Key Takeaways
- • Reason Foundation is hosting a live webinar on June 23, 2026 (2:00 pm ET) addressing cryptocurrency integration into public pension portfolios, featuring speakers from North Carolina State Treasury, S&P Global, and the Reason Foundation.
- • The webinar will examine three core investment governance issues: evaluation frameworks for cryptocurrency assets, risk and volatility management strategies for public workers and retirees, and transparency mechanisms for taxpayer disclosure.
- • Key panelists include Brad Briner (North Carolina State Treasurer), Todd D. Kanaster (Director of Municipal Pensions at S&P Global), Mariana Trujillo (Managing Director of Government Finance at Reason Foundation), and Leonard Gilroy (Vice President of Government Reform at Reason Foundation).
- • The discussion centers on fiduciary duty obligations facing public pension trustees as digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum become embedded in mainstream financial markets, requiring institutional investors to evaluate whether and how cryptocurrency allocations align with pension fund mandates.
Summary
Public pension systems are facing mounting pressure to clarify their investment approach to cryptocurrency as digital assets gain institutional acceptance. Reason Foundation is convening a webinar on June 23, 2026, to address the central governance questions confronting public pension trustees and fiduciaries navigating this emerging asset class.
The webinar brings together policy and institutional investment expertise to examine three interconnected issues. First, participants will explore evaluation frameworks—the operational and analytical approaches public pension systems should employ to assess cryptocurrency investments relative to traditional asset classes. Second, the panel will address risk management and volatility mitigation strategies, focusing specifically on how to protect the interests of public workers, retirees, and taxpayers exposed to these allocations. Third, the discussion will tackle transparency and disclosure requirements, recognizing that public pension investments operate under heightened scrutiny and accountability standards compared to private capital.
The speaker roster reflects diverse institutional perspectives on the issue. Brad Briner, North Carolina State Treasurer, brings direct regulatory and governance experience from state-level pension administration. Todd D. Kanaster, Director of Municipal Pensions at S&P Global, provides credit rating and municipal finance expertise. Mariana Trujillo and Leonard Gilroy, both from Reason Foundation, contribute policy analysis on government finance and institutional reform. This combination positions the webinar to address both immediate operational challenges and longer-term policy implications for the public pension system.
The timing of this webinar reflects a critical inflection point in institutional adoption of digital assets. As cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have become increasingly integrated into mainstream financial infrastructure and institutional portfolios, public pension funds—which manage assets on behalf of millions of beneficiaries—must determine whether and how to incorporate these investments while satisfying fiduciary obligations and maintaining public trust.
The webinar will be conducted live via Zoom with audience participation, and a recorded version will be made available for registrants unable to attend in real time.
The webinar brings together policy and institutional investment expertise to examine three interconnected issues. First, participants will explore evaluation frameworks—the operational and analytical approaches public pension systems should employ to assess cryptocurrency investments relative to traditional asset classes. Second, the panel will address risk management and volatility mitigation strategies, focusing specifically on how to protect the interests of public workers, retirees, and taxpayers exposed to these allocations. Third, the discussion will tackle transparency and disclosure requirements, recognizing that public pension investments operate under heightened scrutiny and accountability standards compared to private capital.
The speaker roster reflects diverse institutional perspectives on the issue. Brad Briner, North Carolina State Treasurer, brings direct regulatory and governance experience from state-level pension administration. Todd D. Kanaster, Director of Municipal Pensions at S&P Global, provides credit rating and municipal finance expertise. Mariana Trujillo and Leonard Gilroy, both from Reason Foundation, contribute policy analysis on government finance and institutional reform. This combination positions the webinar to address both immediate operational challenges and longer-term policy implications for the public pension system.
The timing of this webinar reflects a critical inflection point in institutional adoption of digital assets. As cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have become increasingly integrated into mainstream financial infrastructure and institutional portfolios, public pension funds—which manage assets on behalf of millions of beneficiaries—must determine whether and how to incorporate these investments while satisfying fiduciary obligations and maintaining public trust.
The webinar will be conducted live via Zoom with audience participation, and a recorded version will be made available for registrants unable to attend in real time.
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