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Agenda

2025 DC Fintech Week Schedule

Event Dates:

October 14-17, 2025

Agenda

October 15th at Amazon HQ2

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Mainstage Programming

8:45 – 9:05 a.m.

Trust at Scale: Global Guardrails for a Digital Economy  – A Conversation with Elisa De Anda Madrazo, President of FATF, Financial Action Task Force
 
 • Moderator: Chris Brummer, Founder, DC Fintech Week

9:05 – 9:30 a.m.

The Banking Revolution – A Conversation with Travis Hill, Acting Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

With innovation accelerating and expectations shifting, the very definition of a “bank” is up for debate. In this forward-looking conversation, Travis Hill unpacks how regulatory strategy, consumer demand, and technological disruption are reshaping the role of banking institutions. From charter reform to fintech partnerships, this session explores how the sector can evolve without compromising trust or stability.

 • Moderator: Chris Brummer, Founder, DC Fintech Week

9:30 – 10:00 a.m.

From Banks to Blocks: Unbundling the Next Five Years of Finance

As traditional finance collides with blockchain innovation, the foundations of financial infrastructure are being reimagined from the ground up. In this power-packed conversation, industry veterans and policy leaders explore the shifting role of banks, the rise of decentralized rails, and the policy frameworks needed to support transformation at scale.
 
 • Moderator: Emily Wilkins, Washington Correspondent, CNBC
 • Brent McIntosh, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Citi
 • Caitlin Long, Founder & CEO, Custodia Bank
 • Mannar Hanna, Senior Director, APCO Worldwide

10:00 – 10:30 a.m.

Infrastructure and Policy – A Conversation with Brad Garlinghouse, CEO, Ripple

As the digital asset landscape rapidly evolves, regulatory clarity and sound policy are pivotal to maintaining market integrity and fostering innovation. In this fireside conversation, Brad Garlinghouse discusses the evolving role of U.S. financial policy in shaping digital asset innovation, market structure, and institutional trust in fintech ecosystems. He unpacks the intersection of policy, protocol design, and long-term confidence in next-gen financial systems—and explores how U.S. financial governance can lead—or lag—in shaping the future of global finance.

 • Moderator: Emily Wilkins, Washington Correspondent, CNBC

10:30 – 11:00 a.m.

The Future of Markets 

From trading platforms to tokenized assets and the global labor market, today’s financial ecosystem is being reshaped by new technologies, shifting regulations, and changing patterns of participation. This high-level discussion will explore what the next chapter of markets might look like—where innovation meets policy, and where economic resilience meets volatility.
 
• Moderator: Chris Brummer, Founder, DC Fintech Week
• Bouchra Darwazah, Managing Director- Principal Trading, Galaxy Digital
• Lucas Moskowitz, General Counsel, Robinhood Markets, Inc
• Dante Disparte, Chief Strategy Officer & Head of Global Policy and Operations, Circle Internet Financial LLC
• Karin Kimbrough, Chief Economist, LinkedIn

11:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Agentic AI in Financial Services: What’s Next

Mickey Iqbal, Director of Technology for GenAI Strategic Initiatives – Worldwide Public Sector at AWS showcases real-world deployments of AI-driven compliance and risk scoring systems, with a discussion on model governance, auditability, and ethical design.

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

Enabling Data with DFS Superintendent Adrienne Harris

As fintech reshapes how people access, manage, and move their money, the rules of consumer finance are being rewritten in real time. This fireside conversation brings together a leading policymaker and a pioneering entrepreneur to explore the balance between innovation, access, and oversight. From real-time payments to open finance, the discussion will examine what it takes to build a more transparent, secure, and consumer-centered financial system.
 
• Moderator: Chris Brummer, Founder, DC Fintech Week

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch Break

1:00 – 1:30 p.m.

A Conversation with Federal Reserve Board Christopher J. Waller

This keynote address explores the Federal Reserve’s key economic priorities and strategies for leveraging emerging technologies—particularly AI—in shaping America’s financial future.

