Hear from leading experts, researchers and open-source contributors from across the Web3 community — at the Global Blockchain Show
H.E. Justin Sun
Founder /Global Advisor /Prime Minister, TRON / HTX Global Advisory Board
H.E. Justin Sun is the Ambassador and former Permanent Representative of Grenada to the WTO, Prime Minister of Liberland, Founder of TRON, a world-leading blockchain and DAO, and Advisor to HTX, one of the world’s largest crypto exchanges. A protege of Alibaba's Jack Ma, Sun has been named Forbes' 30 under 30 in the Consumer Technology category several times, among other global recognitions. Sun is an avid art collector, gamer, investor, philanthropist, and space enthusiast.
Yat Siu
Co-Founder and Chairman, Animoca Brands
A veteran technology entrepreneur/investor based in Hong Kong, Yat Siu is the co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, a global leader in blockchain and gaming with the mission to deliver digital property rights to the world's gamers and Internet users, thereby creating a new asset class, play-and-earn economies, and a more equitable digital framework contributing to the building of the open metaverse.
Yat began his career at Atari Germany in 1990. In 1995 he moved to Hong Kong to establish Hong Kong Cybercity/Freenation, the first free web page and email provider in Asia. In 1998 he set up Outblaze, an award-winning pioneer of multilingual white label web services. In 2009, he sold Outblaze’s messaging unit to IBM and pivoted Outblaze to become an incubator of projects and companies to develop digital entertainment services and products. One of those incubated companies is Animoca Brands, which was created in 2014.
In 2017 he set up the Dalton Learning Lab, an afterschool digital lab for skills not emphasized by most education systems, including divergent thinking and design thinking. He is the founder of ThinkBlaze, the research arm of Outblaze investigating socially meaningful issues in technology.
Since 2018, Yat has been an early advocate for the use of blockchain and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the gaming industry, which will allow gamers to enjoy true ownership of their own game assets, data, and, consequently, equity. With a clear vision of the potential of decentralized apps and assets, Yat quickly steered Animoca Brands to a leadership position in blockchain, gaming, NFTs, and the open metaverse. Animoca Brands operates a series of NFT-centric subsidiaries and products, and has invested in over 540 blockchain-related companies to build one of the largest blockchain portfolios in the world.
Yat has earned numerous accolades including Global Leader of Tomorrow at the World Economic Forum, Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the DHL/SCMP Awards, and recognition as one of the Cointelegraph top 100 notable people in blockchain.
A classically trained musician, Yat is a member of the advisory board of BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) and a director of the Asian Youth Orchestra.
Ahmed Bin Sulayem
Executive Chairman & CEO, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC)
Ahmed Bin Sulayem is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC and has driven its growth from a start-up of 28 member companies in 2003 to the world’s leading free zone in 2024 with over 24,000 member companies from 180 countries, employing over 80,000 people.
Tasked with enhancing commodity trade flows through Dubai, DMCC has introduced to the market a number of value-added products and services under Mr. Bin Sulayem’s leadership. In 2023, DMCC was named ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record ninth consecutive year.
Mr. Bin Sulayem oversaw the exponential growth of the DMCC Free Zone master development in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), a 200-hectare business and residential community in Dubai of over 100,000 people living and working in 87 towers. Mr. Bin Sulayem also oversees the development of DMCC’s latest real estate project, the Uptown Dubai district.
Mr. Bin Sulayem currently serves as the Chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) and the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX).
The Kimberley Process officially appointed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the first and only Arab country to Chair the Kimberley Process in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy officially appointed Mr. Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2016. Mr. Bin Sulayem was reappointed Chair of the Kimberley Process for a historic second time, a position he assumed in late 2023.
John Lilic
Chief Executive, Officer Telos
A crypto-economic builder, seed investor, and product advisor, John’s journey includes helping to build Consensys , Polygon Labs, and now serving as a member of the Telos.
Dr. Marwan Alzarouni
CEO / CEO AI, Dubai Blockchain Center / Dubai Economy & Tourism
Dr. Marwan Alzarouni is an internationally recognized blockchain technology advocate, keynote speaker and strategic advisor. Dr. Alzarouni is the CEO of Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC), an impact business and a strategic partner to Dubai Future Foundation.
The center was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum under the Area 2071 initiative in May 2018. It aims to create a fertile ground and a holistic ecosystem for blockchain companies and projects to thrive in. DBCC regularly hosts a number of blockchain startups within Area 2071 and also conducts educational classes and seminars around blockchain use cases in government and private sector.
Rachel Conlan
CMO, Binance
Rachel Conlan, a visionary marketer and entrepreneurial strategist, is the driving force behind Binance's global marketing and brand campaigns. As Binance embarks on its ambitious journey to reinforce and broaden its standing as the world's most trusted cryptocurrency brand,Rachel's leadership is instrumental.
Before joining Binance, Rachel was a transformative figure at OKX, spearheading brand and marketing initiatives that included the negotiation and launch of high-profile international partnerships with Manchester City F.C., McLaren Racing, and Tribeca Festival. Her strategic insights and knack for partnership creation have left indelible marks on the brand.
Rachel's vast experience extends to her tenure at CAA Sports, a leading international sports and entertainment agency, where she held the reins of Global Partnerships. She developed innovative brand partnerships and cultural marketing programs, bridging global brands, rights holders, and talent, adding immense value and contributing to CAA's market influence.
As the Global Chief Marketing Officer for Havas, the sixth-largest communications company within the Vivendi conglomerate, Rachel demonstrated exceptional leadership. She was entrusted with enhancing Havas' reputation and revenue, crafting integrated marketing and experiential platforms for Fortune 500 companies that set industry benchmarks.
