Coin Center is a non-profit research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., that focuses on public policy issues concerning cryptocurrencies and decentralized computing technologies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The organization engages in research, education, policy advocacy, and litigation to promote regulatory approaches that support innovation while protecting individual rights such as financial privacy and autonomy. ^{[1] [2]}​

Overview and Mission

Coin Center operates as a policy think tank and cryptocurrency lobby group with the primary goal of defending the rights of individuals to build, use, and innovate on free and open cryptocurrency networks. ^{[2] [3]}

The organization is a prominent voice in Washington, D.C., working to educate policymakers, the media, and the public on the complexities and benefits of decentralized technologies. Its work is founded on the belief that these technologies are not merely financial instruments but are a new form of critical infrastructure. ^[1]​

The organization's mission is defined by the defense of three core digital civil liberties: ^[2]​

• The right for individuals to write, publish, read, and run open-source software code.
• The right for individuals to freely assemble and connect through peer-to-peer networks.
• The right to privacy in one's personal and financial affairs while using these networks.

Central to Coin Center's philosophy is the view that the "true value of crypto networks lies in their character as utility-like public goods," distinct from services operated by private, centralized entities. This perspective informs its advocacy for clear and proactive regulatory frameworks that treat these networks as essential public infrastructure rather than as traditional financial service providers. ^[3]​

History and Founding

Coin Center was co-founded by Jerry Brito and Robin Weisman. ^[2] Located in Washington, D.C., the organization was established to serve as a dedicated resource for policymakers navigating the emergent field of cryptocurrency.

Its presence in the nation's capital facilitates direct engagement with legislative bodies, regulatory agencies, and other influential governmental entities to shape developing policy and legislation. ^[1]​

Key Personnel

Coin Center is led by a team of directors, overseen by a board of directors, and supported by a group of fellows with expertise in law, technology, and economics. ^[2]​

Founders

• Jerry Brito: A co-founder of Coin Center, Brito also serves on its Board of Directors. He is a key figure in shaping the organization's strategic direction and advocacy efforts. ^[2]
• Robin Weisman: A co-founder of Coin Center, Weisman also holds a position on the Board of Directors, contributing to the organization's governance and long-term vision. ^[2]

Executive Team

The day-to-day operations and strategic execution of Coin Center's mission are managed by its executive team: ^[2]​

• Peter Van Valkenburgh: Serves as the Executive Director.
• Jason Somensatto: Holds the position of Director of Policy.
• Antonie Hodge: Manages the organization as the Operations Director.
• Neeraj Agrawal: Leads public-facing messaging as the Communications Director.
• Lizandro (Laz) Pieper: Directs the organization's research initiatives as Director of Research.
• Alex Sternhell: Acts as Outside Counsel for the organization.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors provides oversight and guidance, comprising influential figures from the technology and cryptocurrency sectors: ^[2]​

• Alex Morcos: Co-founder of Chaincode Labs and Hudson River Trading, and a contributor to the Bitcoin Core software project.
• Balaji Srinivasan: An angel investor and entrepreneur known for his work in the technology industry.
• Wences Casares: An Executive Chairman and Founder in the technology space.
• Robin Weisman: Co-founder of Coin Center.
• Jerry Brito: Co-founder of Coin Center.

Fellows

Coin Center's fellows program includes academics and industry professionals who contribute their expertise to the organization's research and policy work: ^[2]​

• Michael Lewellen: Head of Solutions Architecture at the blockchain security firm OpenZeppelin.
• Andrea O’Sullivan: Director of Technology and Innovation at the James Madison Institute.
• Houman Shadab: A Professor of Law at New York Law School.
• Elizabeth Stark: Co-founder of Lightning Labs, which develops the Lightning Network, and a former lecturer at Yale Law School.
• Abraham Sutherland: An Adjunct Professor at the University of Virginia Law School.

Core Activities

Coin Center's work is divided into four main pillars: research, education, advocacy, and litigation. These activities work in concert to inform and influence public policy related to cryptocurrency. ^{[1] [2]}​

Research and Education

A fundamental part of Coin Center's mission is conducting and publishing in-depth research on the intersection of decentralized technologies and public policy. The organization produces reports, analyses, and explainers that break down complex technical and legal topics for a non-technical audience. An example of its published work includes the report "Tear Down this Walled Garden: American Values and Digital Identity." ^[1]​

The organization's educational efforts are aimed at policymakers, their staff, regulators, and the media. It creates materials covering foundational concepts such as the mechanics of cryptocurrency, the principles of open blockchains, and potential regulatory frameworks for assets like Bitcoin.

This work is intended to build a baseline of understanding among decision-makers, enabling more informed and effective policymaking. ^[2]​

Policy Advocacy

Coin Center actively engages in advocacy by directly interacting with policymakers and legislative bodies in Washington, D.C. This work involves providing testimony, submitting comments on proposed rulemaking, and holding briefings to explain the potential consequences of various policy approaches. The organization focuses its advocacy on six key areas: ^[2]​

• Financial Surveillance: It advocates against policies that would impose disproportionate financial monitoring and reporting requirements on users of open blockchain networks, arguing such measures could undermine privacy and chill innovation.
• Privacy & Autonomy: The organization defends the right to financial privacy and individual control over one's assets, a core tenet of decentralized technologies.
• Innovation Policy: Coin Center promotes government policies that create a permissive environment for new technologies to develop, arguing against premature or overly restrictive regulations that could stifle experimentation.
• Consumer Protection: It works to ensure that users are protected from fraud and abuse without implementing rules that would compromise the open and permissionless nature of cryptocurrency networks.
• Investor Protection: The organization addresses issues related to the protection of individuals investing in digital assets, often advocating for clarity in regulations so that investors can make informed decisions.
• Tax Policy: Coin Center seeks to influence the development of clear, fair, and workable tax laws and guidance for cryptocurrencies to reduce the compliance burden on users and foster broader adoption.

Litigation

When advocacy and education are insufficient, Coin Center engages in strategic litigation to defend digital civil liberties in court.

The organization challenges government actions or regulations that it believes are unconstitutional, over-reaching, or harmful to cryptocurrency users and developers.

This legal action serves as a critical check on regulatory overstep and aims to set legal precedents that protect the rights of individuals to write code, operate nodes, and transact privately on open networks. ^{[2] [1]}​

Policy Stances and Notable Actions

Coin Center is known for its principled and consistent positions on key regulatory issues, particularly concerning the role of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Stance on SEC Regulation

The organization has been a vocal proponent for the SEC to establish clear, industry-wide rules for cryptocurrency rather than relying on a case-by-case enforcement approach or the issuance of no-action letters to specific projects.

Coin Center argues that this individualized approach creates significant regulatory uncertainty, which can hinder innovation and lead to an uneven playing field. In its view, this method unfairly benefits projects with the financial and legal resources to engage in lengthy, expensive negotiations with regulators, while disadvantaging smaller developers and startups. This dynamic leads to market fragmentation and an inconsistent application of the law. ^[3]​

March 2026 Letter to the SEC

In a notable advocacy action, Coin Center sent a formal letter to the SEC on March 5, 2026. The letter, which was made public on March 17, 2026, articulated the organization's arguments against the SEC's continued reliance on no-action letters.

It urged the commission to shift its strategy toward a formal rulemaking process to create a predictable and fair regulatory environment for the entire digital asset industry.

This action highlighted Coin Center's role as a direct interlocutor with major federal regulators on behalf of the cryptocurrency community. ^[3]​