Experience

Secretary of State’s Office, State of Wyoming

Deputy Secretary of State | Wyoming | November 2025 - Present

• Coordinate agency-wide operations and strategy across core regulatory and public-service functions (business entities/UCC, securities, notaries, public records, and related services).
• Lead legislative and policy development in partnership with the Governor’s office, AG’s office, and legislative committees; translate statutory changes into executable procedures and public-facing guidance.
• Oversee modernization initiatives (process redesign, data governance, cybersecurity alignment, vendor management/procurement), with measurable SLAs and dashboards for throughput, accuracy, and cost.
• Direct intergovernmental coordination on CTA/BOI issues with FinCEN and state partners; align state systems with evolving federal compliance while safeguarding state transparency and privacy standards.
• Support litigation/rulemaking posture, including amicus strategy on matters touching state regulatory authority and technology sovereignty.
• Build leadership capacity, mentoring managers, strengthening succession pipelines, and institutionalizing continuous-improvement practices.

Secretary of State’s Office, State of Wyoming

Director of the Business Division | Wyoming | April 2023 - November 2025

• Lead division managing high-volume corporate filings (600K+/year), aligning operations with evolving data protection, KYC/AML, and public record transparency standards; coordinated state-level response to the Corporate Transparency Act Beneficial Ownership Information rule at FinCEN.
• Resolve cross-functional legal and operational issues through deep statutory knowledge and inter-agency coordination across legal, IT, and policy teams; improving legal accuracy and filing turnaround through deep knowledge of Wyoming corporate law.
• Advise on legislative reforms involving business and privacy law; influence state-level data governance through statutory analysis and counsel collaboration.
• Testify before state legislature to advocate for modernized digital business infrastructure, including reforms impacting privacy, data access, and automation policy; coordinated cross-agency input from legal, policy, and IT teams.
• Co-authored an amicus brief for U.S. Supreme Court in the Texas Top Cop Shop v. Garland case, on legal frameworks governing state regulatory authority, technology sovereignty, and data control.
• Prepare and file amicus brief on behalf of the Wyoming Secretary of State in the Custodia v. Federal Reserve appeal.
• Designed legal-tech automation using Python to streamline corporate name checks, reducing manual review and aligning with digital compliance strategy, saving ~1 FTE/day and boosting processing throughput by 7%.

Distributed Hash

Member & In House Counsel | Wyoming | January 2022 - October 2025

• Served as General Counsel for all legal matters, negotiating AI-adjacent infrastructure and data-hosting contracts, including academic partnerships, ensuring privacy compliance, IP safeguards, and commercial viability.
• Directed design and launch of digital infrastructure facility, overseeing regulatory approvals across jurisdictions, managing compliance with environmental, data handling, and emerging crypto/tech law.
• Built internal compliance systems using Python/SQL to enable real-time monitoring and generate audit-ready records aligned with internal control and risk mitigation frameworks.
• Developed Python-based automation for remote infrastructure control, improving uptime, reducing manual risk, and supporting operational compliance in remote-first environments.
• Published regulatory insights and legal whitepapers for investors and policymakers, translating complex tech issues into actionable frameworks on energy use, infrastructure, and AI-adjacent systems.
• Led regulatory engagement with local authorities to secure permits and compliance across infrastructure and data-related operations, ensuring alignment with privacy, environmental, and public trust standards.
• Negotiated long-term tech infrastructure and utility service agreements, balancing legal risk, operational needs, and data center continuity for compute-intensive systems.
• Oversee multi-jurisdictional legal and regulatory compliance, including zoning, data governance, and operational disclosures, ensuring ongoing risk mitigation for privacy-sensitive infrastructure.

