The Week In Crypto Policy: A Bitcoin Interview

Key Insights

• Bitcoin mining may incentivize renewable energy development by acting as a reliable “base load” whereby miners purchase excess green energy where there is a lack of demand, thus making green energy production profitable where it otherwise might not be.
• Based on Bitcoin Policy Institute's meetings with policymakers and their staffs, there is still a learning curve for lawmakers to overcome when it comes to having a nuanced understanding of Bitcoin and crypto generally, but there has been considerable progress in the last few years on the education front.
• One way to address Congress's concerns about illicit finance in crypto without hampering private, permissionless nature of blockchains would be to work with law enforcement to invest in and improve their blockchain analysis departments
• Creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in the U.S. has been picking up a lot of steam in D.C, but the details will likely be a significant source of contention politically.