 • Moderator: Chris Brummer, Founder, DC Fintech Week

1:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Securing Financial Infrastructure

Identity is becoming core financial infrastructure, essential for trust, security, and access in an increasingly digital economy. Panelists will explore how new approaches to authentication, data-sharing, and decentralized verification are reshaping the way consumers, investors, and small businesses engage with finance.
 
• Moderator: Eleanor Terrett, Journalist, Host, Crypto In America
• Fernando Vazquez, President, Capital Markets, Chainlink
• Peter Kerstens, Advisor, European Commission
• Peter Curley, Head of Global Regulatory Affairs, Ondo Finance
• Faryar Shirzad, Chief Policy Officer, Coinbase

2:00 – 2:25 p.m.

RWA Tokenization: What Asset Classes Will Work—and Which Won’t

As enthusiasm for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization accelerates, the question isn’t whether it will happen—but where it actually works. A candid assessment of what’s working (and not) in tokenizing credit, commodities, real estate, and intellectual property, this panel explores both the front-runners and the flops. With insights from banking, policy, and fintech, the conversation cuts through the hype to map where tokenization adds real value—and where it may fall flat.
 
• Moderator: Chris Brummer, Founder, DC Fintech Week
• Sarah Breeden, Deputy Governor, Bank of England
• Edward Woodford, Founder & CEO, zerohash
• Ebony M. Thompson, City Solicitor, Baltimore City Department of Law
• Peter Hughes, Founder and CEO, Apex Group Ltd.

2:30 – 2:50 p.m.

Have No Fear? Fintech, Finance and the AI Future

As artificial intelligence transforms everything from fraud detection to credit underwriting, financial leaders face a critical question: can innovation scale without sacrificing oversight? In this candid conversation, two top regulators explore how AI is reshaping the architecture of risk, trust, and supervision. From systemic safeguards to competitive advantage, the discussion digs into what it takes to embrace AI without fear—or false confidence.
 
• Moderator: Olivia Peterson, Director of Federal Financial, Amazon Web Services
• Greg Ruppert, Executive Vice President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer, FINRA

3:00 – 3:25 p.m.

Agentic AI —Too Wild For Wall Street?

As autonomous agents and AI copilots leap from research labs into trading desks and risk departments, financial institutions are scrambling to assess both the upside and the uncertainty. This panel explores whether agentic AI can enhance decision-making, compliance, and efficiency—or if it threatens to outpace the very systems meant to govern it.
 
• Moderator: Elise Soucie Watts, Executive Director, Global Digital Finance (GDF)
• Robert Bench, Founder & CEO, Radius
• Sarah Morgenstern, Venture Partner, Flourish Ventures
• Todd Fox, President, Visa Economic Empowerment Institute, Visa USA Inc
• Kendall Howell, Associate, Financial Institutions Group, Davis Polk

3:30 – 4:00 p.m.

The Payments Space Race

As regulatory clarity sharpens and the global race to modernize money accelerates, emerging assets are drawing fresh policy and market focus. This panel explores how next-generation payments — from BNPL to stablecoins — are evolving, delivering on new use cases, unlocking new rails, and providing new value for consumers, traditional finance and Web3 alike. From design choices to policy hurdles, the discussion will unpack who’s leading, what’s launching, and where the friction still lies in scaling new payments tools and networks across borders.
 
• Moderator: Sara Weed, Partner, Co-Chair Fintech + Digital Assets, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
• Joseph Longo, Chair, Australian Securities and Investments Commission
• Katherine Adkins, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, Affirm
• Wade Arnold, Co-Founder and CEO, Moov
• Saurav Sharma, VP, Product Management, Fintech, Intuit

4:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Shaping the Next Chapter of U.S. Financial Innovation – A Conversation with Paul Atkins, Chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

As the digital asset landscape rapidly evolves, regulatory clarity and sound policy are pivotal to maintaining market integrity and fostering innovation. In this keynote address, Paul Atkins will outline the evolving role of U.S. financial policy in shaping digital asset innovation, market structure, and institutional trust in fintech ecosystems. He will highlight the intersection of policy, protocol design, and long-term confidence in next-generation financial systems—and share perspectives on how U.S. financial governance can lead—or lag—in defining the future of global finance.

