CoinDesk Confidential: Kristin Smith

Washington, D.C.'s crypto whisperer answers our special questionnaire ahead of Consensus 2022.

AccessTimeIconMay 31, 2022 at 7:50 p.m. UTC
Updated May 11, 2023 at 6:55 p.m. UTC
AccessTimeIconMay 31, 2022 at 7:50 p.m. UTC
Updated May 11, 2023 at 6:55 p.m. UTC
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The Proust Questionnaire – an old-style magazine format popular in the French novelist's day – asks a series of personal, philosophical and prosaic questions that, in theory, present a side of a person not often seen. Here, Kristin Smith, the heart, soul and often face of industry lobbying group The Blockchain Association, reveals something of her "true nature" and the crypto industry. Smith is a speaker at CoinDesk's Consensus festival, June 9-12, in Austin, TX.

Do you own bitcoin?

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  • Yes

    Do you own dogecoin?

    No

    What about SHIB?

    No

    Where are you from?

    California

    Greatest fear?

    Spiders

    Greatest joy?

    Lattes

    What is the quality you most like in a man/woman/person?

    Sense of humor

    What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

    Patience

    Do you often remember your dreams?

    Yes

    Do you like lemons?

    Yes

    Is crypto still blossoming?

    Yes!

    Is crypto an ugly duck?

    No

    Should Elon Musk run Twitter?

    Yes

    Should countries be run as companies?

    Yes

    In 100 years, will there be more or fewer monies?

    Fewer

    Is the U.S. dollar a Ponzi scheme?

    No

    Who is your favorite politician? Why?

    Tom Emmer [Republican, U.S. representative from Minnesota] because he’s been with us since the beginning.

    Is Bitcoin forever?

    Yes

    Which living person do you most admire?

    My mom

    What is your idea of perfect happiness?

    A vacation

    Ću vi parolas esperanton?

    Huh?

    Do what you want or do what you must?

    What you must

    Would you choose a green thumb or the absolute guarantee you will never get gangrene?

    Absolute guarantee

    What is your best characteristic?

    My responsiveness

    What characteristic do you most deplore in yourself?

    My responsiveness

    Do you use a hardware wallet?

    Yes

    Greatest extravagance?

    Bergdorf’s

    Your worst regret?

    Grad school

    Favorite TV show?

    "Sex and the City"

    Any words of wisdom?

    Getting back to people is 90% of the job.

    You can have one historical figure over for coffee. Who do you choose?

    Satoshi, duh

    Jack Dorsey wanted a “Blue Sky” for Twitter; should the web only be built on open protocols?

    Yes

    Approximate size – depth and width – of the largest hole you’ve dug?

    Still digging

    What is your greatest achievement?

    The Blockchain Association

    AI. To be pursued?

    No

    Your current state of mind?

    Happy

    Would you choose to live forever? Why or why not?

    Yes - too much to do.

    Do cars look like faces to you?

    No

    Dogs or cats?

    Neither

    Can dogs smile?

    Yes

    Who is your favorite singer?

    Elton John

    Napkins: for or against them?

    For

    Do you have a library card?

    No

    How is the weather today?

    Nice

    On what occasion do you lie?

    Never!

    What do you most dislike about your appearance?

    Hair

    Which living person do you most despise?

    Better not say

    Do you write a list before grocery shopping?

    No

    If you could be safely catapulted somewhere, would you prefer to walk?

    Beach

    Do you own an article of clothing that could be called indigo?

    Yeah

    Bees see ultraviolet; do you see the same world (or most of it)?

    Yes

    New York or San Francisco bagels?

    New York

    How many glasses of water do you drink per day?

    8

    Are birds real?

    Yes

    What drives you?

    Coffee

    Would you ever drive a red convertible regularly?

    Yeah

    What or who is the greatest love of your life?

    Crypto

    Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

    Better not say

    What’s your strongest-held belief that would get you "canceled"?

    Masks

    What’s the funniest/smartest tweet you’ve seen that can recall off the top of your head?

    Something from Frank

    Single favorite meme?

    Unknown

    If you could be granted one superpower, what would it be?

    Flying

    How would you like to die?

    In my sleep

    In three words or fewer, what is currently the largest detriment to society?

    Better not say

    In three words or fewer, what is currently the greatest hope for society?

    Good crypto policy

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