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Alex Zerden | CNAS
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href="https://www.cnas.org/research/congress-and-national-security/key-national-security-issues">Renewing the National Security Consensus</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="experts-menu" aria-hidden="true" class="megamenu"> <div class="menu"> <button type="button" class="megamenu__close x-button" data-js="close"> <span class="megamenu__close__flex"> <span class="screenreader-only">Close</span> <span class="x"></span> </span> </button> <div class="menu__pane -c6"> <h3 class="menu__heading" data-toc-skip>Resident Experts</h3> <ul class="menu__list"> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/experts">All Resident Experts</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="menu__list"> <li class="break"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/molly-campbell">Molly Campbell</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/vivek-chilukuri">Vivek Chilukuri</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/carrie-cordero">Carrie Cordero</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/lisa-curtis">Lisa Curtis</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/michael-depp">Michael Depp</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/bill-drexel">Bill Drexel</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/janet-egan">Janet Egan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/joshua-fitt">Joshua Fitt</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/richard-fontaine">Richard Fontaine</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/geoffrey-gertz">Geoffrey Gertz</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/noah-greene">Noah Greene</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/carlton-haelig">Carlton Haelig</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/sam-howell">Sam Howell</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/kate-johnston">Kate Johnston</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/andrea-kendall-taylor">Andrea Kendall-Taylor</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/emily-kilcrease">Emily Kilcrease</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/katherine-kuzminski">Katherine L. Kuzminski</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/nicholas-lokker">Nicholas Lokker</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/jonathan-lord">Jonathan Lord</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/gibbs-mckinley">Gibbs McKinley</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/carisa-nietsche">Carisa Nietsche</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/stacie-pettyjohn">Stacie Pettyjohn</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/ruby-scanlon">Ruby Scanlon</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/paul-scharre">Paul Scharre</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/philip-sheers">Philip Sheers</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/jacob-stokes">Jacob Stokes</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/taren-sylvester">Taren Sylvester</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/adam-h-tong">Adam H. Tong</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/constanza-m-vidal-bustamante">Constanza M. Vidal Bustamante</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/josh-wallin">Josh Wallin</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/becca-wasser">Becca Wasser</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/caleb-withers">Caleb Withers</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/robert-work">Robert O. Work</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="menu__pane -c6"> <h3 class="menu__heading" data-toc-skip>Adjunct Experts</h3> <ul class="menu__list"> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/experts#adjunct">All Adjunct Experts</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="menu__list"> <li class="break"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/manpreet-singh-anand">Manpreet Singh Anand</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/brandon-j-archuleta">Brandon J. Archuleta</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/lt-gen-robert-ashley-jr-ret">Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley, Jr. (Ret.)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/christian-beckner">Christian Beckner</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/samuel-bendett">Samuel Bendett</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/paul-benfield">Paul Benfield</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/rachel-brandenburg">Rachel Brandenburg</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/dr-jonathan-brewer">Dr. Jonathan Brewer</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/josh-campbell">Josh Campbell</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/pablo-chavez">Pablo Chavez</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/richard-connolly">Richard Connolly</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/john-costello">John Costello</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/eitan-danon">Eitan Danon</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/richard-j-danzig">Richard J. Danzig</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/jason-dempsey">Jason Dempsey</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/yaya-j-fanusie">Yaya J. Fanusie</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/ryan-fedasiuk">Ryan Fedasiuk</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/david-feith">David Feith</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/edward-fishman-1">Edward Fishman</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/tim-fist">Tim