Rhea Hospitality

Principal and General Counsel | Cary, NC & Las Vegas, NV | November 2007 - April 2023

• Founded and led a multi-state hospitality group, overseeing legal, financial, and regulatory operations for a 135-person team and $7M+ in annual revenue; served as de facto General Counsel for all contracts, compliance, and risk management.
• Drafted and negotiated commercial agreements across construction, vendor, and financing domains; provided in-house legal counsel across multiple jurisdictions with a focus on aligning business needs with legal risk mitigation.
• Structured and closed $17M+ in capital through private placements, public funding, and municipal partnerships; led all legal due diligence, regulatory compliance, and investor disclosures.
• Structured Regulation A+ offering via Delaware PBC, managing compliance with SEC disclosure and investor protection requirements in preparation for Tier 2 qualification.
• Drafted and secured zoning and permitting approvals across jurisdictions, navigating public infrastructure, data access, and environmental standards for complex operational footprints.
• Designed and deployed internal legal/ops automation tools (Python, SQL, Flask), streamlining payroll and compliance workflows and saving $100K+ annually in operational overhead.

PhD Posters, LLC

Member and General Counsel | Durham, NC | November 2005 - April 2023

• Provided end-to-end legal leadership for $1.2M+ multi-location e-commerce operation; oversaw commercial contracts, IP protection, and data compliance across digital and physical retail environments.
• Drafted consumer-facing terms, franchise agreements, and IP filings; managed legal strategy for brand protection and commercial scalability, including federal trademark portfolio.
• Directed international legal and tax strategy for Canadian subsidiary; managed outside counsel and ensured cross-border compliance with consumer protection and data regulations.
• Led legal structuring for transition to national e-commerce model, aligning legal operations and commercial strategy to support growth, digital consumer privacy, and fulfillment compliance.
• Acted as General Counsel for all business operations, handling employment matters, dispute resolution, and commercial contracts, while advising on risk, compliance, and business enablement for digital operations.

Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE)

Senior Program Officer | Philadelphia, PA | May 2015 - January 2016
IT Consultant | Philadelphia, PA | July 2020 - April 2023

• Researched and classified university speech codes for constitutional compliance; collaborated with university administrators to improve policy language and align with First Amendment standards.
• Developed a Python-based tracking system to monitor outreach progress and ensure timely updates by internal staff.
• Designed and deployed a 3CX-based internal VoIP system, modernizing office communications and reducing IT overhead.
• Led the organization-wide migration from LastPass to Okta, strengthening internal security posture and access control.
• Provided on-demand technical consulting across web infrastructure, cybersecurity, and internal systems.

Triangle Apartment Association

Government Affairs Director | Raleigh, NC | January 2008 - March 2009

• Developed and directed governmental and regulatory policies and objectives; coordinate the operations of the organization as related to government relations.
• Analyzed facts, laws, cases, rules and regulations, and applied findings to determine the potential impact on the association’s constituency. Provided education to the membership regarding ongoing developments.
• Analyzed proposed legislative actions and determined the potential impact on the association’s membership.
• Interfaced with elected officials at all levels (municipal, state and Federal), of all political parties, to advocate for positive changes in the legal and regulatory environment.
• Coordinated with friendly groups to increase our overall impact.
• Monitored legislative and regulatory activities and developed positions on such.
• Educated association members on the legislative and regulatory environment, and coordinated member responses.

Duke University School of Law

Faculty Fellow for IP Law | Durham, NC | January 2005 - August 2006

• Faculty fellow under the Center for the study of Public Genomics.
• Researched the effects of software patents owned by universities, with specific foci on the creation and dissemination of genomic data.
• Developed and taught upper-level law course on Intellectual Property Licensing.
• Work both independently and collaboratively to produce and publish academic research, and engage in periodic academic conferences and meetings to present findings.

Academic Experience

Duke University Medical Center | Durham, NC | August 2006 - August 2007
      Doctoral Candidate, Department of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
Duke University School of Law | Durham, NC | January 2005 - August 2006
      Faculty Fellow, The Center for the Study of Public Genomics

Education

Duke University Graduate School | Durham, NC | December 2004
      M.S. Biomedical Engineering
Duke University School of Law | Durham, NC | May 2003
      J.D. Cum Laude
Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | May 2000
      B.S. Biology, Concentration in Computational Biology; Minor in Chemistry; Minor in Policy and Management

