Coin Center Announces Departure of Founding Director and Senior Counsel by Year-End

Coin Center Announces Departure of Founding Director and Senior Counsel by Year-End

Jerry Brito, the founding executive director of Coin Center, has announced his resignation effective by the end of the year. His announcement was made on the organization’s website, where he confirmed that Robin Weisman, the senior policy counsel since Coin Center's inception, will also be leaving at the same time. Both will remain on the board to ensure continuity in leadership.

Peter Van Valkenburgh, currently the director of research, has been appointed as the new executive director, set to take over on January 1. Landon Zinda, who serves as policy counsel, will be promoted to policy director. Brito expressed confidence in Van Valkenburgh's capabilities, stating, “Peter understands Coin Center’s mission better than anyone, with unmatched expertise at the intersection of crypto and constitutional law.”

In his statement, Van Valkenburgh highlighted the importance of protecting digital civil liberties, especially in the current landscape. While Brito and Weisman did not reveal their future plans, Brito reflected on Coin Center’s achievements, noting, “Our goal was to secure time for Bitcoin to reach ‘escape velocity,’ and I believe we have succeeded.”

Coin Center has been at the forefront of advocating for regulatory frameworks that foster cryptocurrency innovation while addressing pertinent issues. The organization aims to educate policymakers on the benefits and risks of blockchain technology, influencing policies that promote technological advancement.

Earlier this year, Brito publicly rejected a request from Senator Elizabeth Warren to disclose the organization’s hiring practices, asserting that Coin Center is under “no obligation” beyond legal public disclosures. He also criticized Warren for her public statements against Coin Center.

Recently, Coin Center won an appeal to revisit a 2022 lawsuit against the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS. The lawsuit challenges a tax code amendment requiring reporting of digital asset transactions over $10,000, a move that privacy advocates argue amounts to financial surveillance.