Seward & Kissel to Host 2021 Blockchain Symposium on November 10

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.

The Symposium agenda and speakers are listed below. To register for the event, please click here.

Symposium Agenda (all times in EST)

1:30 p.m.: Financial Crimes: New Challenges Impacting the Crypto and Blockchain Industries

Moderated by Andrew Jacobson, associate, Seward & Kissel

Mike Carter, chief compliance officer, Bittrex

Elena Hughes, chief compliance officer, Gemini

Minakshi Yerra, global head of AML/sanctions, Ripple

2:30 p.m.: The Importance of Regulated Exchanges and Intermediaries

Moderated by Casey Jennings, associate, Seward & Kissel

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

3:30 p.m.: Structured Finance in DeFi

Moderated by Akiva Dubrofsky, CEO of Akiva Capital Management LLC and member of Maker Open Market Committee

Avtar Sehra, president, Nivaura

Sébastien Derivaux, head of senior tranches of securitizations, MakerDAO

Anthony Tu-Sekine, partner, Seward & Kissel

4:30 p.m.: Keynote Address by 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.

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