Professional Licenses

• Wyoming Licensed Attorney, #8-7039
• North Carolina Licensed Attorney, #31468
• Licensed before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, #52782
• Licensed to practice before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court

Publications

1. Colin Crossman; The End of the Closed-Source Era Is at Hand: Obscurity Was Never Security. Bitcoin Magazine (2026-08-06). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/technical/the-end-of-the-closed-source-era-is-at-hand-obscurity-was-never-security
2. Colin Crossman; When Bitcoin Walks Into Your Office: A Field Guide for Wyoming Generalists. Wyoming Lawyer (Wyoming State Bar), Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 30–33 (August 2026). Available at: https://www.wyomingbar.org/august-2026-wyoming-lawyer/ (digital edition: https://digitaleditions.walsworth.com/view/wyoming-state-bar-/wyoming-lawyer/august-2026)
3. Colin Crossman; When Quantum Computers Come for Your Bitcoin: What Classical Property Law Says Happens Next. Bitcoin Magazine (2026-04-17). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/when-quantum-computers-come-for-your-bitcoin-what-classical-property-law-says-happens-next
4. Colin Crossman; Tenth Circuit Hands Fed a Win: Custodia Denied Master Account in Blow to Crypto Sovereignty, Dissent Brings the Heat. Bitcoin Magazine (2025-10-31). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/tenth-circuit-hands-fed-a-win-custodia-denied-master-account-in-blow-to-crypto-sovereignty-dissent-brings-the-heat
5. Colin Crossman; The Trolls Are Coming: Defending Bitcoin Mining from Patent Trolls. Bitcoin Magazine (2025-06-18). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/the-trolls-are-coming-defending-bitcoin-mining-from-patent-trolls
6. Colin Crossman; Nebraska’s New Mining Rules: Infrastructure Safeguard or Soft Ban in Disguise? Bitcoin Magazine (2025-05-19). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/nebraskas-new-mining-rules-infrastructure-safeguard-or-soft-ban-in-disguise
7. Colin Crossman; Wyoming Introduces Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Bill. Bitcoin Magazine (2025-01-17). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/politics/wyoming-introduces-bitcoin-strategic-reserve-bill
8. Christopher Land, Colin Crossman, Jesse Naiman; Amicus Brief in the United States Supreme Court, for Senator Lummis and WY Secretary of State Chuck Gray, in Texas Top Cop Shop v. Garland. Filed on 2025-01-10. Available at: https://crc32.com/wysos-lummis-sct-amicus-cta.pdf
9. Colin Crossman; Debanked: The Financial Suppression of Bitcoin Businesses Must End. Bitcoin Magazine (2024-12-02). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/politics/debanked-the-financial-suppression-of-bitcoin-businesses-must-end
10. Colin Crossman; Tornado Cash Loses Motion to Dismiss - A short summary of the recent decision regarding the Tornado Cash case. Bitcoin Magazine (2024-09-27). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/tornado-cash-loses-motion-to-dismiss
11. Colin Crossman; The BITCOIN Act of 2024 - A brief overview of the recently proposed bill by Senator Cynthia Lummis to accumulate Bitcoin in a strategic US Reserve. Bitcoin Magazine (2024-08-02). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/the-bitcoin-act-of-2024
12. Colin Crossman; The Federal Reserve, Custodia Bank, and The Battle For Sovereignty - A Review of the Amicus Briefs in the Custodia Case. BitcoinMagazine.com (2024-07-05). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/the-federal-reserve-custodia-bank-and-the-battle-for-constitutional-sovereignty
13. Colin Crossman; Wyoming Secretary of State Amicus Brief in Custodia Bank v. Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Filed on 2024-07-03. Available at: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68486662/010011075367/custodia-bank-v-federal-reserve-board-of-governors/
14. Colin Crossman; Supreme Court Decision Overturns Chevron: a Victory for Judicial Authority and Bitcoin. Bitcoin Magazine (2024-06-28). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/supreme-court-decision-overturns-chevron-a-victory-for-judicial-authority-and-bitcoin
