As cryptocurrency moves further into the mainstream, regulators are stepping up efforts to define its legal and financial framework. But how far will regulation go, and what will it mean for investors, businesses, and the future of digital assets? In this episode, professor Itay Goldstein is joined by Wharton professor Jessica Wachter, recently the chief economist at the SEC, and former CFTC chair Timothy Massad to discuss crypto’s evolving regulatory landscape, the balance between innovation and oversight, and the geopolitical forces shaping crypto policy worldwide.
Editor’s Note: This episode was recorded in early summer of 2025, shortly before the passage of the GENIUS Act, which provides a regulatory framework for stablecoins. A lot has happened in the digital asset space since this discussion was recorded. But the broader ideas, philosophies, and questions we explore remain highly relevant today.