While many events feature diverse panels and robust speaker lineups, the BEF included over two hundred different speakers. This massive attendance included leading players and experts from across the crypto industry, specializing in blockchain, ICOs, and regulatory frameworks.
LATOKEN CEO Valentin Preobrazhenskiy, commented on the successful event: “The forum is a great place for the market leaders to introduce and reinforce rules of self-conduct protecting uninformed contributors and preventing misuse of crypto transaction while scaling benefits such as built-in rights registry, early adopters acquisition and low transaction costs due to absence of middlemen.”
The event was abuzz with talk about the future potential of the industry, which comes at a critical juncture and collision with global regulators. Indeed, these authorities have taken a more active role in 2018, seeking to police initial coin offerings (ICOs), the security of tokens, and other safeguards for investors.
This runs in direct contrast to 2017, which saw the meteoric rise of the crypto industry, largely billed as a wild west in finance. Fast forwarding to 2018 however, and the situation is much more controlled. This shift was one of the marquee areas of focus throughout the week, with panel discussions also delving into this trend.
What does the future hold for markets, money, and states? Poland’s former Finance Minister, Mateusz Szczurek had some interesting perspective to share, clearly endorsing the rise of and utilization of blockchain technology.
As such, “What we are looking for is to increase the transparency and symmetry of information in the market because free market doesn’t function properly if buyer and seller do not trust each other [...] and blockchain can increase this trust, the whole point of blockchain is to create trust,” explained Mr. Szczurek.
He was not alone in this assessment or hype however. According to Clair Brown, Professor Emeritus at the UC Berkeley: “The whole reason why blockchain is so exciting is finding new ways to make the economy and the markets work from the bottom up.”
Biotech, blockchain’s integration into the mainstream, and regulatory headwinds
For many at the BEF, blockchain was as much about progress as it was about decentralization. Indeed, the identities as individuals have historically been owned online by other companies, with many not fully understanding the consequences of not owning their data. Blockchain technology stands in direct contrast to this, empowering individuals to take ownership of their own data.
Alexander Perkins, partner at Ztudium also commented: “There is also an opportunity for cross-organizational collaboration in sharing intellectual property [...] Most of the time, it is long, drawn out agreements between various companies and research institutions. With a blockchain, a lot of this information could be easily shared.”
Tim Draper participating at LATOKEN’s Blockchain Economic Forum 2018.
While the industry has clearly progressed at a rapid pace from a year ago, there are a number of noticeable hurdles that still must be overcome. Tim Draper, founder of Draper Fisher Jurvetson had some choice words for what role blockchain technology could have in governments.
According to Draper, “80% of what a government does can be done in the Blockchain, it can be done with smart contracts. We are about to go into this new wild renaissance where suddenly governments have to compete for [citizens].” Such a number would constitute a game changer for a segment that has historically been seen as inefficient and not optimized.
Former CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler speaking at LATOKEN’s Blockchain Economic Forum 2018 in San Francisco
Gary Gensler, former Chairman at the CFTC also commented, noting “To be broadly adopted, [cryptofinance] needs to live within public policy frameworks and investors protection matters [...] Blockchain could make payment systems much faster and economical.”
Finally, the BEF also explored the shifting regulatory space not just globally but in select jurisdictions. This included the European Union, which has been highly active already this year in cracking down on fraudulent crypto operations.
Dimitrios Psarrakis, member of the European Parliament and Policy Advisor on Blockchain reiterated: “Our idea is to build a strong European blockchain community with participation of actors from all over the world, [...] If this technology is to disrupt some markets, no matter how old these markets are, let them be disrupted. It’s not the job of the regulator to decide, which business models should prevail.”
The event itself was heralded as a huge success and with over 2,000 attendees in San Francisco for the BEF, the future, potential, and optimism surrounding blockchain technology and cryptos was on full display. Given how far the industry has come in just one year, it is an interesting exercise to wonder where 2019 will take us.
