Bitcoin Talents - Ali Mert Gürkan

Nationality: Turkish

Residence: Bologna, Italy

Field of study: Blockchain Governance and Law

University: Ankara University Law School, Leiden University, University of Bologna

Work experience: Researcher, Lawyer

Current affiliation: University of Bologna

Current position: PhD Researcher

Why is Bitcoin interesting? In my master's thesis, I investigated the inefficiencies of the General Data Protection Regulation in addressing issues related to Big Tech platforms. Through my research, I came to the conclusion that blockchain governance could provide a viable solution to these problems. Specifically, i believe that blockchain technology's transparency, immutability, and consensus mechanisms offer the potential to enhance ineffective and corrupt public administration and decision-making systems. Now, as a PhD researcher, I am continuing to focus my research on these critical issues.

My touchpoints with Bitcoin so far: Having always been interested in technological advancements and their impact on finance and economics, I naturally became aware of blockchain technology early on. However it wasn't until 2019 that I delved deeper into the subject through extensive reading. By 2020, I had presented my research on Blockchain Technology for my master's degree at Leiden University and began investing in revolutionary blockchain technologies that I believed could address the shortcomings of the current system and empower people. As I delved deeper into my investment research, I found myself falling further down the blockchain "rabbit hole". Fueled by my interest in the subject, I decided to pursue PhD at the University of Bologna where I am currently researching the potential use of blockchain for public governance along with my presence in Bitcoin talents Program.