WVBF advances nonpartisan education and policy development around blockchain, artificial intelligence, digital assets, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and emerging technology.
Our work includes legislative education, policy development, published commentary, public comments, stakeholder briefings, and engagement with public officials and community leaders.
Shekinah Apedo / WVBF Digital Innovation & Economic Development Breakfast Briefing, August 2026
01 / Policy development
Legislative Policy Development
WVBF helps develop policy concepts intended to modernize West Virginia law and position the state for responsible growth in emerging technology.
2026 Regular SessionIntroduced proposal
HCR 4
Genesis Working Group
“Requesting the Joint Committee on Technology & Infrastructure to establish a Genesis Working Group to coordinate statewide planning for artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, digital infrastructure, and energy-based economic development.”
Lead sponsor
Delegate Daniel Linville
Introduced
January 20, 2026
Referred to
Committee on Energy and Public Works, then Rules
Status
Pending
Proposed statewide focus
Artificial intelligence
High-performance computing
Digital infrastructure
Data centers
Bitcoin mining and flexible computational loads
Energy resources
Broadband
Workforce development
Site readiness
Federal Genesis Mission opportunities
WVBF helped develop the policy concept behind HCR 4, a proposal to coordinate statewide planning for artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, digital infrastructure, energy resources, workforce development, and related economic-development opportunities.
Introduced January 20, 2026; referred to the Committee on Energy and Public Works, then Rules. Pending.
A proposal to modernize West Virginia's Uniform Unclaimed Property Act for digital financial assets.
Sponsor
Senator Mike Oliverio
Introduced
February 23, 2026
Referred to
Committee on Government Organization, then Committee on Finance
Status
Pending
Proposed framework
Report qualifying assets under existing unclaimed-property rules
Deliver assets in native form or as liquidated cash proceeds
Preserve digital assets in native form rather than liquidating immediately
Hold native-form assets for at least three years before discretionary liquidation
Administer the framework without state-owned custody infrastructure
WVBF helped develop proposed legislative language for SB 1069 to modernize West Virginia's treatment of unclaimed digital financial assets and align state law with emerging digital-asset custody practices.
Introduced February 23, 2026; referred to the Committee on Government Organization, then the Committee on Finance. Pending.
WVBF participates in the legislative process through public comments, policy briefings, educational materials, and direct engagement with lawmakers and public officials on emerging-technology issues.
SB 686
Energy policy & emerging compute
WVBF submitted public comment on responsible energy development, recognizing high-performance computing, AI data centers, and blockchain infrastructure as emerging demand and economic-development factors.
WVBF submitted public comment supporting transparent, predictable, and nondiscriminatory pricing for large energy users while protecting West Virginia ratepayers.
WVBF submitted public comment addressing Bitcoin mining, blockchain data centers, and high-performance computing within West Virginia's strategic-infrastructure planning.
WVBF submitted substantive public comment to the House Finance Committee regarding HB 5353. The comment supported responsible regulation of virtual-currency kiosks and recommended additional consumer protections, including stronger fee transparency, consumer education, and fraud-prevention measures.
WVBF participated in the legislative process by submitting substantive policy recommendations on HB 5353, legislation regulating virtual-currency kiosks that was subsequently enacted in 2026.
HB 5353 subsequently passed the Legislature and became law in 2026.
On August 11, 2026, WVBF convened the Digital Innovation & Economic Development Breakfast Briefing at the West Virginia State Capitol. The program created a plain-language forum connecting emerging technology, entrepreneurship, workforce development, public policy, and West Virginia's economic future.
August 11, 2026Digital Innovation & Economic Development Breakfast Briefing
West Virginia State Capitol, Charleston
WVBF POLICY BRIEFINGWest Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner addresses briefing attendees.WEST VIRGINIA ROOTSThe West Virginia Coal Miner Memorial and State Capitol.PUBLIC LEADERSHIPDelegate Tristan Leavitt, House District 53, addresses the room.CIVIC ENGAGEMENTShekinah Apedo with U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito.POLICY EDUCATIONShekinah Apedo presents WVBF's framework for expanding technology-driven opportunity in West Virginia.
Photographs document WVBF programming and civic engagement. Appearance does not imply endorsement, sponsorship, or a formal institutional partnership.
03 / Authored perspectives
Published Commentary
WVBF contributes to public conversations on emerging technology, digital infrastructure, innovation policy, workforce development, and responsible technology adoption through published commentary across West Virginia.
Published commentary
From Steel to Code: Region's Next Innovation Frontier
The Intelligencer · Wheeling, West Virginia · September 2025
A case for positioning the Ohio Valley and Northern Panhandle for the next wave of digital infrastructure, blockchain, emerging technology, and innovation-led economic development.
Weirton Daily Times · Weirton, West Virginia · August 9, 2025
A case for positioning the Northern Panhandle as a digital infrastructure corridor through AI, blockchain, Bitcoin mining, workforce development, and energy-backed economic growth.
Charleston Gazette-Mail · Charleston, West Virginia · August 22, 2026
Commentary by Shekinah Apedo on West Virginia's growing activity in blockchain, artificial intelligence, emerging technology policy, and economic development.
WVBF's policy, education, and emerging-technology work has also been covered by independent media.
Independent coverage / Black By God
Independent media coverage
Blockchain, Crypto, and the New DUNA Law: Lawmakers and Nonprofits Gather for Digital Innovation Summit
Black By God · August 15, 2026
Independent coverage of WVBF's Digital Innovation & Economic Development briefing at the West Virginia State Capitol, including discussion of the DUNA Act, digital-asset legislation, blockchain policy, and West Virginia's emerging-technology strategy.
This article reports on WVBF's work; it is separate from commentary authored by Shekinah Apedo.
Energy policy & emerging compute
WVBF submitted public comment on responsible energy development, recognizing high-performance computing, AI data centers, and blockchain infrastructure as emerging demand and economic-development factors.
View public comment record ↗Ratepayer protection & large-load policy
WVBF submitted public comment supporting transparent, predictable, and nondiscriminatory pricing for large energy users while protecting West Virginia ratepayers.
View public comment record ↗Strategic digital infrastructure
WVBF submitted public comment addressing Bitcoin mining, blockchain data centers, and high-performance computing within West Virginia's strategic-infrastructure planning.
View public comment record ↗