Jonathan Dharmapalan

Jonathan Dharmapalan is a Californian entrepreneur, engineer, and inventor. He is the founder of eCurrency Mint.
==Early Life and Education==
Dharmapalan was born in Kandy, Sri Lanka, on July 31, 1963. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston while pursuing studies in music. He subsequently earned his Master of Science degree at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California.
==Business Career==
===Early Career===
Dharmapalan began his career at AT&T Bell Labs. He later joined Deloitte and made Partner in 1995. He led their Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Consulting Practice and led Deloitte’s Silicon Valley office. Dharmapalan then joined Ernst & Young and led its Global Telecommunications Practice.
==eCurrency==
Dharmapalan launched the company eCurrency Mint in 2011 to develop and promote the global migration to a digital currency issued by central banks. He is best known for inventing the technology for Central Bank Digital Currency, which he created by digitizing and securing digital objects from a single secure source. He went on to invent the technology to enable central banks to issue currency digitally, and he holds the original patents on Networked Authentication, Networked Authentication systems and methods, and Electronic Currency and Authentication System and Method. 
Dharmapalan has written on digital fiat currency and has presented on the subject at central bank conferences. 
Dharmapalan conceptualized the issuance of a cryptographically secured currency instrument by a central bank. The concept of digital money was not new and had been previously examined by others including David Chaum, founder of DigiCash. In 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto released a white paper on a peer-to-peer currency Bitcoin. Neither took into consideration the role of the central bank in issuing currency.
In 2022, eCurrency Mint became the first commercial entity awarded a long-term contract to deliver Central Bank Digital Currency, when the company entered into a long-term partnership with Bank of Jamaica to provide technology services for the national rollout of its Central Bank Digital Currency, known as JAM-DEX.
==Other Interests==
The Dharmapalan family developed and run a 500 acres ranch in Clearlake Oaks, California. The vineyard, named Monte Lago Vineyards, produces sustainably grown wine grapes.
Dharmapalan serves on the board of directors at the Oakland School for the Arts in Oakland, Calif., supporting fundraising events and student benefits programs.
==Bibliography==
===Patents===
* Broadcast conferencing arrangement, August 23, 1988
* Networked Authentication, March 30, 2017
* Networked authentication systems and methods, January 24, 2017
* Networked Authentication Systems and Methods, August 18, 2015
* Electronic currency and authentication system and method, September 29, 2015
* Electronic currency and authentication system and method, April 26, 2012
===Publications===
* The Case for Digital Legal Tender – The Macroeconomic Policy Implications of Digital Fiat Currency, ISBN #9780692849651
* The Case for Digital Legal Tender – Central Bank Issued Digital Currency and its Impact on Financial Inclusion, ISBN #9780692682272
* 10th edition of Inside Telecommunications, 2013
* 1st edition of Inside Telecommunications, Jan – March 2011
Category:Entrepreneurs
Category:Engineers
Category:Inventors
Category:Northeastern University alumni
Category:1963 births
Category:People from Kandy
Category:Sri Lankan people