South Carolina Digital Economic Freedom Forum Draws Strong Attendance, Advances Dialogue on AI, Digital Assets, and Economic Infrastructure

The South Carolina Emerging Tech Association (SCETA) hosted a successful Digital Economic Freedom Forum on March 2, 2026, bringing together policymakers, technologists, financial leaders, and infrastructure experts to examine how artificial intelligence, digital assets, and emerging technologies are reshaping the state’s economic future.

Held at Stone River in West Columbia, the forum convened a diverse group of state leaders and national experts for an evening of policy-focused discussion on innovation, trust, and economic competitiveness in a rapidly digitizing economy.

Opening remarks were delivered by South Carolina State Treasurer Curtis M. Loftis Jr. and SCETA President Dennis Fassuliotis, who framed the central question guiding the forum: how states can responsibly adopt emerging technologies while protecting economic freedom, maintaining public trust, and supporting long-term growth.

Panels and presentations throughout the evening explored key issues including:

• Artificial intelligence governance and accountability

• Digital asset innovation and regulatory clarity

• Infrastructure requirements for AI and blockchain systems

• Workforce readiness for emerging technology sectors

• Opportunities for South Carolina to attract capital investment and digital infrastructure

The keynote address, “Seeing Is No Longer Believing: Trust and Identity in the Age of AI,” was delivered by Dr. Scott Stornetta, CEO of SureMark Digital and co-inventor of blockchain timestamping technology. Stornetta discussed the growing importance of cryptographic verification and immutable records as artificial intelligence becomes embedded in financial systems and economic infrastructure.

Speakers included leaders from across the technology, financial, and policy sectors, with representatives from Core Scientific - SCETA’s lead sponsor - along with Sei Labs, Metafide, Roark Ridge Advisory, Shaw Circle, and Skyrocket.

Participants described the event as a meaningful step toward strengthening collaboration between South Carolina’s emerging technology sector and state policymakers.

“The conversations at this forum reflected the seriousness of the moment,” said Dennis Fassuliotis, President of SCETA. “Artificial intelligence and digital financial infrastructure are not distant concepts—they are already shaping how markets function and how economies grow. South Carolina has an opportunity to approach these changes with clarity, responsibility, and a commitment to economic freedom.”

Legislative Education Session and Senate Testimony

The discussions continued the following day during a Legislative Education Session at the South Carolina State House, where lawmakers and the public were briefed on the policy implications of artificial intelligence, blockchain infrastructure, and digital asset markets.

On March 3, Fassuliotis also appeared before the South Carolina Senate during testimony related to S.163, addressing the growing importance of data center infrastructure and its role in supporting artificial intelligence systems and digital economic activity.

During the testimony, Fassuliotis highlighted the economic significance of data centers for local communities, emphasizing their role in job creation, infrastructure investment, and positioning states to participate in the expanding digital economy.

“Data centers are the physical backbone of the digital economy,” Fassuliotis said during the hearing. “They support artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and financial infrastructure that modern economies depend on. Communities that understand and responsibly attract this infrastructure will be better positioned for long-term economic growth.”

The testimony reinforced themes discussed during the forum—namely that the intersection of AI infrastructure, digital markets, and state policy is becoming a defining economic issue for the coming decade.

Building South Carolina’s Digital Economic Future

Organizers noted that the forum was designed as a policy-focused convening rather than a promotional event, with the goal of fostering substantive dialogue between innovators, infrastructure operators, legal experts, and public officials.

SCETA plans to continue hosting similar forums to support informed policymaking and strengthen South Carolina’s role in emerging technology sectors.

A video roundup highlighting key moments from the March 2 forum has been released and is now available here.