The Institute for Education’s inaugural Blockchain & Web3 dinner program kicked off March 7th, at the elegant Luxembourg Embassy, hosted by H.E. Nicole Bintner-Bakshian, Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
The conversation sought to build a shared understanding of the range of applications for blockchains present and future — from the much-discussed virtual currencies and NFTs to other areas that Web3 might disrupt and evolve defense, logistics, and even telecommunications. The discussion also covered how the events playing out in Ukraine, from direct aid to sanctions consideration, implicated these new truly disintermediated technologies. Participants also engaged in a lively debate on the many ways that governments worldwide were taking an interest — and a range of approaches — to public policy surrounding the technology.
The discussion was particularly timely on the eve of the White House’s release of a new Executive Order on cryptocurrencies, a clear sign that these innovations will continue to be at the forefront of economic, national security, and other dialogues for years to come. On that note, there was broad agreement that discussions are bringing together the U.S. government, the private sector, academia, and the diplomatic corps on this topic were overdue and of great value. The series should continue to deepen the dialogue.
Just as engrossing as the conversation was the delectable cuisine, carefully prepared by the Embassy’s culinary staff: starting with Chesapeake crab cakes Wasabi micro herbs, Filet mignon, black truffle sauce Gromperekichelcher and okra, and Valrona chocolate and raspberry tartelette, accompanied by a Riesling 2018 Vin de Luxembourg AOP Moselle Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Hedges Family Estate, Columbia Valley.
SPOTTED: H.E. Nicole Bintner-Bakshian, Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; Gilles Bauer, DCM Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; Max Dickinson; Dr. R. David Edelman; John Paul Farmer; H.E. André Haspels, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Clémence Igot; Mike Katz; Elizabeth Kelly; Coach Kathy Kemper; H.E. Kristjan Prikk, Ambassador of Estonia; Justin Slaughter; H.E. Georg Sparber Ambassador of the Principality of Liechtenstein; and special guest Dr. Tomicah Tillemann.