 • Moderator: Chris Brummer, Founder, DC Fintech Week

4:30 p.m. 

Happy Hour!

Breakout Sessions

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

Media Breakfast presented by the Solana Policy Institute

9:30 – 10:00 a.m.

News of the Day – Punchbowl News’ Community Briefing

An exclusive benefit to Punchbowl News’ Premium subscribers, we’re bringing you a live briefing where senior members of our editorial team discuss what they’re hearing behind-the-scenes on timely issues and take questions from the audience. The conversation will cover a range of topics, from government funding to upcoming debates in Congress, and what to expect in the weeks and months ahead.

10:30 – 11:00 a.m.

AI and Next Gen Technology Are the Future of Fraud Prevention presented by the Financial Technology Association
As scammers get more sophisticated, our fraud-fighting tools must keep pace. Technology is key to the future of fraud prevention, but we need the right policies in place, from digital ID to modern data rules and effective information sharing across the financial ecosystem.
 
• Moderator: Kate Griffin, Director of Programs, Aspen Institute Financial Security Program
• Tyler Hand, Chief Compliance Officer, Block
• John Pitts, Head of Industry Relations and Digital Trust, Plaid
• Michael Sachs, Vice President, Head of Global Investigations, PayPal

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Emerging Tech, Emerging Economies — The African Experience

Explore how emerging technologies are reshaping financial systems across Africa — from fintech innovation and central bank digital strategies to financial inclusion. The discussion will feature several of the continent’s most influential leaders in banking, finance, and innovation, along with a dozen other bankers, and policymakers:
 
• Mr. Daniel Sackey, Chairman of the Board, CalBank | Former CEO, Ecobank Ghana | Faculty Member, CBEL Institute
• Ms. Pearl Nkrumah, Managing Director & CEO, Access Bank Ghana Plc | Chairperson, Ghana Stock Exchange | Executive Participant, CBEL Programme
• Mr. Robert Dzato, Chief Executive Officer, Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana
• Mr. Owureku Asare, Deputy Director, Fintech and Innovation Office, Bank of Ghana

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Reimagining Credit Access to Drive Economic Empowerment presented by Block Inc.

Credit powers the modern American economy, yet traditional credit scoring models struggle to assess creditworthiness as financial products evolve. In this session, panelists will examine the limitations of traditional scoring models and the potential negative impacts to consumers. They will discuss how innovative approaches to scoring can better assess consumer behavior and improve the predictive value of a credit score.
 
• Juan Hernandez, Head of Credit and Underwriting, Block, Inc.
• Dara Duguay, CEO, Credit Builders Alliance
• Kelly Thompson Cochran, Deputy Director, FinRegLab

2:00 – 2:30 p.m. 

Modernizing Reconciliation in Fintech: High-volume System Control and Workflow Management
 

Join ReconArt’s CEO Hristo Marintchev for a discussion around how implementing and supporting ReconArt’s technology has provided a uniquely detailed look into the world of dynamic, high-volume financial operations in Fintech. We’ll examine how the challenges of the past have evolved, and what opportunities the space can seize today to prepare for the future. Bring your own experience and questions for an open discussion at the end.

3:00 – 3:30 p.m.

