Governor and Secretary of State Among Speakers at UW Blockchain Stampede

Gov. Mark Gordon and Secretary of State Chuck Gray will be among policymakers, industry experts and educators discussing how the state can benefit from innovative technologies during the 2024 Wyoming Blockchain Stampede Monday through Saturday, Sept. 16-21, at the University of Wyoming.

"Growing Wyoming" is the theme of the seventh annual event, presented by the UW Center for Blockchain and Digital Innovation (CBDI), featuring topics involving innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics; economic development; startups; fintech; cybersecurity; bitcoin mining; and digital assets, regulation and law.

Gray will be the featured luncheon keynote speaker at noon Wednesday, Sept. 18, while Gordon will be the featured luncheon keynote speaker at noon Thursday, Sept. 19, for the Wyoming Computing Symposium. Stampede events are free and open to the public, but there is limited seating for lunch, and preregistration is required. For registration information, to view the agenda and download the program, go to www.uwyo.edu/stampede.

Caitlin Long, founder and CEO of Cheyenne's Custodia Bank, which specializes in digital asset payment and custody solutions for U.S. businesses, will be the keynote speaker Wednesday, concluding a daylong schedule of panels, speakers and workshops in the Wyoming Union. Long will discuss the future of special purpose depository institutions and digital assets in Wyoming.

Other notable Wednesday speakers include Gabrielle Allen, UW School of Computing director; Anthony Apollo, Wyoming Stable Token Commission executive director; Dhruv Bansal, co-founder and lead technologist of Unchained Capital; Matthew Fields, CEO of Cheyenne-based VMAccel, a global AI infrastructure and platform company; Julie Hill, UW College of Law dean; Steve Lupien, the Ada Lovelace Director of the CBDI; Adam Ortolf, U.S./international business development manager of Upstream Data; Bradley Rettler, UW Bitcoin Research Institute director; Pierre Rochard, vice president of research for Riot Platforms; Wyoming state Sen. Chris Rothfuss, co-chair of the Select Committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology and Digital Innovation Technology; and Ed Seidel, UW president.

Also scheduled to speak are John Belitsky, chief strategy officer and co-founder of Balcony Technology; Jeremiah Bishop, Wyoming banking commissioner; Rocky Case, Manufacturing Works director; Jacqueline Cooper and Matt Rogers, both of the Blockchain Legal Institute; Betsey Hale, CEO of Cheyenne LEADS; Robert Jenkins, CEO of Dark Forge Solutions; Tyler Lindholm, Americans for Prosperity state director; Amanda Martinez, founder of ClimateChain; David Pope, a Wyoming Stable Token Commission member; Marko Ruble, co-founder and CEO of Yerguides.io; Kyle Schneps, vice president of public policy for Foundry; Ian Northon, co-founder and chief legal officer of Ocean; Colin Crossman, Wyoming deputy secretary of state; Mike Koelemay, vice president of AI at Foundry; Cody Harris, a bitcoin miner; Joe Mayo, a bitcoin miner and engineer; Alex Pruden, executive director of Aleo Foundation; Jack Terranova, co-founder of 44 West Mining; and Rachel Silverstein, founding partner of Firm 21m PLLC.

The week includes a meeting of the Wyoming Legislature's Select Committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology and Digital Innovation Technology Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 16-17; the UW College of Business Career Fair Wednesday, Sept. 18; the second Wyoming Computing Symposium, "Data Analytics and Computing Advances for Drone Applications," Thursday and Friday, Sept. 19-20; a meeting of the Wyoming Stable Token Commission Thursday, Sept. 19; the Stampede eSports Meetup and Competition Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20-21; and Cardano Day Saturday, Sept. 21.

Also, during the week, the CBDI Bitcoin Mining Initiative will host the Bitcoin Mining and Energy Summit with representatives of the bitcoin mining industry and energy sector.

The title sponsor of the stampede is IOG. Other sponsors include 44 West Mining, Aleo, Block Time Financial, CleanSpark, Custodia Bank, OwlTing Blockchain Services, VMAccel, the UW Bitcoin Research Institute, the UW College of Business, the UW Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the UW School of Computing and the UW School of Energy Resources.

To contact the Wyoming Blockchain Stampede, email [email protected]. Media representatives are welcome to attend the event.

Follow the Wyoming Blockchain Stampede and the CBDI on social media at https://x.com/WyoStampede @WyoStampede; https://x.com/uwyoblockchain @uwyoblockchain; and https://www.linkedin.com/company/uwcbdi/ @uwcbdi.

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