David Zell decodes Bitcoin and its Role in the Global Economy
RCB President Jeff Stone and VP of Programs Jeris Gaston with David Zell
This week, the Rotary Club of Birmingham (RCB) welcomed the Alabama Economics Club for a joint meeting with David Zell, Co-Founder and President of the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI), for a presentation on the rise of digital asset policy and the evolving role of emerging technology in national competitiveness entitled “Demystifying Digital Currency & Bitcoin's Role in our Global Economy.”
Zell shared his path from student advocacy and public policy work in Alabama to co-founding BPI, a nonpartisan think tank now recognized nationally for its research on the intersection of money, technology, and American economic strategy. He outlined the institute’s recent initiatives, including work on digital asset regulation, the national conversation surrounding a potential U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve, and the broader implications of blockchain technology for financial infrastructure and global competitiveness.
Bio for David Zell
David Zell is the Co-Founder and President of the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI), a nonpartisan think tank launched in 2022 that has become one of Washington’s leading voices on digital-asset policy. Under his leadership, BPI has grown from a blog into a full-fledged D.C. institution, with twelve full-time staff, an interdisciplinary network of nearly two dozen academic fellows, and a reputation for shaping national debates at the intersection of money, emerging technology, and American competitiveness.
BPI is known for publishing a pioneering proposal for a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, elements of which were subsequently adopted in a Presidential executive order. BPI’s research and advocacy have been featured by The New York Times, Fox Business, NBC, CNBC, Politico, and The Hill.
BPI also convenes the annual Bitcoin Policy Summit, bringing together members of Congress, software developers, SEC commissioners, CIA & State Department officials, business leaders, White House staff, and global human-rights leaders for substantive dialogue on America’s relationship with Bitcoin and stablecoins.
Most recently, BPI launched its Congressional Fellowship Program, placing subject-matter experts on Bitcoin and emerging financial technologies directly in House and Senate offices. The organization’s efforts have earned public praise from national figures including Vice President JD Vance.
A Birmingham native, David attended the Altamont School and is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Alabama, where he was a University Fellow.