FinTech at the Crossroads: Compliance, Innovation, and Regulatory Risk presented by Skadden

In today’s fast-moving FinTech landscape, innovation and regulation often collide. From payments to crypto to digital banking, firms are under increasing pressure to balance speed and customer experience with compliance obligations that are only growing more complex.
This fireside chat will feature Alessio Evangelista, Skadden partner and the former Head of Enforcement & Compliance at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), who will share first-hand insights into how regulators approach FinTech, what triggers enforcement actions, and what companies can do to stay ahead of the curve. The conversation will explore:
• How FinCEN views FinTech and emerging technologies such as blockchain, crypto, and digital assets
• Key lessons from past enforcement actions and what FinTech firms can learn from them
• Best practices for building effective AML and KYC programs without stifling innovation
• What’s “over the horizon” in regulatory priorities, and how FinTech leaders can prepare now
 
Panelists:
• Mark Chorazak, Head of Skadden’s Financial Institutions Regulatory Group
• Alessio Evangelista, Skadden Partner and the former Head of Enforcement & Compliance at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)

3:30 – 4:00 p.m. 

What Does Agentic Commerce Mean for Small Businesses presented by Paypal

Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and agentic commerce could be their new superpower. In this PayPal-led session, explore how intelligent agents are revolutionizing everything from payments to inventory management. The panel will explore what policy environments are most appropriate to support small business owners leveraging agentic commerce to boost efficiency, reduce costs, and delight customers.

October 16th at The National Union Building

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The Protocol Layer

Presented by Chainlink

9:00 – 9:45 a.m.

A Speech on Stablecoins with Michael Barr, Governor, Federal Reserve Board

As stablecoins gain momentum in both public and private markets, their regulatory design, technical architecture, and role in the broader financial system are under intense scrutiny. This address offers a forward-looking perspective on how tokenized money can coexist with central banking principles, consumer protections, and cross-border functionality. From systemic risk to financial innovation, the speech outlines the foundational questions that must be answered to build trust in a stablecoin-powered economy.
 
Response Panel
• Moderator: Adam Minehardt, Head of Public Policy, Chainlink Labs
• Corey Then, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Global Policy, Circle

9:45 – 10:20 a.m.

Break

10:20 – 11:05 a.m.

Plug and Play or Plug and Pray?: DeFi Programmability and Compliance

As DeFi protocols grow more composable and customizable, regulators and developers face a shared challenge: how to embed compliance without breaking decentralization. This panel explores whether smart contracts can support real-time regulation, identity, and enforcement—or if programmability and oversight remain at odds. From protocol design to supervisory innovation, the conversation dives into what it takes to make DeFi both usable and lawful.
 
• Moderator: Nikhilesh De, Managing Editor, Global Policy & Regulation, CoinDesk
• Maha El Dimachki, Centre Head, BIS Innovation Hub – Singapore Centre
• Lee Schneider, General Counsel, Ava Labs, Inc.
• Yaya Fanusie, Global Head of Policy, Aleo

11:10 – 11:45 a.m.

Break

11:45 – 12:30 p.m.

The Plumbing of DeFi: How Protocols Move Value Without Banks
Beneath the surface of crypto markets lies a tangle of smart contracts, bridges, and oracles that form the invisible infrastructure of decentralized finance. This panel unpacks how DeFi protocols route liquidity, enforce trust, and reimagine financial plumbing without relying on traditional intermediaries. From scaling constraints to governance battles, speakers explore whether these systems can support real-world value—or collapse under their own complexity.
 
• Moderator: Eleanor Terrett, Host, Crypto In America
• Shailee Adinolfi, Head of Business Development, Stacks
• Neha Narula, Director Digital Currency Initiative, MIT
• Bill Hughes, Senior Counsel & Director, Consensys
• Ben Sherwin, General Counsel, Chainlink Labs

1:00-2:00 p.m.

Lunch 

2:00 – 2:45 p.m.

Always On. Always Risky?: Liquidity and On-Chain Finance

In 24/7 markets with no circuit breakers and unstoppable code, liquidity can vanish as quickly as it appears. This panel examines the structural risks of protocol-based finance—exploring how volatility, leverage, and transparency (or the lack of it) shape market fragility in decentralized systems. From legal guardrails to technical safeguards, the conversation asks: can we build open markets that are both resilient and relentless?
 
