This session is designed to welcome the broader community, introduce DCI Global and its mission, share updates on current core projects, introduce the planning committee, and help you identify clear ways to get involved. Learn how to become part of DCI Global, collaborate on research with others in the network, bring or expand cryptocurrency education offerings at your academic institution, and engage with a community dedicated to rigorous, neutral research on whether and how Bitcoin and digital currencies help people financially flourish. This introduction was recorded during the DCI Global Research Network’s First Community Call on May 27, 2026.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Stablecoin adoption is accelerating globally, with particularly significant implications for African markets where cross-border payments remain costly, foreign currency liquidity is uneven, and financial inclusion gaps persist. Across the continent, stablecoins are already being used for remittances, peer-to-peer transfers, trade settlement, and as a store of value in response to currency volatility. Regulatory approaches must therefore respond to an active and evolving ecosystem rather than a purely emerging one.

The MIT DCI participated in the Department of Treasury's Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the GENIUS Act. We submitted our letter alongside nearly 400 other industry participants who are interested in advancing stablecoin regulation in the United States. We aimed to highlight a few key risks of stablecoins that warrant deeper consideration and that we plan to expand upon during the subsequent NPRM.