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Eric Soufer
Host Rich Goldberg is joined by Eric Soufer of Tusk’s Crypto + FinTech practice group, where he manages campaigns on behalf some of the fastest growing start-ups in the industry. They discuss some of the specific experiences dealing with cryptocurrency in New York State, including the endorsement of Bitcoin by NYC Mayor Eric Adams. They also discuss the move by states and local governments to lure the crypto industry. Plus, the environmental and energy price impact of crypto mining, some surprising data on who is actually investing in crypto, ransomware attacks and more.
Eric Soufer leads Tusk’s Crypto + FinTech practice group where he manages campaigns on behalf some of the fastest growing start-ups in the industry. The practice group, launched in 2022 and recognized by The New York Times, Bloomberg, and Politico, advises clients on state and federal regulatory issues, public policy, and high stakes public relations. Eric also oversees a diverse set of campaigns in Tusk’s New York practice, including the winning 2021 campaign to bring Bird scooters to New York City.
Prior to joining Tusk, Eric served as a top adviser to two New York Attorneys General, the New York State Assembly Speaker and a Senate Majority Leader. He also served as a senior adviser to Andrew Yang’s 2021 campaign for mayor of New York City.
Eric is regularly recognized as one of the top public relations and policy professionals in New York by City and State magazine (2019, 2020, 2021) and is routinely quoted by the Times and other leading publications on political and regulatory issues facing leading national, state, and city office holders. Eric has played an instrumental role in multiple historic campaigns, including the winning campaigns for the state’s first female Attorney General, first African-American Speaker of the State Assembly, and first bi-partisan governing coalition in the State Senate.
Prior to his political roles, Eric was employee number two at one of New York’s top crisis management firms. Eric received his B.A. from the University of Rochester and his law degree from American University. He is based out of Tusk’s New York office and lives in Brooklyn with his wife and their two sons.
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Rich,
As I listen to your various guests, a question comes to mind that I’m sure other listeners are wondering about as well. Perhaps you could explore it in a future episode.
A common topic, and one of your lightning round questions, has to do with regulation of the crypto space. What isn’t clear to me is what aspects of crypto seem to require more or less regulation, and how that regulation differs from regulation of other commodities/financial devices.
From a scarcity standpoint, crypto seems very much like a precious metal. Simply from that standpoint, as a scarce commodity, how and why would crypto regulation differ from regulation of a familiar precious commodity such as gold?
Crypto has a unique production cost in its proof-of-work electrical demands, which is another aspect that may require special regulatory consideration. That one seems pretty obvious.
Finally, crypto has the potential of being uniquely fluid and anonymous, hence is value as a currency for illegal activity. That would presumably be another source of special regulation.
When you and your guests discuss crypto regulation, it would be interesting to know which aspects of crypto, only some of which are unique to crypto, are the subject of discussion.
Thanks. Continuing to enjoy the show.
Hank
Hank: Great feedback – I will work to get those questions asked more directly. Best, Rich