Demystifying Crypto
Crypto: a passing fad or a store of value? We have seen huge interest in digital currencies from both institutional investors and companies alike. It’s an emotive topic and views are quite polarised. Yet one common theme is the quest for more information. With this in mind we have assembled a panel of speakers to outline and debate the key issues surrounding the sector. Whether you’re an institutional investor, a company executive or potentially a retail customer, with their help we aim to start Demystifying Crypto.
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Haydn Jones, PwC, Senior Blockchain Market Specialist
Haydn has more than 20 years leadership experience covering technology, data, banking operations, sales, central banking and regulation. Haydn is firstly an Engineer and secondly a lawyer shaping and leading blockchain projects. Since 2016, he has been exclusively focused on blockchain and digital currencies. Haydn is a conference speaker, chair, educator and co-author of The Executive Guide to Blockchain,
Sharon-Marie Fernando, PwC, Financial Services
Sharon-Marie is a UK qualified financial services lawyer who advises a range of firms on UK regulation, including the rapidly developing regulatory landscape for cryptoassets. She is a specialist legal adviser on UK regulatory permissions and routinely advises a range of firms on regulatory authorisation matters; financial promotions; cross-border arrangements; governance and MiFID II requirements.
Drew Robinson, Coinbase, Head of Institutional Coverage, EMEA
Approximately 43 million verified users, 7,000 institutions, and 115,000 ecosystem partners in over 100 countries trust Coinbase to easily and securely invest, spend, save, earn, and use crypto.
Per Coinbase, “We are building the cryptoeconomy – a more fair, accessible, efficient, and transparent financial system enabled by crypto. We started in 2012 with the radical idea that anyone, anywhere, should be able to easily and securely send and receive Bitcoin. Today, we offer a trusted and easy-to-use platform for accessing the broader cryptoeconomy."
Charlie Morris, Bytetree, CIO and founder
Bytetree’s mission is:”giving investors the tools to scrutinise, value and analyse blockchains.There are many data sources for crypto currencies, but they only scratch the surface, and few go beyond prices and charts. ByteTree embraces fundamental data which means investors now have the tools to make informed and value-based decisions. ByteTree’s engine digs deep into the network and opens a wide range of metrics that will change the way serious investors view this space.
Peter Wall, Argo, CEO
Argo is a publicly-traded blockchain technology company focused on large-scale cryptocurrency mining. It is the only cryptocurrency mining company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Per Argo: “Cryptocurrency mining is the process of verifying transactions and adding new blocks to a blockchain ledger. Each new block of transactions has a complex mathematical hash function associated with it that requires significant computing power to solve. The miner who solves the function first receives a Bitcoin reward for supporting the network and adding a new block to the blockchain. A higher mining hashrate corresponds to increased mining success.”
Jonathan Rowland, Mode, Executive Chairman
LSE-listed fintech disruptor Mode is today known for its innovative digital investment app - the Mode app - one of the fastest, easiest and safest ways to invest in Bitcoin in the UK. Mode's next mission is to roll out a unique payments and rewards feature powered by Open Banking (due in Q2 2021), which will eliminate the need for card payments and transform the way in which consumers and businesses transact, once and for all.