• Moderator: André Beganski, Staff Reporter, Decrypt Media
• Gregory Xethalis, General Counsel and Partner, Multicoin Capital
• Amanda Tuminelli, Executive Director, DeFi Education Fund
• Salman Banaei, General Counsel, Plume
• Georgia Quinn, Chief Legal Officer, Securtize, Inc.

2:45 – 3:20 p.m.

Break 

3:20 – 4:05 p.m.

Click Once, Lose Everything?: The Future of Digital Asset Custody

Custody in the digital era is no longer just about safeguarding assets—it’s about securing code, keys, and composability at scale. This panel explores how the world’s largest institutions are redefining custody to support programmable assets, multi-party computation, and next-gen financial primitives. From institutional trust to technical resilience, the conversation dives into what custody must become in a world where code is the asset.
 
• Moderator: Elad Roisman, Partner, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
• Christopher Cox, Head of Investor Services, Citi
• Lesley Chavkin, Global Head of Public Policy, Paxos
• Connor Mykins, Compliance Manager, Phantom
• Christos Efthymiopoulos, Assistant Director, Supervision (FinTech), Bermuda Monetary Authority
• Michael Shaulov, CEO and Co-founder, Fireblocks

4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Happy Hour presented by Citi

The Application Layer

Presented by Gibson Dunn

9:10 – 9:55 a.m.

AI 101: Two Demos

How AI Works: A Demo with David Hyde
How does AI really work beneath the surface? This TED-style demo and Q&A pulls back the curtain on the invisible infrastructure—chips, data centers, and APIs—that power today’s most advanced AI systems. Join Assistant Professor David Hyde (Vanderbilt University) as he demystifies the hardware and backend architecture that make artificial intelligence possible.
 
The AI Avatar: A Demo with Leah Price
What does it feel like to interact with a next-generation AI in real time? In this 15-minute live demo, Vice President of Tinman AI Platform Leah Price (Better) leads a conversation with a generative AI avatar, showcasing the natural, expressive, and human-like qualities of today’s conversational systems.
 
Q&A with Moderator Jeffrey Steiner, Partner, Gibson Dunn

9:55 – 10:30 a.m.

Break 

10:30 – 11:20 a.m.

Truly AI Native Products

What does it mean to build with AI from the ground up—not just bolt it on? This panel explores how product teams are rethinking design, data, and user experience to create truly AI-native fintech experiences that evolve in real time. From personalization to prediction, the conversation tackles how AI is transforming the product lifecycle—and what it takes to ship smarter software in an AI-first world.
 
• Moderator: Penny Lee, President and CEO, Financial Technology Association
• Leah Price, Vice President of Tinman AI Platform, Better
• John Sun, Founder, CEO, Spring Labs
• Amias Gerety, Partner, QED Investors
• Kabir Kumar, Partner, Ecosystem, Flourish Ventures

11:20 – 11:55 a.m.

Break

11:55 a.m. – 12:40 p.m.

AI and Stablecoins

As AI and stablecoins converge, a new class of programmable money and machine-to-machine finance is beginning to take shape. This panel explores how AI-powered financial infrastructure could transform stablecoin use cases—from automated risk management to intelligent remittances and decentralized financial agents. With leaders from payments, regulation, cybersecurity, and Web3, the session maps the opportunities, guardrails, and global implications of AI-native stablecoin ecosystems.
 
• Moderator: Cuy Sheffield, Head of Crypto, VISA
• Tyllen Bicakcic, CEO, Payman AI
• Abhishek Vaidyanathan, Chief Legal Officer, NEAR Foundation
• Alan Lim, Director, Financial Infrastructure & AI Office, Monetary Authority of Singapore
• Richard Widmann, Global Head of Web3 Strategy, Google Cloud

1:00-2:00 p.m.

Lunch

2:10 – 2:55 p.m.

