Beyond Law

Beyond
the Practice

Ideas, writing, and interests that inform the work — and extend well past it.

Curious
by Nature

The best lawyers are, at their core, students of the world. Bryan's interests range from the technical architecture of Bitcoin and open-source money to the long arc of constitutional history, political philosophy, and the ways technology reshapes power. These aren't hobbies separate from his practice — they're the lens through which he sees the law.

This page collects writing and reflection from outside the strict bounds of legal practice — the ideas that sharpen the thinking that goes into the courtroom.

All
Bitcoin & Money
Regulation & Policy
Bitcoin

The Basics of Bitcoin Mining

Despite serving as the backbone of the Bitcoin ecosystem, the mining process remains one of the more challenging aspects of Bitcoin to understand. This piece explains how mining works, why it matters, and how Satoshi Nakamoto designed an incentive structure that secures the network through economic self-interest rather than centralized authority.

Bitcoin & Economics

On Adam Smith, Bitcoin, and the Wealth of Worlds

An asteroid called 16 Psyche contains an estimated $700 quintillion in precious metals. If it were mined and brought to Earth, gold markets would not be enriched — they would be destroyed. Adam Smith understood this problem in the eighteenth century. Bitcoin, for the first time in history, solves it.

Bitcoin & Regulation

The Lummis Amendment May Not Be Enough for Bitcoin, Other PoW Coins

The Lummis amendment was designed to protect Bitcoin miners from being classified as brokers under the infrastructure bill. The intent was right — but the technical language may miss the mark. A close reading of how Bitcoin's protocol actually assigns roles reveals a gap that could leave miners exposed.