6 Questions for Adelle Nazarian on crypto, journalism and Bitcoin

Adelle Nazarian is a senior staff member of U.S. Blockchain PAC, where she serves as CEO. But she has a long story to tell about her life before entering the cryptocurrency industry—from her Persian roots to her journalism career.

Nazarian, who worked at mainstream outlets such as Fox News and CNN before becoming a freelance journalist, said her job left her disillusioned with the media. “Working in journalism was really eye-opening because I saw firsthand how divisive and activist-oriented journalism has become,” she told Cointelegraph.

She stated that her desire to take on a role that contributes to the advancement of people was one of the driving factors behind her joining the US Blockchain PAC in 2021, saying: “I think Bitcoin is a great tool for people around the world. A way of opportunity. The world to cheer itself up in life.”

1) Your family fled Iran before the revolution, but you never went. Do you speak Farsi? Tell us more about your background.

Both my parents were born in Tehran, Iran, and immigrated to the United States when they were young. My father is 15 years old and my mother is 12 years old. I grew up speaking Farsi and English. (I also speak Mandarin and French.) It is one of my dreams to visit Iran one day. I would love to visit many parts of the country, especially Isfahan, where my maternal grandparents were born and raised. I am proud to come from such a rich, diverse and beautiful cultural background.

My mother was a housewife and also ran a caviar business for many years, and my father was an entrepreneur.

2) You’ve worked in journalism at Fox News, CNN and elsewhere. Why should you switch to cryptocurrencies?

Working in journalism was really eye-opening for me because I saw firsthand how divisive and activist-oriented it had become. For some journalists, reporting on a story is no longer about the facts – it’s about injecting your own ideas.

I really enjoy doing investigative journalism, but I consider myself an entrepreneur and philanthropist at heart. I feel like, actually, the blockchain space is a way to be able to have a platform to leverage my experience and work with different people, from national leaders to ordinary people, and understand how each person’s experience is really based on a The basic theme is what connects them all.

The theme is the desire and ability to create a better life for yourself and those around you. This is a factor that determines your destiny in life. I see Bitcoin as a way to provide opportunities for people around the world to improve their lives. It also provides an opportunity for governments to reduce their reliance on war as a way to increase wealth.

3) Please introduce the American Blockchain PAC.

The US Blockchain PAC was established to provide a space for everyone interested in understanding a sound regulatory framework to define cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin, and to clearly define and understand them and how they are classified in the United States.

Related: Crypto industry seeks to educate, influence U.S. lawmakers as it faces increasing regulations

We support candidates running for office who support blockchain technology. But I think a lot of PACs are just trying to basically pick and support candidates who are going to win – and we don’t just do that. We also seek to educate and inform people about cryptocurrency and digital asset adoption and empower them to resist legislation that could ultimately harm them.

4) What is your favorite cryptocurrency?

Bitcoin – because it is different from other cryptocurrencies. I believe everyone is grateful that the SEC made it clear that Bitcoin is not a security. I think Ethereum started out with good intentions, but it may have strayed from the original vision. That said, I think it has a bright future and an opportunity to grow. Bitcoin is a pioneer in the field of digital assets. It sparked the revolution we are experiencing today.

Unfortunately, I think many meme coins and altcoins have given a bad impression when it comes to digital assets, which I think greatly strengthens the argument for Bitcoin.

5) Does it matter if we figure out who Satoshi Nakamoto really is or was? Why or why not?

Two quotes I love: Mark Twain’s “No amount of evidence can convince an idiot” and “Truth is a strange thing. You can try to suppress it, but it always finds a way to surface.”

So of course someone is impersonating Satoshi Nakamoto. The “FakeToshi” label illustrates this fact. But in the end, the real Satoshi Nakamoto is still alive, and he’s not Japanese. Recently I read Ivy McLemore’s book, Looking for Satoshi Nakamoto, It’s interesting.

Anyone who has actually done their due diligence and researched Bitcoin knows that there must be a reason why Bitcoin originated. Satoshi didn’t want these so-called “trusted” third parties and banks to take away consumer cash, which is a long-standing problem – just look at what happened with FTX. Ironically, what he opposed from day one—“trusted” third parties like FTX—has actually become the primary vehicle for buying and selling Bitcoin. This didn’t fit his original vision.

As for whether it matters who Satoshi Nakamoto is, only the real Satoshi could pave the way for the next generation of Bitcoin and the dozens of emerging industries that will benefit from the underlying blockchain technology. Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin which was decentralized and peer-to-peer. He never tried to do any of this based on his own personal greed or agenda. He did it for the world. Technically, we are all Satoshi Nakamoto.

Vision is important because even the most incredible technology—without vision—is a dormant tool. Bitcoin was created to elevate humanity in a way that is truly unprecedented in our collective history.

6) What do you do in your free time?

I’m a big foodie. I like different cuisines. I can make recipes from all over the world.One of my favorite things about being Persian is horeshtgemekh— A tomato-based stew made with beef, lentils and spices, traditionally served with rice and tahdig – fluffy rice topped with a crispy golden crust. I also like sports, reading and traveling. I like traveling.

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Editorial Staff

Cointelegraph Magazine writers and reporters contributed to this article.