South Carolina Economic Freedom Forum

The SCGOP Robert Smalls Republicans will host Robert Smalls Economic Freedom Forum with insight and support from the South Carolina Emerging Tech Association. This event will spotlight Protocol 402: South Carolina’s Path to Monetized Public Infrastructure.

DATE: Thursday, September 18, 2025

LOCATION: Stone River, 121 Alexander Rd, West Columbia, SC 29169

 TIME: 5 pm - 8 pm. Doors open at 4:30 pm

​​

This event is designed to highlight how emerging technologies—particularly blockchain, tokenization, AI and digital tools—are already being deployed in South Carolina and beyond to support economic resilience, transparency, and growth.

​

Panel 1: Crypto 101 – Trust, Technology, and Tools of Economic Freedom

Panel 2: From Vision to Victory – Trump’s Innovation Agenda & the South Carolina Advantage

Panel 3: Build It Here. Own It Here. Keep It Free.

​​

Keynote

James Regenor is a serial entrepreneur, technologist, futurist, and author who has driven digital
transformation across aerospace, medical, and industrial sectors. In 2019, he co-founded
VeriTX, pioneering digital supply chains by combining 3D printing, blockchain provenance, and
advanced data assurance. He later created QuDEFENSE, a post-quantum cryptography and
blockchain-based data security solution that delivers resilient protection for critical digital
interactions.
An accomplished inventor, James holds multiple awarded and pending patents covering
blockchain security, NFT digital twins, on-orbit manufacturing, and muon-based
nondestructive inspections in space. Previously, he led transformative technologies at Moog,
creating the VeriPart digital supply chain solution, and co-founded Blockchain Resources Group.
A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel with over 31 years of service and 4,200 flight hours, James
commanded at multiple levels and served on the Joint Staff, Air Staff, and U.S. Strategic
Command staff, as well as in the White House as Deputy Executive Secretary of the National
Security Council. He holds multiple advanced degrees, served on the Embry-Riddle Center for
Entrepreneurship Advisory Board, and is an AFWERX Techstars alumnus.

​​

Confirmed Panelists

​Representative Jordan Pace – South Carolina House of Representatives, District 117

Representative Pace has co-sponsored bills aligned with digital transparency and limited government. His perspective ties directly into the forum’s focus on Protocol 402 and PalmettoCoin.

​​

​Frank Speiser – CEO and Co-Founder, Tinkerman Labs

Frank is a serial entrepreneur with multiple exits and heads Metafide - a global platform to gamify competition between humans and AI to refine asset price prediction models. Prior to Metafide, Frank co-founded SocialFlow - the world’s largest distributor of media, using machine learning models to optimize media delivery to over 3.5Bn monthly consumers. Frank has been coding since he was eight years old, and is committed to seeing South Carolina cemented as a leader in the emerging fintech movement to integrate blockchain, AI and asset markets.

​​

​Patrick Hidalgo – Hedge Fund Manager, Freight Bay Digital Asset Management

Patrick Hidalgo brings a wealth of experience in economic strategy and digital asset innovation through his work with Freight Bay Digital Asset Management. His expertise in connecting emerging financial technologies with real-world economic growth will provide valuable perspective on how South Carolina can leverage digital assets to strengthen local and state economies.

​​

​Kristofer Doucett, CFE – President of Applied Technology Solutions (ATS), a company specializing in comprehensive intelligence service, including blockchain forensics.

Kristofer Doucette brings over two decades of experience in financial intelligence, sanctions,

and national security. At Chainalysis, where he worked for six and a half years, he was

instrumental in establishing and expanding the company's efforts with U.S. government

agencies to combat illicit cryptocurrency activities. Prior to joining Chainalysis in January 2018, Mr. Doucette spent over 14 years at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, specializing in terrorist financing, sanctions evasion, and money laundering. In December 2014, he co-led a multi-agency cell focused on combating Islamic State finances, working closely with various branches of the U.S. government. At Chainalysis, Mr. Doucette concentrated on cryptocurrency investigations in collaboration with federal agencies.

​

​​Dennis Fassuliotis (moderator) – President, SC Emerging Tech Association (SCETA)

Dennis Fassuliotis is a prominent advocate for emerging technologies and currently serves as President of the South Carolina Emerging Technology Association (SCETA). In this role, he has led statewide efforts to modernize financial infrastructure, support blockchain innovation, and position South Carolina as a leader in digital asset policy. He previously founded and led Palmetto Chain Incorporated, the state’s first nonprofit dedicated to digital asset advocacy. Fassuliotis played a pivotal role in drafting the South Carolina Blockchain Empowerment Act of 2019, as well as leading the drafting teams behind South Carolina Senate Resolution 1158 (2020) and Senate Resolution 225 (2025). The latter represents a landmark resolution, marking the first of its kind to support both open-source artificial intelligence development and cryptocurrency innovation at the state level.

Through SCETA, Fassuliotis also spearheaded the development of the #AI=$BTC report, a foundational document that outlines the economic case for aligning artificial intelligence infrastructure with Bitcoin’s monetary model. As a long-standing proponent of the Bitcoin circular economy, he also founded South Carolina Blockchain Incorporated, an organization focused on education and economic development in the blockchain space.

​

​Dr. Gerald Dwyer – Professor Emeritus, Clemson University & Senior Fellow BPI.

 One of the nation’s top voices in crypto economics, Dr. Dwyer will bring clarity on how digital finance intersects with monetary policy and local economies. Dr. Dwyer is a Senior Fellow at Bitcoin Policy Institute, and advisory and founding member of SCETA.

​

​​Jennifer Cunningham - 2nd Vice Chair of the South Carolina Republican Party and the founder of Palmetto Learning Academy of SC.

With over a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership, workforce development, and community-based innovation, Jennifer Cunningham has championed initiatives that bridge education, technology, and economic opportunity. Her work in agriculture, STEM, and emerging technologies positions her at the forefront of shaping South Carolina’s role in the digital economy.​

​

​Pastor Deshawn Rouse - Pastor Deshawn Rouse leads The Spirit Filled Ambassadors for Christ Church in Andrews, southwest of Myrtle Beach. CEO and Investor at Zenith Wealth​

​

​Ilana Blumsack - Economic Policy Analyst at Americans for Prosperity 

Ilana is an Economic Policy Analyst at Americans for Prosperity where she focuses on a broad range of economic issues, including housing, tax policy, and welfare policy. Prior to joining AFP, Ilana was a Research Associate at the Cato Institute, where she supported Chris Edwards and Scott Lincicome in work on fiscal and labor policy. She also previously interned at the Heritage Foundation and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Ilana holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel and M.S. in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University.

 

Invited (Awaiting Confirmation)

 

 

Visit us at: SC Robert Smalls Republicans | Facebook  or http://www.RobertSmallsRepublicans.org for the lasted updates.