15. Colin Crossman; NRA & Cantero in the Supreme Court: Implications For Operation Choke Point 2.0 And Custodia Bank. Bitcoin Magazine (2024-05-31). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/nra-cantero-cases-implications-for-operation-choke-point-2-0-and-custodia-bank
16. Colin Crossman; Final Agreement on EIA Emergency Survey Released. Bitcoin Magazine (2024-03-01). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/final-agreement-on-eia-emergency-survey-released
17. Colin Crossman; EIA Emergency Survey Preliminary Injunction Hearing Canceled Yesterday. Bitcoin Magazine (2024-02-29). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/eia-emergency-survey-preliminary-injuction-hearing-canceled-yesterday
18. Colin Crossman; Riot Platforms And Texas Bitcoin Council Seek Injunction Against Survey. Bitcoin Magazine (2024-02-23). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/miners-vs-the-eia-hearing-in-waco-texas
19. Colin Crossman; Resisting The EIA: One Possible Playbook. Bitcoin Magazine (2024-02-13). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/resisting-the-eia-one-possible-playbook
20. Colin Crossman; High Fees VS. “High Fees”: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Mempool. Bitcoin Magazine (2024-01-05). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/markets/high-fees-vs-high-fees-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-mempool
21. Robert Warren and Colin Crossman; Beyond the kWh: Factors That Bitcoin Miners Need To Consider. Bitcoin Magazine (2022-07-15). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/markets/factors-bitcoin-miners-need-to-consider
22. Colin Crossman; West Virginia Vs. EPA: Good News For Bitcoin, Beyond The Obvious. Bitcoin Magazine (2022-07-01). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/legal/west-virginia-epa-supreme-court-bitcoin
23. Colin Crossman; What Bitcoiners Need to Know About Jury Nullification in a Hostile Legal System. Bitcoin Magazine (2022-04-03). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/future-jury-nullification-for-bitcoin-users
24. Colin Crossman; Economically Incentivized Innovation Sets Bitcoin Apart: Unitary Money. Bitcoin Magazine (2022-03-31). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/innovation-sets-bitcoin-apart
25. Colin Crossman, Mark Maraia, and Heidi Porter; Bitcoin For Small Businesses: Front Line Options. Bitcoin Magazine (2022-03-16). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/bitcoin-for-small-businesses-options
26. Heidi Porter, Mark Maraia, and Colin Crossman; Bitcoin and the Smallest Businesses: Cantillon Effects and Why They Need Bitcoin. Bitcoin Magazine (2022-01-29). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/why-small-businesses-need-bitcoin
27. Heidi Porter, Mark Maraia, and Colin Crossman; Bitcoin and Business: What is your Bitcoin strategy? Bitcoin Magazine (2022-01-10). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/bitcoin-and-businesses-a-bitcoin-strategy
28. Rick Poach and Colin Crossman; Bitcoin Community Projects Communicate the Message of Freedom. Bitcoin Magazine (2021-10-31). Available at: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/bitcoin-community-projects-freedom
29. U.S. Patent No. 9,364,012 (issued Jun. 14, 2016). (Colin R. Crossman, attorney of record)
30. Kepler, T.; Crossman, C.; Cook-Deegan, R.; Metastasizing patent claims on BRCA1. Genomics (2010) doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2010.03.003
31. Reichman J.H, Rai, A, Uhlir P, and Crossman C.; Pathways across the Valley of Death: Novel intellectual property strategies for accelerated drug discovery. 2008 Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law, and Ethics, Vol 8(1).
32. Crossman, C.; Arming our Enemies: How parallel imports could increase Anti-microbial resistance. 2006 North Carolina Journal of International Law & Commercial Regulation. Vol 31(4): 823-845.
33. Colin Crossman & Arti Rai, A Brief History of BioPerl (December 2, 2005). Available at: https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/faculty_scholarship/3686
34. Webbink, Crossman, Griffin, and Silverstein; Red Hat’s Comments to the Joint FTC/DOJ hearing on Competition and Intellectual Property Law, March 20, 2002. http://www.ftc.gov/opp/intellect/020320webbink.pdf (alternate link: https://crc32.com/020320webbink.pdf)