Author Archives: Tessa Zavala

What’s happening? Illinois Lake County Treasurer is the first campaign to take crypto current campaign contributions. Why is this important? The FEC permits crypto currency contributions How will this be important? The tech friendly candidate sees crypto currency contributions as a way to bring the tech supporters, who are not active campaign contributors Government Technology […]

What’s happening? Pennsylvania has a  Emerging Technologies Caucus that is introducing a blockchain bill that would allow businesses in Pennsylvania to develop blockchain-based products Why is this important? Your bill drafting guides & talking points: H.B. 1370 “would establish a two-year financial technology sandbox program, which would allow the Department of Banking and Securities to work […]

What is happening? Texas Legislature passed the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act that prevents Texas from contracting with  foreign-owned companies from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran to protect the state’s critical infrastructure Why is this important? The bill also gives the Texas governor the authority to add countries to the list, with consultation by […]

What’s happening? Argo Blockchain, a Canadian cryptocurrency mining company, built a facility in Dickens County, Texas. Population 2300. The reason: Available cheap energy. Why is this important? Texas has a deregulated energy market, “which means customers can choose between different power providers and providers are thus incentivized to provide low rates.” This translates to long […]

What’s happening? During the 1st week of August, Miami’s MiamiCoin project launched & has already generated $1Million in revenue for Miami. Miami under current laws can only receive the revenue in dollars, and cannot own the crypto. Currently Miami gets 30% of the revenue MiamiCoin generates using specific MiamiCoin protocols. Why is this important? A […]

What’s happening? Sen. Amy Klobuchar introduced a bill this week to strip online platforms like Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. of liability protections if their technology spreads misinformation about coronavirus vaccines or other public-health emergencies. Why is this important? The bill tracks a report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate that says the majority of […]

What’s happening? On Tuesday it was announced by PolyNetowrk that hackers stole $600 million in various cryptocurrencies from its network. PolyNetwork asked the hackers to return the funds. As of this $4.8 million have been returned. Why is this important? How do you enforce when the crypto is stored by blockchain, in multiple parts on […]

What’s happening? Anchorage Digital won a DOJ contract to store and liquidate digital assets that federal law enforcement seizes following criminal investigations Why is this important? Anchorage Digital is also the 1st federally chartered bank for crypto How will this be important? This will also be an issue for state regulators and it’s super new. […]

What’s happening? NYC Council passed an ordinance requiring a delivery service to share customer service with restaurants. Council members say they are helping restaurants by passing this measure. Opponents say it is hasty and replete with unintended consequences. Why is this important? We’re relying more and more on delivery in this COVID world. How will […]

What’s happening? This week is was revealed that some EV chargers have a flaw that make them vulnerable to hackers. Why is this important? The security firm that identified the flaw says the flaw could have been exploited by a “malicious hacker to hijack user accounts, impede charging and even turn one of the chargers […]