Our Research

FIR develops evidence-based research for decisions involving Bitcoin, AI, energy and compute systems, institutional change, and long-term adaptation. Outputs range from policy briefing notes and reports to technical reports, academic manuscripts, models, and decision-support tools.

Latest Release

Rudd MA. 2026. Conditions supporting Bitcoin price trajectories: an inverse framework for scenario assessment. DOI forthcoming - download available below:

Dr. Murray Rudd

Murray Rudd is an economist and institutional researcher whose current work focuses on Bitcoin, AI, horizon scanning, and governance under rapid technological change. His research combines applied economics, institutional analysis, quantitative methods, and structured research-priority setting to examine how technologies interact with markets, infrastructure, policy, and organizational capacity.

Experience

• Futures Insight Research, Canada (Founder, 2026-present). Independent research and advisory work on Bitcoin economics and institutions, AI and economic adaptation, energy and compute systems, horizon scanning, and governance under rapid technological change.
• Consulting economist (Independent practice, 2019-2026). Research design, economic analysis, survey development, and policy-focused consulting for public agencies, academic partners, and other organizations.
• World Maritime University, Sweden (Nippon Foundation Chair in Sustainable Marine Management and Ocean Governance, 2018-2019). Full Professor and endowed chair focused on sustainable marine management, ocean governance, and policy-relevant research.
• Emory University, USA (Associate Professor, Environmental Sciences, 2015-2017). Teaching, research, and supervision in environmental economics and policy.
• University of York, UK (Senior Lecturer, Environmental Economics, 2010-2015). Teaching, research, and supervision in environmental economics and policy.
• Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada (Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Ecological Economics, 2006-2009). Teaching, research, and supervision in environmental economics and policy.

Earlier roles include Senior Economist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Adjunct Professor at Dalhousie University; and faculty and center director appointments with the School for Field Studies in British Columbia and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Selected advisory and consulting work

• Satoshi Action Education (2023-2025). Science advisor on Bitcoin, energy, economics, and public policy.
• Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (2021-2022). International survey to advance use of Adverse Outcome Pathways in radiation research.
• Transport Canada (2019-2020). Assessment methods and benefit estimates for the economic effects of aquatic invasive species in Canada.
• Baylor University and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016-2017). Survey instrument design on successful environmental health-service delivery.
• Mekong River Commission (2014-2015). Socioeconomic impacts and implications of reduced capture fisheries in the Lower Mekong Basin.

Selected publications

Full publication list available on Google Scholar.

Bitcoin and energy

• Rudd, M. A., Jones, M., Sechrest, D., Batten, D., & Porter, D. (2024). An integrated landfill-gas-to-energy and Bitcoin mining framework. Journal of Cleaner Production, 472, 143516.
• Rudd, M. A., et al. (2023). Bitcoin and its energy, environmental, and social impacts: an assessment of key research needs in the mining sector. Challenges, 14, 47.
• Rudd, M. A. (2023). Bitcoin is full of surprises. Challenges 14: 27. 
• Carter, N., Connell, S., Jones, B., Porter, D., & Rudd, M. A. (2023). Leveraging Bitcoin miners as flexible load resources for power system stability. SSRN preprint.

Bitcoin finance

• Rudd, M. A., Porter, D. (2025a). A supply and demand framework for Bitcoin price forecasting. Journal of Risk and Financial Management 18: 66.
• Rudd, M. A., Porter, D. (2025b). Bitcoin supply, demand, and price dynamics. Journal of Risk and Financial Management 18: 570.

AI research

• Rudd, M. A. (2026). Measuring AI before its effects arrive: adaptation demand and the economic impact chain. SSRN working paper.

Institutions and policy

• Rudd, M. A. (2026). Keeping the future visible: institutional anchors and time preference in ecosystem service appraisal. SSRN working paper.
• Rudd, M. A. (2004). An institutional framework for designing and monitoring ecosystem-based fisheries management policy experiments. Ecological Economics, 48, 109-124.
• Rudd, M. A., et al. (2018). Ocean ecosystem-based management mandates and implementation in the North Atlantic. Frontiers in Marine Science, 5, 485.
• Lawton, R. N., & Rudd, M. A. (2013). Crossdisciplinary research contributions to the United Kingdom's national ecosystem assessment. Ecosystem Services, 5, 149-159.
• Rudd, M. A. (2015). Scientists' framing of the ocean science-policy interface. Global Environmental Change, 33, 44-60.

Horizon scanning and research priorities

• Sutherland, W. J., Fleishman, E., Mascia, M. B., Pretty, J., & Rudd, M. A. (2011). Methods for collaborative identification of policy-relevant research priorities, policy options, and emerging issues. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 2, 238-247.
• Rudd, M. A., et al. (2011). Generation of priority research questions to inform conservation policy and management at a national level. Conservation Biology, 25, 476-484.
• Rudd, M. A., et al. (2018). Climate research priorities for policy-makers, practitioners, and scientists in Georgia, USA. Environmental Management, 62, 190-209.
• Boxall, A. B. A., Rudd, M. A., et al. (2012). Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment: what are the big questions?. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120, 1221-1229.
• Rudd, M. A., & Fleishman, E. (2014). Policymakers' and scientists' ranks of the top 40 priorities for science to inform resource-management policy in the United States. BioScience, 64, 219-228.

Environmental economics and valuation

• Rudd, M. A., Kilfoil, M., & Andres, S. (2015). Species-, guild-, and ecosystem-oriented approaches for quantifying passive use values of little-known aquatic species at risk. Environmental Management, 58, 476-490.
• Rudd, M. A. (2011). An exploratory analysis of societal preferences for research-driven quality of life improvements in Canada. Social Indicators Research, 101, 127-153.
• Rudd, M. A., Pelletier, N., & Tyedmers, P. (2011). Preferences for health and environmental attributes of farmed salmon amongst southern Ontario salmon consumers. Aquaculture Economics and Management, 15, 1-28.
• Rudd, M. A. (2009). National values for regional aquatic species at risk in Canada. Endangered Species Research, 6, 239-249.

Education

• PhD, Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Netherlands (2003). Rural and agricultural policy; economics of consumers and households. Included one year on a Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis Fellowship at Indiana University (1998-1999) for study under Nobel laureate Elinor Ostrom. Dissertation: Institutional analysis of marine reserves and fisheries governance policy experiments: a case study of Nassau grouper conservation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
• BSc (Agr) and MSc, Agricultural Economics, University of British Columbia (1993 and 1997, respectively).

Contact

Email regarding research, advisory, speaking, or collaboration inquiries or schedule a 30-minute introductory call.