Share this article
Jihan Wu to Talk Central Bank Crypto at DC Summit
The Chamber of Digital Commerce's D.C. Blockchain Summit will also host notable speakers from the public and private sectors.
Updated Sep 13, 2021, 7:38 a.m. Published Mar 6, 2018, 7:55 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
Sparks, meet lighter fluid.
Jihan Wu, the controversial co-CEO of bitcoin mining hardware maker Bitmain, will discuss the idea of central bank digital currencies in a speech Wednesday, a source told CoinDesk.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Wu is perhaps the most highly-anticipated speaker at the three-day D.C. Blockchain Summit, which kicked off on Tuesday with a developer event.
Named as one of CoinDesk's Most Influential in Blockchain for 2017, Wu is at the head of the world's largest provider of bitcoin mining hardware, which analysts have estimated made as much as $4 billion in profits last year, according to Fortune. Depending on who you ask, Wu is either Enemy Number One or, in the words of Roger Ver, someone who has "poured his life and soul into this for years."
Wu's chosen topic – central bank-issued digital currencies – is perhaps just as controversial. A number of institutions worldwide have looked at the question of a central bank using the tech that underlies bitcoin to further digitize their money. Yet despite support from quarters of the finance community, observers say that 2018 is unlikely to be the year that such a launch takes place.
DC set for summit
Wu's appearance forms part of a wider event in D.C., which will see regulators, government officials, startups and business leaders converge to talk blockchain and cryptocurrency.
The conference is being organized by Chamber of Digital Commerce and Georgetown University’s Center for Financial Markets and Policy. In anticipation of the three-day event, the Chamber also released a white paper regarding intellectual property issues and blockchain.
Government officials are also among the notable attendees, including James Sullivan, the deputy assistant secretary for services at the International Trade Administration, which falls within the purview of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Other officials scheduled to speak will be familiar faces to the crypto industry by now, including CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz and Representatives Emmer and Schweikert of the Congressional Blockchain Caucus, all of whom have previously weighed in on crypto regulation.
Image via YouTube
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
How a 'perpetual’ stock trick could solve Michael Saylor’s $8 billion debt problem
The bitcoin treasury firm is using perpetual preferreds to retire convertibles, offering a potential framework for managing long-dated leverage.
What to know:
- Strive upsized its SATA follow on offering beyond $150 million, pricing the perpetual preferred at $90.
- The structure offers a blueprint for replacing fixed maturity convertibles with perpetual equity capital that removes refinancing risk.
- Strategy has a $3 billion convertible tranche due in June 2028 with a $672.40 conversion price, which could be addressed using a similar preferred equity approach.
Top Stories
