Charles Hoskinson, a world leader in digital asset technology and entrepreneurship, will be the keynote speaker Friday, Sept. 23, at 6:15 p.m. to close the fifth annual Wyoming Blockchain Stampede and WyoHackathon at the University of Wyoming Conference Center.
Hoskinson, a Colorado-based entrepreneur and mathematician, has founded three cryptocurrency-related startups — Invictus Innovations, Ethereum and IOHK — and has held a variety of posts in both the public and private sectors. He was the founding chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation’s education committee and established the Cryptocurrency Research Group in 2013.
Hoskinson and IOHK have supported blockchain education efforts at UW, including the Center for Blockchain and Digital Innovation and the Wyoming Advanced Blockchain Lab. IOHK is the title sponsor of the Wyoming Blockchain Stampede.
Preceding Hoskinson’s talk, two leaders in digital assets — UW alumna Caitlin Long, the CEO and founder of Custodia Bank, a Wyoming special purpose depository institution; and Tamara Haasen, IOHK president — will discuss their experiences in “Women of Blockchain” at 5:30 p.m.
Long is a nationally recognized advocate for digital assets and helped the Wyoming Legislature pass nearly 30 blockchain laws. She also helped found the Wyoming Blockchain Stampede and WyoHackathon at UW. Haasen joined IOHK as corporate culture officer in 2017. A business developer with a focus on logistics and systems integrations, she works with companies to grow their businesses, helping to enhance internal communications and workflow by implementing creative and tech-driven systems.
Before the closing presentations, winners of the WyoHackathon and the 307 Startup Challenge will be announced starting at 5 p.m.
Featured events Friday are the Wyoming Cybersecurity Conference and Fincon, with a luncheon address by Gov. Mark Gordon. UW President Ed Seidel will introduce Gordon. Both the Wyoming Cybersecurity Conference and Fincon begin at 8 a.m.
Fincon speakers will discuss the impact of digital assets on the banking industry, such as the establishment of SPDIs, securities and commodities, accounting, currency, and state and federal regulations. A highlight will be a conversation between Commissioner Hester Pierce, of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and Sean Stein Smith, a professor at City University of New York-Lehman College.
“It’s About Identity” is the theme of the Wyoming Cybersecurity Conference. The keynote speaker is Erik Huffman, founder of Handshake Leadership, who will present “Applying Cyberpsychology to Your Life and Business.” Winners of the CyberWyoming Cybersecurity Competition for Small Businesses will be announced. They will talk about their experiences of going through the competition and what they learned.
A concert to conclude the weeklong Wyoming Blockchain Stampede will be performed by country musician and UW alumnus Chancey Williams at 8 p.m. in War Memorial Fieldhouse. The concert is free to students using the Wild Bunch app and for those who register and display nametags from the Wyoming Blockchain Stampede. Register online at www.uwyo.edu/stampede.