Former NC Lt. Gov. Dan Forest forms blockchain, AI coalition as regulators write tech rules :: WRAL.com
Publish Date: 2026-03-12 11:03:00
Source Domain: www.wral.com
- Former North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest is launching the “North Carolina Blockchain + AI Initiative” coalition to provide a unified voice for blockchain, artificial intelligence, finance, and energy companies in Raleigh and Washington.
- The coalition builds on existing efforts from 2019 when Forest helped form a state blockchain task force and now expands its mission to include artificial intelligence as regulations for emerging technologies are developed.
- Forest aims to make North Carolina a national leader in blockchain and AI, leveraging the state’s existing infrastructure and talent pool.
- The initiative comes amid scrutiny over North Carolina’s technology sector, particularly in managing infrastructure challenges like data center impacts on electricity usage, water resources, and environmental concerns.
- The priorities of the group include supporting federal stablecoin legislation, reforming data center permitting processes, and creating a bipartisan legislative working group to develop a comprehensive blockchain and AI policy framework.
- Dan Spuller, from the Blockchain Association, will chair the board, joined by Lyle Gravatt, Eric Porper, John Bridge, and Alej Navia, to bring expertise in federal policy, intellectual property, financial technology, national security, and media/technology.
- Patrick Riley coordinates the coalition’s day-to-day operations.