While many events feature diverse panels and robust speaker lineups, the BEF included over two hundred different speakers. This massive attendance included leading players and experts from across the crypto industry, specializing in blockchain, ICOs, and regulatory frameworks.
LATOKEN CEO Valentin Preobrazhenskiy, commented on the successful event: “The forum is a great place for the market leaders to introduce and reinforce rules of self-conduct protecting uninformed contributors and preventing misuse of crypto transaction while scaling benefits such as built-in rights registry, early adopters acquisition and low transaction costs due to absence of middlemen.”
The event was abuzz with talk about the future potential of the industry, which comes at a critical juncture and collision with global regulators. Indeed, these authorities have taken a more active role in 2018, seeking to police initial coin offerings (ICOs), the security of tokens, and other safeguards for investors.
This runs in direct contrast to 2017, which saw the meteoric rise of the crypto industry, largely billed as a wild west in finance. Fast forwarding to 2018 however, and the situation is much more controlled. This shift was one of the marquee areas of focus throughout the week, with panel discussions also delving into this trend.
What does the future hold for markets, money, and states? Poland’s former Finance Minister, Mateusz Szczurek had some interesting perspective to share, clearly endorsing the rise of and utilization of blockchain technology.
As such, “What we are looking for is to increase the transparency and symmetry of information in the market because free market doesn’t function properly if buyer and seller do not trust each other [...] and blockchain can increase this trust, the whole point of blockchain is to create trust,” explained Mr. Szczurek.
He was not alone in this assessment or hype however. According to Clair Brown, Professor Emeritus at the UC Berkeley: “The whole reason why blockchain is so exciting is finding new ways to make the economy and the markets work from the bottom up.”
Biotech, blockchain’s integration into the mainstream, and regulatory headwinds
For many at the BEF, blockchain was as much about progress as it was about decentralization. Indeed, the identities as individuals have historically been owned online by other companies, with many not fully understanding the consequences of not owning their data. Blockchain technology stands in direct contrast to this, empowering individuals to take ownership of their own data.
Alexander Perkins, partner at Ztudium also commented: “There is also an opportunity for cross-organizational collaboration in sharing intellectual property [...] Most of the time, it is long, drawn out agreements between various companies and research institutions. With a blockchain, a lot of this information could be easily shared.”
Tim Draper participating at LATOKEN’s Blockchain Economic Forum 2018.
While the industry has clearly progressed at a rapid pace from a year ago, there are a number of noticeable hurdles that still must be overcome. Tim Draper, founder of Draper Fisher Jurvetson had some choice words for what role blockchain technology could have in governments.
According to Draper, “80% of what a government does can be done in the Blockchain, it can be done with smart contracts. We are about to go into this new wild renaissance where suddenly governments have to compete for [citizens].” Such a number would constitute a game changer for a segment that has historically been seen as inefficient and not optimized.
Former CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler speaking at LATOKEN’s Blockchain Economic Forum 2018 in San Francisco
Gary Gensler, former Chairman at the CFTC also commented, noting “To be broadly adopted, [cryptofinance] needs to live within public policy frameworks and investors protection matters [...] Blockchain could make payment systems much faster and economical.”
Finally, the BEF also explored the shifting regulatory space not just globally but in select jurisdictions. This included the European Union, which has been highly active already this year in cracking down on fraudulent crypto operations.
Dimitrios Psarrakis, member of the European Parliament and Policy Advisor on Blockchain reiterated: “Our idea is to build a strong European blockchain community with participation of actors from all over the world, [...] If this technology is to disrupt some markets, no matter how old these markets are, let them be disrupted. It’s not the job of the regulator to decide, which business models should prevail.”
The event itself was heralded as a huge success and with over 2,000 attendees in San Francisco for the BEF, the future, potential, and optimism surrounding blockchain technology and cryptos was on full display. Given how far the industry has come in just one year, it is an interesting exercise to wonder where 2019 will take us.
SMX's 1900% Surge Since November Is Not a Momentum Trade; It's Based on Transformative and Deliverable Techology
Featured Videos
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