Fist</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/greg-grant">Greg Grant</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/dr-erik-lin-greenberg">Dr. Erik Lin-Greenberg</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/michael-greenwald">Michael Greenwald</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/hamzeh-hadad">Hamzeh Hadad</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/hon-robert-f-hale">Hon. Robert F. Hale</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/heli-hautala">Heli Hautala</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/franz-stefan-gady">Franz-Stefan Gady</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/jeannette-gaudry-haynie">Dr. Jeannette Gaudry Haynie</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/jacob-helberg">Jacob Helberg</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/michelle-holko-phd-pmp">Michelle Holko, PhD, PMP</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/john-hughes">John Hughes</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/kyleanne-hunter">Dr. Kyleanne Hunter</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/ltg-anthony-r-tony-ierardi-usa-ret">LTG Anthony R. "Tony" Ierardi, USA (Ret.)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/akira-igata">Akira Igata</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/elsa-b-kania">Elsa B. Kania</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/robert-kaplan">Robert D. Kaplan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/duyeon-kim">Dr. Duyeon Kim</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/christopher-d-kolenda">Christopher D. Kolenda</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/margarita-rita-konaev">Margarita "Rita" Konaev</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/steven-kosiak">Steven Kosiak</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/dr-andrew-f-krepinevich-jr">Dr. Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr.</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/thomas-krueger">Thomas Krueger</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/peter-l-levin">Peter L. 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Capitol Peak works with leading financial institutions, companies and organizations to navigate emerging technologies, financial regulation, and economic crisis. As a regulatory lawyer, economic policymaker, and financial diplomat, Alex brings a depth of public and private sector experience at the intersection of financial services, economics, and national security covering anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), economic sanctions, investment security, financial regulation, economic crisis response, anti-corruption, financial enforcement and oversight investigations, and public-private partnerships. </p> <p>Alex has worked across the U.S. government, including at the White House National Economic Council, House of Representatives, Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), and the Treasury Department’s Office of International Affairs, Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). In 2018-2019, Alex deployed to Afghanistan to lead the Treasury Department office at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul as the Financial Attaché. Alex is also an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS, a Senior Advisor to WestExec Advisors, and a Term Member at the Council on Foreign Relations.</p> </div> <p class="center"><a href="https://cnas.secure.force.com/donate" class="button -solid">Support CNAS</a></p> </div> <section class="publications-block wrapper -extra-large margin-vertical-2x"> <h2 class="section-title -custom -related margin-bottom-half-em"> <span class="custom-text"> <span>Recent</span> Publications & News </span> </h2> <div class="wrapper -custom"> <ul class="entry-listing"> <li class="-with-image"> <div class="labeled-image"> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/greenback-warfare-the-treasury-departments-approach-to-global-economic-security" aria-label="Greenback Warfare: The Treasury Department’s Approach to Global Economic Security - image link"> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" srcset=" https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/hero/_165x110_crop_center-center_none/treasury-department-sanctions.jpg 165w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/hero/_285x190_crop_center-center_none/treasury-department-sanctions.jpg 285w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/hero/_400x267_crop_center-center_none/treasury-department-sanctions.jpg 400w" sizes="(min-width: 600px) 285px, (min-width: 430px) 400px, calc(100vw - 30px)" width="400" height="267" class="desaturate" alt=""> </a> <span class="label">Commentary</span> </div> <ul class="entry-listing__meta"> <li>Lawfare</li> <li>May 23, 2024</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/greenback-warfare-the-treasury-departments-approach-to-global-economic-security" class="sans-serif fz16 bold margin-top-half-em">Greenback Warfare: The Treasury Department’s Approach to Global Economic Security</a> <p class="fz15 margin-top-1em"> <span class="screenreader-only">By</span> Alex Zerden </p> </li> <li class="-with-image"> <div class="labeled-image"> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/press/in-the-news/china-fires-back-at-u-s-sanctions" aria-label="China Fires Back at U.S. Sanctions - image link"> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" srcset=" https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/title/_165x110_crop_center-center_none/china-stock-market-trade-getty.jpg 165w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/title/_285x190_crop_center-center_none/china-stock-market-trade-getty.jpg 