Bitcoin Foundation Retains Thorsen French Advocacy as Outside Lobbying Firm
WASHINGTON, D.C. (PRWEB) July 09, 2014 -- The Bitcoin Foundation has retained Thorsen French Advocacy, a consulting firm specializing in representation of clients on Capitol Hill, as outside lobbyists. Alec French and Carl Thorsen will introduce Bitcoin and the Bitcoin Foundation to key lawmakers and staff, explaining the benefits that Bitcoin offers for global financial inclusion, consumer privacy, monetary stability and human liberty. Alec French formerly served as Democratic House Judiciary Committee counsel and has a deep background in technology policy issues. Carl Thorsen was general counsel to the House majority leader and a Justice Department official during the Bush Administration.
“When governments are properly informed about Bitcoin’s promise, the technology’s social and economic benefits are recognized and its rapid innovation and adoption will increase,” said Jon Matonis, Executive Director of the Bitcoin Foundation.
Thorsen and French will work under the strategic direction of Jim Harper, the Bitcoin Foundation’s Global Policy Counsel. Harper adds, “The lawmakers and regulators who have studied Bitcoin take the sensible position that government should seek its benefits and mitigate its risks. We’re carrying this message to Capitol Hill so the Bitcoin community can focus on building tools and services that enrich and improve people’s lives around the world.”
Since its founding in September, 2012, the Bitcoin Foundation has educated regulators and lawmakers about Bitcoin in both private meetings and in public comments and testimonies. During that time, a variety of government pronouncements and hearings have established Bitcoin as a significant and well-recognized financial technology innovation.
With Bitcoin's legitimacy firmly established, Thorsen French will continue to expand awareness and recognition of the Bitcoin community, the Bitcoin protocol, and its benefits. This will discourage uninformed negative treatment of Bitcoin and lay the groundwork for law and policy changes that both maintain Bitcoin’s independence and permit Bitcoin’s fuller integration into mainstream financial services systems.
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ABOUT // The Bitcoin Foundation is a member-driven non-profit organization dedicated to serving the technology, public policy and educational needs of the Bitcoin community. The Foundation works to promote, protect and standardize the Bitcoin protocol and software, broaden the use of Bitcoin through public education, foster a safe and sane legal and regulatory environment, and support local Bitcoin efforts by connecting a network of Bitcoin communities worldwide. Think Globally, Act Locally. Join us!
CONTACT:
Jinyoung Lee Englund
Director of Marketing & Communications
Bitcoin Foundation
press(at)bitcoinfoundation.org
@BTCFoundation
Jinyoung Lee Englund, The Bitcoin Foundation, http://www.bitcoinfoundation.org, +1 206-422-3828, [email protected]
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