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About DEF
The DeFi Education Fund is a nonpartisan research and advocacy group working to explain the benefits of DeFi, achieve regulatory clarity for the future of the global digital economy, and help realize the transformative potential of DeFi for everyone.
We exist because DeFi has immense potential for human prosperity, but that can only be realized with buy in from governments and appropriate policy. We work to help realize DeFi's promise by educating regulators and policymakers and advocating for smart approaches.
The DEF focuses on research and advocacy efforts in the following areas:
Policymaker Education
Educating legislative and regulatory policymakers about the benefits of DeFi and decentralized governance.
Thought Leadership and Research
Explaining and demystifying the existing and potential benefits and uses of DeFi.
Grassroots Advocacy
Making it easy for DeFi community members to voice their opinions in the policymaking process.
Messaging
Better formulating ideas, preparing spokespeople, and communicating to policymakers and the general public the benefits and promise of DeFi.
Legal Firepower
Developing a strong bench of legal advocates in multiple jurisdictions and venues.
Best Practices
Developing models for all DeFi projects to benefit from collectively.
Our Team
Amanda Tuminelli
Executive Director & Chief Legal Officer
Amanda Tuminelli serves as the Executive Director and Chief Legal Officer of the DeFi Education Fund (DEF), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to advocating for sound DeFi policy, protecting the rights of developers, users, and projects to freely create decentralized financial infrastructure and technology, and building a mainstream understanding of decentralized finance (DeFi).
Prior to joining DEF, Amanda was a lawyer at Kobre & Kim, where she defended clients against criminal and regulatory investigations, government enforcement actions, and large scale litigation, particularly in the crypto and blockchain space. She previously served as a law clerk for the Honorable Ann M. Donnelly of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Jennifer Rosenthal
Chief Communications Officer
Jennifer serves as the Chief Communications Officer where she leads the organization's communications and marketing efforts.
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Prior to joining DEF, Jennifer was the head of Corporate Communications at Grayscale Investments, where she led external media relations and corporate affairs, notably as the firm navigated a high-profile, victorious legal battle against the SEC to obtain approval for spot Bitcoin ETFs to begin trading in the United States. Jennifer also worked with Fortune 500 companies and executives as a Communications Consultant at FGS Global, and previously held a variety of roles across the Global Corporate Affairs & Marketing function at Pearson.
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Jennifer started her career in education, and she holds a B.A. in English Education from the University of Delaware and a M.S. in Strategic Communications from Columbia University.
Maxwell Bernstein
Director of Operations & Development
Max serves as the DEF’s senior communications manager and is responsible for the development and execution of all aspects of DEF’s integrated communications strategy. Max also serves as DEF's senior operations manager. Prior to joining the Fund, Max spent five years as an in-house communications consultant, serving clients in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Max has experience working with some of the nation’s biggest names in finance and fintech, advising clients on a plethora of issues including, pending legislation, DOJ investigations and mergers and acquisitions. Max holds a B.A. in Politics, Economics and Law from the University of Richmond.
Lizandro (Laz) Pieper
Research Director
Laz serves as the DEF’s Research Director and is responsible for policy research and advocacy. Prior to joining the Fund, Laz has worked and led teams on five political campaigns including U.S. Senatorial and U.S. House campaigns. Laz was first introduced to DeFi in Spring 2020 while conducting foreign policy research for his internship at a Washington-based think tank. Laz holds a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in U.S. Law and Government, as well as minors in both Legal Studies and Criminology from Colorado State University. Laz is currently obtaining a B.S. in Applied Computer Science Post-Baccalaureate at the University of Colorado.
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Gavin Zavatone
Policy Analyst
Gavin works as a policy analyst with DEF, contributing to DEF's policy research and advocacy efforts. Prior to joining DEF, Gavin interned in a variety of public policy roles. Gavin holds a B.A. in Political Science, Law and Society from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.