285w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/title/_400x267_crop_center-center_none/china-stock-market-trade-getty.jpg 400w" sizes="(min-width: 600px) 285px, (min-width: 430px) 400px, calc(100vw - 30px)" width="400" height="267" class="desaturate" alt=""> </a> <span class="label">In The News</span> </div> <ul class="entry-listing__meta"> <li>Axios</li> <li>December 29, 2023</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/press/in-the-news/china-fires-back-at-u-s-sanctions" class="sans-serif fz16 bold margin-top-half-em">China Fires Back at U.S. Sanctions</a> <p class="fz15 margin-top-1em"> <span class="screenreader-only">By</span> Alex Zerden </p> </li> <li class="-with-image"> <div class="labeled-image"> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/press/in-the-news/is-cryptocurrency-enabling-hamas-efforts-to-halt-terror-funding-revive" aria-label="Is Cryptocurrency Enabling Hamas? Efforts to Halt Terror Funding Revive. - image link"> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" srcset=" https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/title/_165x110_crop_center-center_none/HAMAS-Fighter-Gaza.jpg 165w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/title/_285x190_crop_center-center_none/HAMAS-Fighter-Gaza.jpg 285w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/title/_400x267_crop_center-center_none/HAMAS-Fighter-Gaza.jpg 400w" sizes="(min-width: 600px) 285px, (min-width: 430px) 400px, calc(100vw - 30px)" width="400" height="267" class="desaturate" alt=""> </a> <span class="label">In The News</span> </div> <ul class="entry-listing__meta"> <li>The Christian Science Monitor</li> <li>December 1, 2023</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/press/in-the-news/is-cryptocurrency-enabling-hamas-efforts-to-halt-terror-funding-revive" class="sans-serif fz16 bold margin-top-half-em">Is Cryptocurrency Enabling Hamas? Efforts to Halt Terror Funding Revive.</a> <p class="fz15 margin-top-1em"> <span class="screenreader-only">By</span> Alex Zerden </p> </li> <li class="-with-image"> <div class="labeled-image"> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/press/in-the-news/binance-penalties-include-a-number-of-crypto-industry-firsts" aria-label="Binance Penalties Include a Number of Crypto Industry Firsts - image link"> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" srcset=" https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/title/_165x110_crop_center-center_none/US-Treasury-department-Hero-Getty.jpg 165w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/title/_285x190_crop_center-center_none/US-Treasury-department-Hero-Getty.jpg 285w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/title/_400x267_crop_center-center_none/US-Treasury-department-Hero-Getty.jpg 400w" sizes="(min-width: 600px) 285px, (min-width: 430px) 400px, calc(100vw - 30px)" width="400" height="267" class="desaturate" alt=""> </a> <span class="label">In The News</span> </div> <ul class="entry-listing__meta"> <li>The Wall Street Journal</li> <li>November 22, 2023</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/press/in-the-news/binance-penalties-include-a-number-of-crypto-industry-firsts" class="sans-serif fz16 bold margin-top-half-em">Binance Penalties Include a Number of Crypto Industry Firsts</a> <p class="fz15 margin-top-1em"> <span class="screenreader-only">By</span> Alex Zerden </p> </li> <li class="-with-image"> <div class="labeled-image"> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/press/in-the-news/new-binance-ceo-tengs-first-job-is-to-avert-customer-exodus" aria-label="New Binance CEO Teng’s First Job Is to Avert Customer Exodus - image link"> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" srcset=" https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/title/_165x110_crop_center-center_none/bitcoin-cryptocurrency-btc-currency.jpeg 165w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/title/_285x190_crop_center-center_none/bitcoin-cryptocurrency-btc-currency.jpeg 285w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/title/_400x267_crop_center-center_none/bitcoin-cryptocurrency-btc-currency.jpeg 400w" sizes="(min-width: 600px) 285px, (min-width: 430px) 400px, calc(100vw - 30px)" width="400" height="267" class="desaturate" alt=""> </a> <span class="label">In The News</span> </div> <ul class="entry-listing__meta"> <li>Bloomberg</li> <li>November 21, 2023</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/press/in-the-news/new-binance-ceo-tengs-first-job-is-to-avert-customer-exodus" class="sans-serif fz16 bold margin-top-half-em">New Binance CEO Teng’s First Job Is to Avert Customer Exodus</a> <p class="fz15 margin-top-1em"> <span class="screenreader-only">By</span> Alex Zerden </p> </li> </ul> <p class="margin-top-1em"> <a href="/reports?author=alex-zerden" class="button">View All Reports <span class="screenreader-only">by Alex Zerden</span></a> <a href="/articles-multimedia?author=alex-zerden" class="button">View All Articles & Multimedia <span class="screenreader-only">by Alex Zerden</span></a> </p> </div> <dl class="publications-block__nav"> <dt> <span class="screenreader-only">More</span> Publications <span class="screenreader-only">by Alex Zerden</span> </dt> <dd><a href="https://www.cnas.org/articles-multimedia?type=commentary&author=alex-zerden">Commentaries</a></dd> <dd><a href="https://www.cnas.org/articles-multimedia?type=podcast&author=alex-zerden">Podcasts</a></dd> <dd><a href="https://www.cnas.org/articles-multimedia?type=video&author=alex-zerden">Videos</a></dd> <dt> Press <span class="screenreader-only">Relating to Alex Zerden</span> </dt> <dd><a href="https://www.cnas.org/press?type=in-the-news&author=alex-zerden">In The News</a></dd> <dd><a href="https://www.cnas.org/press?type=press-note&author=alex-zerden">Press Notes</a></dd> <dd><a 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