Virtual Forum Will Feature Industry Leaders Addressing Key Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Challenges
NEW YORK — October 26, 2021 — Seward & Kissel will host its inaugural Blockchain Symposium virtually on Wednesday, November 10.
The Symposium will highlight thought-provoking discussions with industry leaders addressing timely challenges impacting the blockchain and cryptocurrency industries, and will include a keynote address by Anthony Scaramucci, founder and co-managing partner of SkyBridge.
“The cryptocurrency and blockchain technology industries have sustained rapid growth over the past few years, which has created additional pressures for regulators to keep up with increased regulatory gaps and complexities,” said Anthony Tu-Sekine, partner and head of Seward & Kissel’s Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Group.
“As the cryptocurrency industry develops novel and innovative financial instruments, and traditional finance begins adopting blockchain and distributed ledger technology, there is an ever growing need to stay ahead of the curve, which includes maintaining a keen awareness of the host of rules and regulations in this space. The first bitcoin futures ETF has begun trading on the NYSE, and it is just the first domino to fall. I expect slow but steady resolution of regulatory issues in the U.S. and hopefully throughout the world in the near future.”
Throughout the afternoon, panelists will take a deep dive into cutting-edge legal, compliance, and business issues currently impacting the industry, including sanctions and anti-money laundering, a view from regulated institutions, and the emergence of decentralized finance and how it can operate within existing financial regulations.
Panels will feature speakers from Seward & Kissel’s Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Group as well as individuals from ErisX, Fidelity Digital Assets, Gemini, Paxos, Ripple, Bittrex, MakerDAO, Nivaura, and Akiva Capital Management.
Symposium Agenda (all times in EST)
1:30 PM Financial Crimes: New Challenges Impacting the Crypto and Blockchain Industries
This panel will focus on the key financial crimes challenges impacting the cryptocurrency and blockchain industries, with a particular emphasis on U.S. economic sanctions and anti-money laundering laws. The panelists will address evolutions in the law, as well as innovations in compliance practices and technology, and discuss how financial regulators (as well as C Suite) are thinking of financial crimes risk mitigation in the era of crypto. Finally, the panelists will look to the future, previewing the present and future regulatory enforcement environment, trends, and how the industry can keep up with the ever-changing sophistication of threats.
Panelists:
- Mike Carter, Chief Compliance Officer, Bittrex
- Elena Hughes, Chief Compliance Officer, Gemini
- Minakshi Yerra, Global Head of AML/Sanctions, Ripple
- Moderated by Andrew Jacobson, Associate, Seward & Kissel
2:30 PM The Importance of Regulated Exchanges and Intermediaries
Legislators and regulators keep calling for regulation of intermediaries in the cryptocurrency world, such as exchanges and custodians. This panel features representatives of leading institutions that have gone through the arduous process of licensing, and will discuss the benefits of being a regulated intermediary, or in crypto parlance, being CeFi in a DeFi world.
Panelists:
- Ji Kim, Associate General Counsel & Head of Regulatory Affairs, Gemini
- Marissa MacDonald, Chief Compliance Officer, Fidelity Digital Assets
- Leighton Dellinger, Senior Regulatory Counsel, Paxos
- Matthew Trudeau, Chief Operating Officer, ErisX
- Moderated by Casey Jennings, Associate, Seward & Kissel
3:30 PM Structured Finance in DeFi
The panel will focus on a discussion of structured finance applications and possibilities using decentralized finance platforms, along with a discussion of legal and regulatory risks facing DeFi platforms and users. The panel features panelists that have successfully launched a number of such structured finance projects and products, who will share their insights and experiences while introducing concepts and discussing pitfalls to avoid.
Panelists:
- Avtar Sehra, President of Nivaura
- Sébastien Derivaux, Head of Senior Tranches of Securitizations, MakerDao
- Anthony Tu-Sekine, Partner, Seward & Kissel
- Moderated by Akiva Dubrofsky, CEO of Akiva Capital Management LLC and Member of Maker Open Market Committee
4:30 PM Keynote Address
- Anthony Scaramucci, founder and co-managing partner, SkyBridge
About Seward & Kissel LLP
Seward & Kissel LLP, founded in 1890, is a leading U.S. law firm with an international reputation for excellence. The Firm is home to one of the largest investment management practices and has been recognized for its representation of both large, institutional investment funds, as well as emerging managers across all strategies and asset classes.
The Seward & Kissel SKrypto blog covers cryptocurrency and blockchain news alongside heart-of-the-matter analysis and interviews with industry insiders.