But the AI Said it Was Fine: The Future of AI Governance

As AI adoption accelerates in financial services, so does regulatory scrutiny—from explainability and model risk to consumer protection and compliance automation. This panel brings together global leaders from central banks, policy agencies, and industry to explore what it takes to build AI tools that are not only cutting-edge, but also audit-ready and regulator-proof.
 
• Moderator: Jeffrey Steiner, Partner, Gibson Dunn
• Mike Hsu, Former Acting Comptroller of the Currency, Michael Hsu LLC
• Himamauli Das, Senior Managing Director & Counsel, K2 Integrity
• Vaikkunth Mugunthan, CEO & Co-Founder, Dynamo AI
• Amanda Estiverne-Colas, Director, Head of Payments Practice, Perficient
• Melissa Koide, CEO, FinRegLab

2:55 – 3:30 p.m.

Break

3:30 – 4:15 p.m.

The One-Person Unicorn: Engineering the Future of Scalable Entrepreneurship

The One-Person Unicorn: Engineering the Future of Scalable Entrepreneurship
Advances in agentic AI are fueling speculation that a single individual could one day build and operate a billion-dollar company, challenging long-held assumptions about scale, labor, and capital. This panel brings together entrepreneurs, economists, and policy experts to debate whether AI will truly democratize company-building or concentrate economic power even further. Speakers will explore the opportunities and risks of a future where billion-dollar firms may be run by teams of one.
 
• Moderator: Julia Shapero, Business & Tech Reporter, The Hill
• Jon Wong, Head of Engineering, Solana Foundation
• Brian Whitehurst, Chief of Staff & Global Head of Regulatory Affairs, Liberty City Ventures

4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Happy Hour presented by Citi

The Market Infrastructure

Presented by Robinhood x Davis Polk

9:20 – 10:05 a.m.

Crowd Control: Who Owns the Customer, Who Owns the Investor?

This panel examines the dual power plays shaping modern finance: the contest for customer ownership in an era of open data, and the gatekeeping of investor access through accredited investor rules. We’ll explore how platforms, regulators, and market infrastructure determine not only who gets to serve the customer, but also who gets to participate as an investor—revealing the parallels between captive users and captive capital.
 
• Moderator: Justin Slaughter, VP, Regulatory Affairs, Paradigm
• Joe Hall, Partner, Davis Polk
• Holli Heiles Pandol, Policy Counsel, Carta
• Matt O’Connor, Founder, Legion
• Josh Rubin, VP, Legal, Betterment
• Robert Kopitsch, Secretary General, Blockchain for Europe

10:05 – 10:40 a.m.

Break

10:40 – 11:30 a.m.

Leap of Faith or Bunjee Jump?: From Stocks to Smart Contracts

The future of capital markets is programmable—and the line between traditional equities and tokenized assets is quickly blurring. This panel explores how institutions are rearchitecting the issuance, settlement, and transfer of assets using blockchain infrastructure, without losing the trust and scale of legacy systems. From smart contracts to secondary markets, the discussion maps how tokenization is reshaping market rails, regulatory oversight, and investor access.
 
• Moderator: Daniel Gorfine, CEO, Gattaca Horizons
• Eun Ah Choi, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Regulatory Operations, Nasdaq
• Patrick Murck, CEO, Surus
• Johann Kerbrat, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Crypto, Robinhood

11:30 – 12:05 p.m.

Break

12:05 – 12:50 p.m.

From Regulator to Disruptor: Leaving Government to Join (or Found) a Start Up

What happens when policymakers trade public service for startup hustle? In this informal, unscripted coffee chat, five former regulators reflect on their transitions into the private sector—sharing lessons learned, values carried forward, and the unexpected challenges of building on the outside. From founding companies to shaping product strategy in mission-driven fintechs, this conversation peels back the curtain on what it means to go from rulemaker to rulebreaker.
 
