The Congressional Blockchain Caucus, which we helped kick off a couple of weeks ago, held its first briefing on blockchain technology yesterday. The event was full to standing room only as lawmakers and their staff gathered to build their understanding of these technologies. Coin Center director of research Peter Van Valkenburgh demystified the buzzword “blockchain technology,” giving attendees a better sense of the difference between permissionless blockchain networks, like Bitcoin or Ethereum, and the private blockchain networks being experimented with by corporations around the world. As we’ve stressed before, understanding this distinction is essential to understanding the critical role that open networks will play in the future of internet infrastructure and business innovation. Joining Peter on the panel were Reuben Bramanathan of Coinbase, Mark Wetjen of the DTCC, and it was moderated Robin Weisman of Coin Center.