After four years of steering crypto regulations and financial market oversight, former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler is returning to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). According to a January 27 statement from the research university, his focus will now shift to artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, finance, and public policy. Gensler’s New Role “I am honored to return to MIT, whose faculty, staff, and students have long been at the cutting edge of research and technology,” Gensler said following his appointment. He added that he looks forward to collaborating with scholars at the institution to drive innovation and create a better future through AI, finance, and tech. Before leading the SEC, Gensler worked at Goldman Sachs and later became a professor at MIT, where he studied the impact of AI on financial systems and published research on the risks it could pose to global finance. In his new role, the 67-year-old will co-direct the FinTech AI @CSAIL initiative alongside Professor Andrew W. Lo. This program connects companies with MIT researchers to explore AI’s role in the financial industry. Additionally, the academic will collaborate with Nobel laureate Simon Johnson to teach a course on economic topics billed as being “of great importance to the global economy.” While Gensler’s new position lacks the regulatory authority he held as the financial watchdog’s head, it is expected to be influential. MIT maintains strong partnerships with U.S. tech firms and policymakers, potentially allowing him to continue shaping discussions around finance, AI, and crypto regulations in an academic capacity. Criticism and Concern However, the ex-chair’s return to the institution has not been well received by all. Devin Walsh, executive director and co-founder of the Uniswap Foundation, condemned the decision, stating she was “incredibly embarrassed and disappointed” by the school’s rehiring of Gensler. She highlighted that her introduction to crypto happened through MIT’s Digital Currency Initiative (mitDCI), suggesting that any student of his would be wasting their time, tuition, and energy if they hoped to learn about and support new and innovative technologies. During his tenure at the SEC, Gensler shaped crypto policy through a regulation-by-enforcement approach. Under his leadership, the agency initiated over 125 enforcement actions against crypto firms, classifying many cryptocurrencies, save for Bitcoin and Ethereum , as securities and thus falling under the regulator’s purview. His actions received much criticism from the industry, with some saying that they stifled innovation and created regulatory uncertainty. However, one of the bright lights of his reign was the approval last year of spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking Bitcoin and Ethereum. The post Former SEC Chair Gary Gensler Returns to MIT to Focus on AI and Finance appeared first on CryptoPotato .
Crypto Potato
You can visit the page to read the article.
Source: Crypto Potato
Disclaimer: The opinion expressed here is not investment advice – it is provided for informational purposes only. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of BitMaden. Every investment and all trading involves risk, so you should always perform your own research prior to making decisions. We do not recommend investing money you cannot afford to lose.
EigenLayer and Cartesi Team up on AI, DeFi for Mainstream Adoption
Leading Ethereum-based restaking protocol EigenLayer is teaming up with Cartesi – a modular blockchain protocol. The partnership aims to see core developers from both teams build innovative decentralized applications catering to mainstream users and accelerating adoption. According to a press release shared with CryptoPotato , Developers, including those with traditional Web2 backgrounds, will have the chance to leverage the combined strength of Cartesi’s Coprocessor powered by Linux with EigenLayre’s restaking protocol. Core devs from both teams will get in the trenches and ideate consumer-oriented dApps and new use cases. This will happen through an invite-only internal hackathon called Experiment Week #3, which will take place from February 10th to February 17th. Speaking on the partnership, Felipe Argento, co-founder and advisor at Cartesi, said: We saw so many mind-blowing projects built in the first two editions of Cartesi Experiment Week, and I’m beyond excited for what’s in store this time – especially with a giant like EigenLayer joining the fun!” On the other hand, the Director of Developer Advocacy at EigenLayer, Nader Dabit, said: We are thrilled to partner with Cartesi for this hackathon. Their Linux-powered rollups enable developers to build complex on-chain applications with familiar tools. This event will showcase the incredible potential of Cartesi’s technology to push the boundaries of what’s possible in Web3.” The post EigenLayer and Cartesi Team up on AI, DeFi for Mainstream Adoption appeared first on CryptoPotato . Crypto Potato
The U.S. States` Bitcoin Reserve Race Heats Up
The Deputy Minority Leader in the Illinois House of Representatives, John Cabello, has introduced a bill to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR). This initiative, along with several similar proposals, has caught the attention of Dennis Porter, CEO of the Satoshi Action Fund. His organization advocates for the first cryptocurrency within political and business circles across the country. In December 2024, Porter outlined a mechanism through which President Donald Trump could finance the creation of a federal SBR before Congress enacts any legislative changes. He noted that if federal authorities do not expedite the establishment of the fund, they would initiate a ”wave of SBRs” at the state level. In January, as part of fulfilling campaign promises, Trump announced the formation of a task force on digital assets led by special advisor on AI and cryptocurrencies David Sachs. One of the group`s objectives is to assess the feasibility of implementing an SBR. In a recent interview, the official confirmed that they are ”studying” the issue. The largest publicly traded miner by market capitalization, MARA Holdings, has joined efforts to lobby for the creation of Bitcoin reserves at both federal and all 50 state levels. Illinois John Cabello`s proposal calls for creating a fund managed by the state treasurer. Deposits in digital gold will be held for no less than five years, during which any Bitcoins in the reserves cannot be transferred, sold, or converted into other assets. The structure will be able to accept voluntary donations in the first cryptocurrency. Cabello proposed regular audits every two years. As a security measure, he deems it necessary to utilize cold storage for the coins. Ohio House Majority Leader Steve Demetriou has introduced a new bill to create an SBR, co-authored by six other state congressmen. A similar initiative was first proposed in December by Republican Derek Merrin. Key features of Demetriou`s proposal include: The state may allocate up to 10% of its stabilization fund for Bitcoin investments. The structure employs reliable custodial solutions with self-custody. Only assets with a market capitalization of at least $750 million can be included in the reserve. The bill uses the neutral term ”digital asset” to reduce political friction. ”We fully support and endorse this act and will work closely with its authors and supporters to make it a reality,” stated Porter. Arizona, Utah, Texas, and Others In Arizona, the bill to establish an SBR was the first among states to pass through a relevant committee. The document will soon be put to a Senate vote. Republicans Wendy Rogers and Jeff Weninger are co-sponsors of this proposal. The Utah Senate was second in this regard — its SBR document has also exited committee. In South Dakota, a bill regarding a Bitcoin fund has just begun its journey in Congress—registered by Representative Logan Manhart. In Texas, the lieutenant governor declared the creation of an SBR as a ”priority,” noted Porter. The corresponding act was submitted to the House of Representatives back in December. ”We are moving very quickly,” summarized Porter regarding recent developments on this topic. At the end of January, Arizona`s Congress introduced a bill allowing local government and pension funds to invest in Bitcoin. A similar initiative was proposed in Indiana. The organization The Bitcoin Conference reported that there are currently 10 states where legislative acts concerning the first cryptocurrency have already been introduced. Analysts from Fidelity Digital Assets believe that national adoption of Bitcoin in 2025 will serve as a powerful driver for this digital asset. Crypto Potato