• Moderator: Brendan Pedersen, Financial Services Reporter, Punchbowl News
• Ari Redbord, Global Head of Policy, TRM Labs
• Matthew Homer, General Partner, The Venture Dept.
• Amias Gerety, Partner, QED Investors
• Michele Korver, Head of Regulatory, a16z Crypto
• Cleve Mesidor, Executive Director, Blockchain Foundation

1:00-2:00 p.m.

Lunch

2:20 – 3:05 p.m.

So… What Are You Exactly? Regulating the Evolving Market Structure

On-chain finance and AI are reshaping how markets function, from trading to execution, settlement and more. This panel explores how emerging technologies are redefining intermediaries, testing old frameworks, and forcing regulators and industry to reconsider, and reimagine, what stability and transparency mean in a digital era of decentralized systems and intelligent market participants.
 
• Moderator: Ji Hun Kim, CEO, Crypto Council for Innovation
• Margaret Tahyar, Partner, Financial Institutions, Davis Polk LLP
• Christine Moy, Partner, Head of Digital Assets, Data & AI Strategy, Apollo Global Management Inc.
• Verena Ross, Chair, ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority)
• Hester Peirce, Commissioner, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

3:05 – 3:40 p.m.

Break 

3:40 – 4:25 p.m.

Please Don’t Kill my Vibe: The Meme and the Market

From GameStop to crypto pumps, the rise of meme-driven markets has exposed a new frontier in retail investing—one where sentiment moves faster than fundamentals. This panel unpacks how regulators and institutions are responding to the cultural and technical mechanics of the meme trade, from social media virality to real-time litigation risk. As global markets grapple with velocity, volatility, and democratized participation, the conversation explores how to maintain market integrity without crushing the crowd.
 
• Moderator: Sarah Wynn, Reporter, The Block
 • Saumya Manohar, General Counsel, Public
 • Johnny Reinsch, Executive Director, Tokenized Asset Coalition
 • Christina Rolle, Executive Director, Securities Commission of The Bahamas
 • Daniel Zinn, General Counsel & Chief of Staff, OTC Markets Group Inc.

4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Happy Hour presented by Citi

The International Financial System

Presented by the Bank for International Settlements and the World Bank Group

9:00 – 9:10 a.m.

Welcome and Introductory Remarks

 • Niraj Verma, Acting Global Director in the Finance, Competitiveness & Investment (FCI), The World Bank Group
 • Hyun Song Shin, Economic Adviser and Head of the Monetary and Economic Department, Bank for International Settlements

9:15 – 9:35 a.m.

A Fireside Chat with Martin Moloney, Deputy Secretary General, Financial Stability Board

9:40 – 10:00 a.m.

Project Promissa – Digitizing Development Promises 

This session explores how digitizing promissory notes using distributed ledger technology can enhance the efficiency and transparency of multilateral development banks. Highlighting Project Promissa—a collaboration between the BIS Innovation Hub, Swiss National Bank, and the World Bank—the discussion will focus on how tokenized promissory notes can simplify operations, improve visibility for stakeholders, and support the G20’s goal of strengthening global financial institutions.
 
• Patrick Cheng, Lead Financial Officer, The World Bank
• Divya Garg, Financial Officer, The World Bank

10:00 – 10:20 a.m.

Break

10:20 – 11:00 a.m.

Cross-Jurisdictional Token Infrastructure

Tokenization is changing financial markets by converting traditional and physical assets into digital tokens, enabling new functionalities. This session will examine the growing impact of tokenization on the global financial system, from its practical applications to how financial institutions are integrating it with legacy systems while navigating regulatory requirements. It will also explore the evolving regulatory landscape and the role of policymakers in ensuring that tokenized markets operate within a secure and compliant framework.
 
• Moderator: Maria Teresa Chimienti, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, The World Bank
• Victor Leung, Senior Economist, Hong Kong Monetary Authority
• Ryan Rugg, Global Head of Digital Assets, Citi’s Treasury and Trade Solutions
• Paulo David, CEO & Founder, AmFi
• Amy Kim, Global Head of Policy and GR for blockchain, crypto, and digital currencies (BCDC), PayPal

11:00 – 11:25 a.m.

