The North Carolina Blockchain Initiative
Dedicated to education, innovation, and economic development for web3 technologies in the state of North Carolina
Get Involved
Are you interested in getting involved with the North Carolina Blockchain Initiative?
Education Webinars
The North Carolina Blockchain Initiative has an ongoing series of webinars. View the recordings at our Youtube channel.
North Carolina Blockchain Companies
Are you an organization operating in North Carolina working with blockchain technology? Please let us know!
Latest Updates
The North Carolina Blockchain Initiative strongly opposes draft Senate Bill 774, Prohibit Crypto-Mining as Authorized Use (SB 774), sponsored by Senator Tim Moffitt.
SB 774 would ban cryptocurrency mining entirely in Henderson, Polk, and Rutherford Counties. As outlined in the attached letter to Senator Moffitt, the NCBI would welcome an opportunity to aid North Carolina Senate Republicans (and the North Carolina General Assembly at large) in considering alternative solutions to proposed bans and moratoriums against crypto-mining.
SB 774 and similarly drafted bills will continue to significantly curtail the growth of a promising (and unfairly maligned) industry in North Carolina and infringe upon digital property rights.
Read our letter to Senator Moffit
Statement from North Carolina Blockchain Initiative on 2/6/2024:
“Despite the digital asset industry’s genuine efforts in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rulemaking process, the new ‘dealer’ definition falls short, ignoring key concerns and imposing unworkable standards.
By shifting to an unclear ‘de facto’ market maker focus, it threatens DeFi projects, lacks clarity for participants, and risks stifling innovation in the digital asset space.”
North Carolina Blockchain Initiative Files Comment to Treasury’s Proposed Broker Regulation
Read the Proposal
North Carolina Blockchain Initiative Announces Two New Appointments and Outlines Legislative Updates
Read the Release
Media: North Carolina closer to holding crypto on its balance sheet
Read the Article on Blockworks
The NCBI Urges the North Carolina Utilities Commission to Oppose Rate Hikes
Read the Statement
North Carolina Blockchain Initiative Announces New Appointments and Strategy for 2023-24
Read the Press Release
North Carolina Blockchain Initiative Urges
Buncombe County Planning Board and Board of Commissioners to
Consider Alternative Solutions to Proposed Moratorium
Read the full statement from the North Carolina Blockchain Initiative
Bitcoin Mining Educational Tour
The North Carolina Blockchain Initiative has started a series of mining facility tours for policy makers to help educate on what is actually happening in the world of crypto mining. These tours are a place to get questions answered and understand the real impact of mining on local communities. Most recently, we hosted Congressman, and Senate candidate, Ted Budd to HM Tech in Graham, NC. We thank Tobias Barbir, The Coin Dad, Gerald Wilkie, President of HM Tech, for hosting the tour and providing an exceptional educational experience.
Tours with officials from all levels of the North Carolina state government are on going and non-partisan. Please contact us if you are interested in learning more
North Carolina Regulatory Sandbox Act of 2021
The North Carolina Blockchain Initiative is pleased to have helped with the passage of the North Carolina Regulatory Sandbox Act of 2021.
Washington D.C. Fact Finding Mission
The North Carolina Blockchain Initiative embarked on a “fact-finding” mission to various federal and international agencies in Washington D.C.. Our goal was to better understand the stances of these offices, concerns they have, and opportunities they see with bitcoin and blockchain in general.
NCBI at IMF and World Bank
Upcoming Events
- Blockchain Education Day at the Legislature
Spring 2024 - Interstate Policy Summit
Various Dates 2024
If you are or represent an elected official or are a senior executive at a North Carolina based instution and are interested in an educational tour of a bitcoin mining facility or participation in one of our events, please contact us at hello@ncblockchain.tech.
About
The North Carolina Blockchain Initiative was originally formed in 2019 by Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest to help advance the unique attributes and use-cases of blockchain technology, virtual assets, smart contracts and digital tokens in the state.
North Carolina has been a leader in innovation and the initiative is intended to ensure the state stays ahead of the curve. Back in 2016, the state became an early mover on blockchain legislation, passing into law House Bill 289 that expanded the state’s Money Transmitters Act to cover activities related to bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
North Carolina Blockchain Initiative Co-Chairs
Dan Spuller
Co-Chair
Daniel Spuller serves as Head of Industry Affairs for the Washington-based Blockchain Association and holds a strong background in public policy and regulatory affairs. From 2016-2020, Dan led membership growth at the Chamber of Digital Commerce, and previously held senior-level positions in North Carolina’s Department of Commerce and Department of Transportation. Beginning in 2015, he was instrumental in facilitating negotiations with the Office of the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks that successfully drove a multi-stakeholder campaign leading to the passage of America’s first comprehensive blockchain-related legislation through the North Carolina Money Transmitters Act of 2016.
Eric Porper
Co-Chair
Eric Porper is a lifelong entrepreneur focusing on emerging technologies helping companies in all stages of commercialization. Eric is passionate about solving real-world problems while making complex technology accessible to the masses. As Eric proudly serves as a co-chairs of the North Carolina Blockchain Initiative. He is currently co-founder of Emblem Vault and Unboxed Venture Studio based on of Durham, NC. As part of Unboxed, Eric is helping expand access to opportunity for the North Carolina start-up and investment ecosystem. By focusing on incubation and venture building in emerging technologies, Eric hopes his contributions make North Carolina the most sought after technology destination in the country.
Stuart Russell
Co-Chair
Stuart Russell is an attorney with Truliant Federal Credit Union, where he provides advice on a variety of regulatory, contractual, litigation, and business matters. Stuart has been practicing law since 2004 and has written articles for Bitcoin Magazine and Cointelegraph Magazine. Stuartalso serves on the North Carolina Blockchain Initiative Task Force, which was originally formed in 2019 by North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest and continues its work under North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson. Stuart is a graduate of Duke University and the Duke University School of Law.
2023 Industry Sector Advisors
In addition to the three co-chairs, the North Carolina Blockchain Initiative would like to recognize the following appointees for providing subject-matter expertise and support in the creation of this task force.
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Agnes Gambill West (Legal Innovation & Technology) – Gambill West is a professor at Appalachian State University, a visiting senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center, an appointee to the North Carolina Innovation Council, a member of the Business and Consumer Payments Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and a former NCBI Co-Chair. She is a reappointment to the task force.
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John Bridge (Artificial Intelligence) – Bridge is President of government security at Trust Stamp, and has 34 years of law enforcement and military experience, including 25 years with United States Marshals Service. He is a reappointment to the task force.
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Faruk Okcetin (Web3) – Okcetin is a seasoned entrepreneur starting over 10 different businesses over the last 29 years, currently the Director of Operations at Zeto Inc., a medical device manufacturer. He is a reappointment to the task force.
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Jai Arun Singh (Web3 Technology) Singh is the co-author of Blockchain for Business, and is an executive with IBM in Research Triangle Park. He is a reappointment to the task force.
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Gerald Wilkie (Bitcoin Mining Specialist) – Gerald brings over 10 years of mining experience to the task force. He founded HMTech in 2014 when he left the corporate world, and he now runs a 12MW hosting facility in Graham. Out of the same facility they operate the largest ASIC repair facility in North America with certifications from all major manufacturers. He is a new appointment to the task force.
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Tobias Barbir (Bitcoin Mining Specialist) – Barbir founded the International Bitcoin Mining Museum. He is a new appointment to the task force.
Contact Us
Have Questions? Let us know!