, chief legal and policy officer at Polygon Labs, and Michael Mosier, cofounder of Arktouros PLLC. Moderated by Mike Orcutt, editor at Project Glitch

10:45 AM
What are zero-knowledge proofs? And why do they matter beyond crypto?

Featuring Zooko Wilcox, head of product at Shielded Labs

11:15 AM
Spotlight on 0xbow: How zero-knowledge proofs can be used to balance privacy and compliance

Featuring Zak Cole, cofounder of 0xbow, and Ameen Soleimani, strategic advisor to 0xbow

11:45 AM
Achieving privacy, compliance, and decentralization 

Featuring Leena Im, VP of policy at Aleo, and Nikhil Raghuveera CEO and cofounder of Aethos

12:15 PM
Lessons from Zcash

Featuring Josh Swihart, CEO of the Electric Coin Company

1:35 PM
Coinbase’s long view on privacy

Shashank Agrawal, Blockchain Security Research Engineering Manager Asha Shankar, Senior Manager, Privacy Program Management

2:00 PM
The science of zero-knowledge: How blockchains helped catalyze a revolution in zero-knowledge cryptography—and where it’s all headed.

Featuring Justin Thaler, research partner at a16z Crypto. Fireside with Mike Orcutt

2:35 PM
Institutions want onchain privacy, too.

Paul Brody, global blockchain leader at EY

3:05 PM
An inflection point for privacy rights

Featuring Marta Belcher, president of the Filecoin Foundation, and Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst at the ACLU. Moderated by Michael Reilly, editor at Project Glitch

3:35 PM
Keynote: Carole House, Special Advisor for Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Policy at the White House National Security Council

Introduced by Tony Johnson, CEO of the Truman Center.

4:00 PM
Crypto-privacy on the policy agenda: What comes next?

Featuring Miller Whitehouse-Levine, CEO of the DeFi Education Fund, Allison Behuniak, staff director of the House Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Inclusion for Chairman Patrick McHenry of the House Financial Services Committee, Michele Korver, head of regulatory, a16z Crypto, and Katherine Kirkpatrick Bos, chief legal officer at Starkware. Moderated by Nikhilesh De, managing editor for global policy and regulation at CoinDesk.

Sponsors

Join a range of sponsors committed to advancing privacy and technology.

Venue

USC Capital Campus
1771 N Street NW Washington, D.C.

Modern Venue

Building on USC’s existing strengths as one of the nation’s leading universities for ideas, research and innovation, the new campus in Washington, D.C., will significantly expand opportunities for experts, thought-leaders, faculty, students and alumni to serve the public good.

Influential Events

The mission of USC’s Capital Campus is to accelerate our influence and impact, promote and develop strong leaders, and forge critical partnerships to address the nation’s most pressing issues and opportunities.

Central Hub of Policy

USC has led the charge in the development of Southern California for more than 150 years, and in Washington, D.C., our longstanding commitment to quality and excellence expands our important role in the development of the nation and the world.