Break

11:25-11:45 a.m.

Innovation to Implementation: Project Nexus Case Study

This presentation will give insights on how Project Nexus has moved from an initial proof-of-concept towards live implementation, and how it can enhance cross-border payments by connecting multiple domestic instant payment systems globally.
 
• Maha El Dimachki, Centre Head, BISInnovation Hub – Singapore Centre

11:50 – 12:30 p.m.

Fact or Fantasy? AI in Financial Services and Applications

This session will explore how AI is transforming the future of finance, particularly in payments and financial services. AI is driving faster, more efficient payment systems, enhancing fraud detection, regulatory oversight, and streamlining compliance. These advances are expanding access to financial services and strengthening financial infrastructure.
 
• Moderator: Ilhyock Shim, Head of Economics for the Americas, Bank for International Settlements
• Anastassia Fedyk, Assistant Professor of Finance, UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business
• Carlos Leon, Director, Central Banks & Financial Market Infrastructures Solutions, FNA
• Fernando Perez-Cruz, Senior Adviser, Bank for International Settlements
• Owureku Asare, Deputy Director, Fintech and Innovation Office, Bank of Ghana

12:35 – 12:55 p.m.

The FundsChain: A Demo

The FundsChain initiative is the World Bank’s blockchain-based solution for enhancing transparency and accountability in development project disbursements. Launched in September 2024, FundsChain provides end-to-end traceability, allowing stakeholders—including donors, borrowers, auditors, and beneficiaries—to track how funds are disbursed and used. With future scalability and tokenization features, the platform offers a single source of truth for financial flows, fostering trust and collaboration across all parties.
 
• Thomas Puschnik, Head of Finance Transformation, The World Bank Group
• Jayavishnu Nattanmai, Program Manager, The World Bank Group
• Debora Gessesse, Business Process Analyst, The World Bank Group

1:00-2:00 p.m.

Lunch 

2:00 – 2:40 p.m.

Public Digital Infrastructure for a New Financial Era

This session will examine how Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) enables more inclusive, efficient, and innovative financial services. A key area of transformation is next-generation payments which are driving faster, lower-cost, and increasingly cross-border transactions. With the integration of emerging technologies such as AI and tokenization, DPI is unlocking new models for delivering secure and user-centric financial solutions.
 
• Moderator: Guillermo Galicia Rabadan, Financial Sector Specialist, The World Bank
• Rebecca Mann, Deputy Director, Strategy, Planning & Management, Gates Foundation
• Marcelo Aragão, Head of International Affairs, Central Bank of Brazil
• Sung-guan Yun, Director General, Office of Digital Currency, Bank of Korea
• Jennifer Fowler, Member of the Secretariat, Financial Stability Board

2:40 – 3:20 p.m.

Break

3:20 – 4:00 p.m.

Quantum Breakthrough: Likelihood and Impact

This session will explore the rapidly advancing field of quantum computing and its potential to disrupt global financial systems. As research accelerates, the likelihood of a quantum breakthrough is becoming increasingly tangible—raising questions about how to prepare for its impact. The discussion will assess the current state of quantum technologies, examine meaningful breakthroughs, and highlight the importance of early policy engagement, investment, and capacity-building to ensure emerging economies are not left behind in a post-quantum world.
 
• Moderator: Jon Frost, Head of Innovation and the Digital Economy, Bank for International Settlements
• Samuel Palmer, Director of Financial Engineering, Multiverse Computing
• Varlam Ebanoidze, Head of FinTech Development/Innovation Office, National Bank of Georgia
• Cori Zarek, Vice President: North America, Apolitical
• Taylor Reynolds, Practice Manager: Digital Safeguards, World Bank

4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Happy Hour presented by Citi

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