Crypto Research Firm Adds Nobel Prize Winners as Advisors

Sep 10, 2018 at 16:00 UTC

Blockchain research firm and accelerator Cryptic Labs has just taken on two Nobel-winning economists as advisors.

Announced in a press release Monday, joining the firm’s economics advisory board are Dr. Eric S. Maskin and Sir Christopher Pissarides, who will “provide insights in incentive mechanisms, game theory and macro-economic policies.”

Dr. Maskin, currently a professor at Harvard University, will bring to the company his knowledge of game theory and mechanism design, in particular advising on how blockchain projects can develop user incentives. Dr. Maskin won the 2007 Nobel Prize in Economics for laying the foundations of mechanism design theory.

He said in the press release:

“I think that blockchain technology is potentially important for a modern economy. Most discussions of blockchain technology focus on technical issues. I am more interested in the economic value such technology can bring.”

Sir Pissarides – who was awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on the “analysis of markets with theory of search frictions,” according to Wikipedia – will advise the company and its clients based on his on understanding of macroeconomics.

“Blockchain is the most exciting development in financial markets in recent years,” he said.

Cryptic Labs’ co-founder and managing director, Humphrey Polanen, commented: “For the first time in the industry, Drs. Maskin and Pissarides will offer unparalleled expertise and insight to the blockchain industry, providing nuanced understandings of behavioral economics to our clients.”

While previously blockchain startup Prysm Group did add Nobel laureate Oliver Hart to its senior advisory board in early August, adding two laureates on the same day would seem to be something of a blockchain industry record.

Nobel Peace Center image via Shutterstock

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