Ed Felten

Ed Felten is a prominent figure in the fields of computer science and technology policy. He currently serves as the Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at Offchain Labs, a company known for developing Arbitrum, a leading Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum. Felten has been instrumental in spearheading the development of this technology since the company's inception in September 2018.1 2

Academic and Professional Background

Felten is also a Professor Emeritus of Computer Science and Public Affairs at Princeton University, where he had a significant tenure before transitioning to his current role at Offchain Labs. His academic career includes founding Princeton's Center for Information Technology Policy, which focuses on the intersection of technology and public policy.3 4

Before co-founding Offchain Labs, Felten held several notable positions, including serving as the Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer during the Obama administration from 2015 to 2017. He has also worked with the Federal Trade Commission and has been involved with various advisory boards related to privacy and civil liberties.2 3

Education

Felten holds a B.S. in Physics from Caltech and a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Washington. His research has significantly contributed to areas such as cybersecurity, cryptography, and technology policy.1 2 3

Contributions to Technology

At Offchain Labs, Felten is focused on enhancing Ethereum's scalability through innovative solutions like Arbitrum. His work emphasizes secure, low-cost scaling options for blockchain technologies, making significant impacts on how decentralized applications operate.2 4 He is recognized as a leading expert in his field, being elected to both the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.1 3

In summary, Ed Felten's extensive background in academia, government service, and entrepreneurship positions him as a key player in advancing blockchain technology and its integration into broader societal frameworks.