Since its launch, the Texas Blockchain Council’s leadership has had strong ties to the DFW area. Now, it’s planting a physical presence in the region with a new headquarters.
The nonprofit trade association, which aims to push the state to become a leader in technology, is joining several other local innovators taking up space in the city of Richardson’s Innovation Quarter.
“With our focus on making Texas a leader in blockchain innovation, it was a natural fit for us,” said Texas Blockchain Council President Lee Bratcher in a statement. “Several of our member companies are headquartered in the area, and The IQ is located in Senate District 8, also home to one of our blockchain industry legislative champions, Senator Angela Paxton.”
The council’s new HQ will be located at The Drawing Board, a local coworking and private office space at 1900 Jay Ell Dr.
The announcement to set up shop in Richardson is unsurprising. Tarski Technologies, a blockchain startup co-founded by council Secretary Michael Lewellen and Hedera Hashgraph. This distributed public ledger platform has raised more than $100 million in funding and is led by council board member Mance Harmon. Both have their headquarters in the city. In addition, Bratcher and blockchain council Treasurer Jeff Johnson has ties to Dallas Baptist University. At the same time, board member Nathan Nichols is a managing partner of local bitcoin mining investment group Palladium Mining Partners.
Other tech- and innovation-related tenants of the Innovation Quarter include nonprofit maker space TheLab and id Software and large tech players like Ericsson, Raytheon, and Siemens. UT Dallas is also planting five research centers under the newly created umbrella of the Centers for Emergent Novel Technology at the Innovation Quarter in the district to look at things like AI, smart mobility and intelligent sensing, in addition to an extension of its Venture Development Center.
Richardson’s Innovation Quarter is a rebranding and renovation project of a 1,200-acre stretch of the city left largely vacant by the telecom crash of the early 2000s, which the city unveiled last year. According to the city, the district is home to more than 1,000 businesses with over 19,000 workers.
“We are excited to welcome the Texas Blockchain Council to Richardson and look forward to the continued contributions that this rapidly growing and evolving industry group will add to The IQ’s momentum as a home for commercially impactful technology,” said Richardson Mayor Paul Voelker in a statement. “By establishing its headquarters in The IQ, the Texas Blockchain Council will further boost the credentials and capabilities of our dynamic innovation ecosystem.”
