The Policy Layer

What if your AI assistant could explain complex crypto laws in plain English—and connect you with an actual expert if things got tricky? That’s the idea behind Crystal, built by lawyer and founder Joni Pirovich. We talk about the chaos of compliance, the myth of AI replacing lawyers, and why this tool could change the game. Discover more: https://www.cryptococounsel.com 🎧 Listen in Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Is DeFi truly decentralized? Is it more than just finance? Join Yvette Valdez (Latham & Watkins), Diana Barrero Zalles (GBBC), Joe Cutler (Perkins Coie), and Lee Schneider (Ava Labs) as they discuss DeFi’s opportunities, risks, and more. Learn more in the GBBC's DeFi report: https://www.gbbc.io/uploads/reports/gsmi50/DeFi-Stand-Alone.pdf 🎧 Listen in Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Professor Andreas Park from the University of Toronto discusses how blockchain can transform the trading and management of securities. In this episode, he shares his research on overcoming the complex challenges of integrating stocks, dividends, and voting rights into decentralized systems, offering insights into the future of finance. Learn more in his paper: https://edas.info/showPaper.php?m=1571031828

Andreas Park (University of Toronto) and Katya Malinova (McMaster University) discuss their research on how automated market makers (AMMs) from DeFi could revolutionize equity trading. We explore the potential savings, challenges, and future of finance in a digital age. Check out their paper below: Learning from DeFi: Would Automated Market Makers Improve Equity Trading?

Yiming Ma from Columbia Business School and Anthony Zhang from UChicago explore the intricacies of stablecoins and their impact on financial stability. Learn about the critical role of arbitrage in maintaining price stability and the potential risks associated with these digital assets. Check out their paper here.

Dimitrios Psarrakis (Financial Economist and co-founder of Value Verse) provides expert insights on blockchain regulation and its implications for financial competitiveness in the EU. He explores the intersection of blockchain, AI, and financial innovation, emphasizing the importance of education and collaboration in shaping the future of finance.

Akash Gupta (GM at Ava Labs) shares how transformative crypto wallets can be—from identity verification to the integration of social elements. Gain insights into the decentralized future and the large role of crypto wallets in shaping a secure and user-friendly digital landscape.

Join Marina Markezic (EU Crypto Initiative) , Ron Hammond (Blockchain Association), Tommaso Astazi (Blockchain For Europe), and Cody Carbone (Digital Chamber) as they delve into the complexities of blockchain regulation and its impact on global policy. Explore how trade associations are shaping the future of technology governance.

Professor Carla Reyes (SMU) unpacks the interdisciplinary perspectives on smart contracts, highlighting the unique vantage points each group brings to the table. She explores the divergence between legal definitions of ‘contracts’ and their technical counterparts in smart contract technology, uncovering the potential impacts of this disparity on the regulation and understanding of these innovative digital agreements. Read her full paper here: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4380724

Chris Giancarlo (Chamber of Digital Commerce and former CFTC commissioner) sheds light on the role of privacy, economic liberty, and leadership in navigating the ever-changing landscape of digital innovation and its impact on global economies.

Following our latest episode on the digital pound, we keep exploring the future of money by looking at the European Union’s ambitious plans for a euro CBDC. Back in June, the European Commission proposed a legislative framework for a retail digital euro, and its potential is now being assessed by the European Central Bank (ECB). In just a week, the ECB will decide if the project will move from an ‘investigation phase’ to a ‘realization phase’, where technical solutions will be developed and tested. The EU is determined to be a frontrunner in CBDC policy, and has made it clear that any form of digital public money will reflect its shared values of privacy, security, and inclusiveness. Yet, reactions to the Commission's proposal have been mixed. Concerns have been raised over policymakers being able to decide what Europeans can spend their money on, or having access to their personal data. Some foresee the decline of cash, while others simply don’t see the difference between using a digital euro and existing mobile payment apps. If Europe wants to make central digital currency a reality, it will need to bring on board not only retail users – but also banks, merchants, businesses, and technology providers. Get up to speed on what the digital euro could look like by tuning into our conversation with Anne-Sophie Gógl, Board Member of the Digital Euro Association, and Peter Kerstens, Adviser for Technological Innovation and Cybersecurity at the European Commission.