Paul Brigner transitions from ECC, joins Bootstrap Org Board of Directors

Paul Brigner has resigned from his role at Electric Coin Co. (ECC) as Vice President of Strategic Alliances to join Coinbase and lead the Coinbase Institute. While he leaves a huge hole at ECC, we’re thrilled to announce that, in this transition, Paul has joined the Bootstrap Board of Directors to continue his invaluable work within the Zcash ecosystem. Bootstrap is the parent organization of ECC, and Paul joins other board members Alan Fairless, Christina Garman, and Zaki Manian.

“Paul’s impact in the policy world, on behalf of ECC, has been remarkable,” said ECC CEO Josh Swihart. “As a project, Zcash is well respected by policymakers in Washington, D.C., and ECC is a trusted organization with a seat at the table in important discussions. This is, in large part, thanks to Paul’s multilateral engagement. Watching him work has been incredible, and Coinbase and Bootstrap are lucky to have him.”

Coinbase Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad this morning announced Paul’s hire, and Paul’s own announcement can be found here.

Paul wrote, “This new role is an incredible opportunity to build upon my work at ECC, particularly in the realm of cryptocurrency policy. I will continue to organize and host the PGP* (Pretty Good Policy) for Crypto meetings, podcasts, and special events, collaborating closely with the Blockchain Association, the University of Southern California VanEck Digital Assets Initiative, and Electric Coin Co.” 

Paul has been a pivotal figure in advancing ECC’s mission to empower economic freedom, and he’ll continue that work at Bootstrap. He is renowned within the cryptocurrency policy community for spearheading the PGP* (Pretty Good Policy) initiative, including monthly roundtable meetings, special briefings, and podcasts. These events will continue at Coinbase under Paul’s leadership.

With an early career spanning over a decade in software development, Paul transitioned into policy, where he has since held high-ranking positions in notable organizations including Verizon, Internet Society, the Motion Picture Association of America, and the Chamber of Digital Commerce, before ECC.

A U.S. Army veteran with an educational background marked by a JD and MBA from Georgetown, Mr. Brigner combines technical proficiency with policy expertise, offering a rich perspective grounded in experience and academic excellence. His career is a testament to his commitment to fostering intelligent discourse and promoting advancements in the technology policy arena.