Brian Knight
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Former Senior Research FellowFormer Director of Innovation and Governance
Brian Knight was the Director of Innovation and Governance and a Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
Brian’s research focuses on numerous aspects of financial regulation, including the creation of pro-innovation regulatory environments, the role of federalism in fintech regulation, the use of digital assets for financial transactions, the role of regulation for credit markets and consumer protection, and the provision of capital to businesses.
Prior to joining Mercatus, Brian worked for the Milken Institute, where he headed up the FinTech and Capital Access programs. He has experience working for a broker-dealer with a focus on the emerging online private-placement market and was the co-founder of CrowdCheck, a company providing due-diligence and disclosure services to companies and intermediaries engaged in online private offerings.
Brian received his law degree from the University of Virginia and his bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary.
Latest Work
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Will Colorado Deny Its Residents Access to Credit?
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Response to the OCC's Proposed Changes to the Licensing Manual regarding Charter Applications from Fintech Companies
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How States Can Still Outmatch OCC over Fintech
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The OCC's Unimaginative Approach to Innovation
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Federalism and Federalization on the Fintech Frontier
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Book Chapters Book Chapters
Federalism and FinTech

- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How Fintech Can Take Off Without Getting Hampered by Regulations
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Risks to Innovative Credit Posed by Emerging Regulatory and Litigation Trends
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The CFPB Should Be a Bipartisan Commission
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Response to OCC White Paper Exploring Special Purpose National Bank Charters for Fintech Companies
Latest Work
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Will Colorado Deny Its Residents Access to Credit?
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Response to the OCC's Proposed Changes to the Licensing Manual regarding Charter Applications from Fintech Companies
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How States Can Still Outmatch OCC over Fintech
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The OCC's Unimaginative Approach to Innovation
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Federalism and Federalization on the Fintech Frontier
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Book Chapters Book Chapters
Federalism and FinTech

- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How Fintech Can Take Off Without Getting Hampered by Regulations
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Risks to Innovative Credit Posed by Emerging Regulatory and Litigation Trends
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The CFPB Should Be a Bipartisan Commission
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments