Policy & Pints: The GENIUS Act, Stablecoins & Michigan’s Regulatory Future
Details
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Policy & Pints brings together policy leaders, financial professionals, and the Web3 community for a measured, accessible discussion on crypto and stablecoin regulation in Michigan.
This event serves as a legislative kickoff and first touchpoint with Michigan state representatives, focused on how emerging federal and state policy impacts payments, consumer protection, and financial innovation.
Event Overview
- Welcome & Networking - 5:30pm
- Policy Brief - 6:00pm
- Expert Panel - 6:15pm
- Networking Afterglow - 7:15pm
Who Should Attend
- Financial professionals (wealth management, credit unions, banking, compliance)
- Policy makers and public-sector leaders
- Business owners and operators
- Web3 builders and ecosystem participants
- Anyone interested in how regulation shapes innovation
Panelists
Edward Thompson - Co-founder & CEO @ Certen Protocol
Edward Thompson is the co-founder of [Goldback.com](https://goldback.com/?utm_source=luma), the largest alternative currency ecosystem in the United States, operating across five states. A University of Michigan alum, Edward has been active in the blockchain industry for more than 15 years, with deep expertise spanning real-world asset issuance, monetary economics, and on-chain governance.
He is now the CEO and co-founder of Certen, the Control Layer of digital finance. Certen is the identity-based network purpose-built for institutions and governments to manage and issue assets across every chain from a single hierarchy of authorities, designed to enable compliance with the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts.
Adam Zientarski - Head of Product @ PayPath AI, Executive Director @ Michigan Blockchain Council
Adam Zientarski is the Head of Product at PayPath AI, where he leverages his extensive background in blockchain and fintech to drive product innovation. Prior to joining PayPath AI, Adam served as CEO and Co-Founder of Detroit Ledger Technologies for close to a decade. Detroit Ledger Tech is a venture studio & blockchain validator dedicated to connecting blockchain solutions with practical, real-world applications.
Adam’s career in finance and technology began at Benzinga, a premier financial media firm, where he served as Director of Business Development and spearheaded the growth of key initiatives, including the Benzinga Global Fintech Awards. A passionate advocate for digital literacy and community development, he co-founded the Detroit Blockchain Center and serves on the board of the Michigan Blockchain Council. With expertise in digital governance, Adam has played a key role in the transparency and development of protocols such as Telos, Vaulta, and Wax. He holds a degree from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and resides in Detroit with wife Annemarie, son Zachary, and dog Luna.
Preston Eaton - Founder & CEO, Accorria
Preston Eaton is the founder and CEO of Accorria, a Detroit-built trust infrastructure company making high-value asset
transactions safer, faster, and more verifiable. Accorria grew out of Preston's 15 years of hands-on work helping Detroit dealers sell vehicles online - taking photos, writing listings, posting across marketplaces, answering buyers, filtering messages, and helping deals reach the table.
Holly Weckler (moderator) - Director of Partnerships @ Detroit Blockchain Center (DBC)
Holly Weckler is the Director of Partnerships at the Detroit Blockchain Center and the founder of Copter Consulting, a boutique firm dedicated to planning Web3 events and building robust ecosystems. Known as a "systems builder," she specializes in transforming conferences into active deal flow and creating durable community infrastructure in regions often overlooked by global tech companies. Her work prioritizes practical application and the integration of decentralized technology into everyday life, spanning everything from DePIN pilot programs to fostering education pipelines throughout Michigan.
With a career rooted in fintech, including experience scaling developer ecosystems at Yodlee, Holly leverages deep operational expertise to navigate the Web3 landscape. She is a strong advocate for inclusive leadership, actively working to remove barriers for emerging talent and ensuring that technical decision-making spaces are accessible to women. Driven by a philosophy of acting before achieving certainty, Holly is dedicated to building sustainable pathways for new innovators, often focused on ensuring that others are invited into the room before they feel fully ready.
Sponsors
Thank you to our generous sponsors:
