In the News: CCI Researchers and Cyber SMART leaders appointed to International and State Advisory Committees
Originally published by the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative on August 13, 2025. Find the original publication here.
The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative’s deep wealth of expertise is helping guide international and state blockchain efforts.
CCI Research Professor Shin’ichiro Matsuo and CCI Research Director Eric Burger will be serving on advisory committees that are expected to have a significant impact on crypto-assets policy. Both Matsuo and Burger also hold research professor positions at Virginia Tech.
“By contributing academic perspectives in this consequential policy space, CCI researchers are increasing Virginia’s visibility in global financial technology policy,” said Luiz DaSilva, CCI executive director and Bradley Professor of Cybersecurity at Virginia Tech.
CCI Research Professor Shin’ichiro Matsuo was appointed by the Financial Services Agency (FSA) of Japan to serve as a special expert member of a newly launched working group on crypto-asset regulation. It’s under the umbrella of the Financial System Council, which serves as the FSA’s top-level policy advisory body.
CCI Research Director Eric Burger was appointed to the Blockchain Advisory Committee, a newly formed subcommittee of the Joint Commission on Technology and Science for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The committee is tasked with writing and proposing draft legislation.
What they’ll be doing
Virginia Blockchain Advisory Committee
“We are looking at what other states either have done or have proposed with respect to financial services products and investor protection,” Burger said. “Since only a handful of states have proposed legislation around financial services products and investor protection, this is an opportunity for Virginia to be a leader.
“What is special about Virginia is that the state has assembled an excellent collection of academic specialists, domain specialists such as banking and small towns, and business representatives, including the Virginia Blockchain Council, Electric Coin Corporation, and Northern Virginia Technology Council. It’s a proactive approach and one I think will stand out.”
Financial Services Agency (FSA) of Japan
“Functionally, this group plays a central role in Japan’s financial policy formation and is considered equivalent in importance to advisory structures such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Advisory Committee or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Technology Advisory Committee in the United States,” said Matsuo, who is co-chairing the Blockchain Governance Initiative Network (BGIN) at FSA.
“Moreover, it is directly connected to international regulatory alignment efforts, including work with the International Standards Organization, Financial Action Task Force, and collaborative initiatives with U.S. regulatory bodies, through the Blockchain Governance Initiative Network. The role focuses on providing technical and academic expertise related to blockchain architecture, security models, and digital asset infrastructure. My inclusion in this group reflects recognition of my contributions to the academic and technical community, particularly in areas relevant to financial system safety and decentralized technologies.”
Contact: Michele McDonald
Originally published by at cybersmartcenter.org on August 13, 2025.
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