Digital Currency Initiative

What changes when institutions move from traditional financial rails to public, decentralized infrastructure? For a regulated financial institution, quite a bit! Check out our new report, co-authored with Kinexys by @jpmorgan! dci.mit.edu/projects/publi…

New podcast on @CurrenPower: we sat down with @neha for an in-depth conversation on CBDCs, Stablecoins, Privacy, Quantum and Geopolitics outlook. Neha has a unique ability to explain very clearly complex concepts - a must listen! open.substack.com/pub/eurostable…

BITCOIN RAILS #62: BITCOIN'S 3 BIGGEST CHALLENGES | with @neha Director of Digital Currency Initiative (DCI) @MIT 🔗 YOUTUBE: youtu.be/_1uCIwn-4s4 🌱 SPOTIFY: open.spotify.com/episode/7qoZ5K… Neha Narula is the Director of the MIT Digital Currency Initiative, where she focuses on Bitcoin research and the broader design tradeoffs of decentralized money systems. Her work often centers on what Bitcoin gets right—and where it runs into hard limits—especially around scaling, decentralization, and how systems behave as global demand increases. In this interview, Neha and I explore longer-term risks to Bitcoin—including advancements in quantum computing and the implications of a diminishing block subsidy—as well as the ongoing challenge of scaling Bitcoin without losing access to self-custody. A thoughtful conversation on how Bitcoin may change in the coming years, we also explore its social and governance dynamics—including tensions within the development community over protocol changes, scaling philosophies, and the future direction of the system. This episode of Bitcoin Rails is brought to you by: LayerTwo Labs @LayerTwoLabs — developing research, software, and technologies for scaling Bitcoin via the integration of Drivechains (BIP 300/301) Hashi on @SuiNetwork — a primitive for executing Bitcoin Defi transactions, without having to trust a federated bridge or other centralized entity BitBox @BitBoxSwiss— an open-source Bitcoin-only hardware wallet, with smooth UX and no compromises on security. Check out Bitbox [dot] swiss and use code BITCOINRAILS to get a discount TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 00:17 Neha’s Origins 02:26 Bitcoin to MIT 04:40 Media Lab Culture and Mission 11:34 CBDCs as Digital Cash Debate 24:42 Funding Model and Bitcoin Security Budget 29:55 Reorg Risk and Quantum Computing 32:14 Bitcoin Dev Funding Map 42:49 Governance and Corporate Stakes 50:23 Quantum Tradeoffs Framework 56:02 Post Quantum Proposals 58:59 Prioritize PQ Transactions 01:00:54 Satoshi Coins Debate 01:02:12 Mining Incentives And Price 01:08:08 Corporate Funding And Governance 01:10:54 Scaling Self Custody And L2s 01:20:30 Bitcoin Kernel And Wrap Up

"I don't believe everyone in the world will self-custody... but I think it's super important that everyone who wants to self-custody should be able to—and that is a very different thing," says Director of @mitDCI @neha

There’s still time to register for tomorrow’s first DCI Global Community Call Join us for updates & discussions on DCI Global, plus explore ways to get involved through research, education, & community building around Bitcoin & digital currencies. dci.mit.edu/global

Join the first DCI Global Community Call on May 27! Learn about DCI Global’s mission, meet the planning committee, hear updates on core projects, & discover ways to get involved through research, education, & community around Bitcoin & digital currencies. dci.mit.edu/global

We are pleased to announce a joint publication with @AIRinnovate, @CGAP, & @GlobalDigitalFi. Stablecoins are already active across African markets. This paper explores how global regulatory principles can translate into local practice. Learn more: dci.mit.edu/projects/stabl…

How are regulators approaching stablecoins across African markets? Hear from leaders at @AIRinnovate, @GlobalDigitalFi, @mitDCI, @CGAP, @thebankofghana, @NIFCAfrica and more at this virtual event. 📅 April 28 • 14:00 BST | 9:00 AM ET (1hr) 🔗 Register: regulationinnovation.org/air-events/web…

Join the DCI at the @MITBitcoinClub's 2026 Bitcoin Expo (April 11-12) for @neha's keynote, Cory Fields' Bitcoin Core panel, a DCI Global workshop, and @Arminsdev's Boston Bitdevs side event. Learn more and buy tickets at mitbitcoinexpo.org

One of the leading voices shaping the future of digital money! @neha is joining #MITBitcoinExpo2026 #FreedomforAll 🔥🔥🔥 Director of @mitDCI at @medialab. Board member at Block. Advisor to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Get your tickets 🎟️ now! mitbitcoinexpo.org

📷 Watch here: bloomberg.com/news/videos/20… At DCI, our research focuses on rigorous evaluation of digital currency infrastructure to inform sound policy and resilient systems — this conversation is part of that ongoing mission.

Our Director @neha joined Bloomberg @crypto to discuss stablecoins and the risks they may face under stress from financial, technological, and regulatory angles. She highlights why not all blockchains are created equal and why stability at scale matters as stablecoins grow in use

10/ Full paper from the MIT DCI below: looking forward to hearing feedback and thoughts from regulators, builders, and market practitioners dci.mit.edu/projects/hidde…

9/ Stablecoins are dynamic systems that span markets, intermediaries and software And as stablecoins scale across our financial system, these risks stop being nominal. The entirety of the stablecoin stack will need to be safeguarded

🧵1/ Even if stablecoins have 1:1 backing with high-quality, liquid assets, that doesn’t mean they are completely insulated from risk. The latest paper from the MIT DCI shows other risks stablecoins may be exposed to