In addition to her role as CMO, Rachel's contributions to Havas spanned various leadership positions. As Managing Director of Havas Luxhub, she led strategic and commercial operations, fostering pioneering strategies for luxury, fashion, and lifestyle companies to engage and retain a new generation of consumers. Her client portfolio boasted iconic brands like LVMH, PUIG, Sotheby's, Net-a-Porter, Netjets, and Kit and Ace.
Rachel's strategic prowess was further displayed in her role as Havas' Global Growth Director. She orchestrated a comprehensive global new business development and marketing plan for the network. Notably, Rachel was part of the visionary team behind Havas' 2012 rebrand from Euro RSCG Worldwide, establishing a new standard for Havas Group's transformation. Rachel resides in Abu Dhabi, UAE with her husband and toddler son.
Jason Allegrante
Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, Fireblocks
Jason Allegrante is the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at Fireblocks, a market-leading provider of technology solutions to enable businesses to easily and securely support digital asset and cryptocurrency use cases.
Jason began his career in the Financial Institution Supervision Group at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He later practiced law at the international firms Linklaters LLP and Davis Polk & Wardwell.
Since 2018, Jason has served as senior legal counsel to early stage fintech and SaaS companies and advised on critical matters at the intersection of financial services and the emerging blockchain-based ecosystem.
Jason holds B.A. and J.D. degrees from Columbia University and a Certificate in Global Business Law and Governance from Sciences Po / Paris I - Pantheon Sorbonne.
Sunny Lu
CEO, VeChain
Sunny Lu, CEO, established VeChain in 2015, inspired by the potential he saw in smart contracts to automate processes and vastly increase business efficiency.
In the years since, Sunny and VeChain have gone on to amass a multitude of leading enterprise partnerships including, recently, Boston Consulting Group, and has built hundreds of real-world use cases with companies across the world. Accordingly, VeChain has gained notoriety as a trailblazer and guiding force leading the adoption of blockchain technologies.
With nearly twenty years of experience as an IT Executive in Fortune 500 companies including Louis Vuitton, where he held the role of CIO following a four-year tenure as CTO, Sunny brings a wealth of knowledge in information systems technology strategy and business management.
Through VeBetterDAO, VeChain's most recent initiative, Sunny’s goal is to take Web3 truly mainstream and unlock the immense value of an emerging multi-trillion tokenization and sustainability market.
Abdulla Al Dhaheri
CEO, Abu Dhabi Blockchain Center
Abdulla Al Dhaheri is a multifaceted professional who embodies the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership in the world of blockchain and cybersecurity. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity and an Associate degree in Blockchain Management, Abdulla has made substantial contributions to these fields, reflected in his two patented blockchain inventions. He is a seasoned entrepreneur and businessman, known for his forward-thinking leadership, strategic acumen, and keen ability to steer multimillion-dollar businesses to success. Notably, he has lent his expertise to various successful Web 3 and NFT projects, illustrating his versatility and adaptability to emerging trends in technology. Abdulla's influence extends into the public sector, where his exceptional problem-solving skills and visionary outlook are utilized in government roles. His commitment to technological advancement has significantly impacted this space, as he has bridged the gap between innovation and governance.
Eowyn Chen
CEO, Trust Wallet
Eowyn Chen is passionate about hyper-scaling crypto adoption to empower people with access and opportunity. She is the CEO of Trust Wallet, the world’s leading self-custody Web3 wallet and Web3 gateway, serving over 140 million users globally.
Previously, Eowyn was a VP at Binance, building and leading its central marketing team to help grow users from tens of millions into hundreds of millions.
Before diving into the blockchain industry, she helped international startups with their go-to-market strategy and operations in the US and was trained as a management consultant in financial services at Oliver Wyman in New York. Trained as a science-minded history concentrator at Harvard College, Eowyn always aspires to be a child-like truth seeker of fundamental principles of human individuals and society.
Alicia Kao
Managing Director, Kucoin
Alicia Kao is the Managing Director at KuCoin, bringing over a decade of experience in digital marketing. Since joining KuCoin in 2019, she has been instrumental in shaping the company’s marketing strategies and managing key institutional relationships. An ardent blockchain advocate and NFT collector, Alicia focuses on long-term strategy and fostering partnerships to advance the crypto industry. She majored in sociology.
Shuyao Kong
Co-Founder, MegaETH
Shuyao Kong is a co-founder of MegaETH, an EVM-compatible blockchain project aiming for high transaction speeds that dubs itself the “first real-time blockchain” and boasts of early financial backing from Vitalik Buterin, Joseph Lubin and others. Before co-founding MegaETH, Shuyao worked in key positions at several blockchain and financial technology companies, including a six-year stint as the global head of business development at Consensys. Her educational background includes studies in economics and finance, including an MBA from Harvard Business School. Shuyao is also known for her advocacy of decentralized finance.
Mert Mumtaz
CEO, Helius
Pierre Samaties
Chief Business Officer, DFINITY
Chief Business Officer at DFINITY.
Former Partner at Roland Berger leading the Global Digital Assets, Web3 and Metaverse practice. Energy and innovation expert.
Former CEO of RWE Middle East with over 20 years of experience in Strategy Consulting and Venture Building in the Energy, AI and Crypto Industry
Vineet Budki
Managing Partner & CEO, Cypher Capital
Vineet is the CEO & Managing Partner at Cypher Capital, a leading Web3 Native VC based in UAE and has led 200+ Investments like Mysten Labs, Sei Network, Casper Labs, Web3Auth, ZKLink among others.
An entrepreneur for 15 years before the Investment Role, Vineet has built 3 Web2 startups in the past as well as worked at global corporations like Rocket Internet, Emirates and TCS.
He was highlighted as one of the Top 50 Indians in Middle East by Arabian Business and has extensively been featured across Media (The Times, Sun, Etc), Podcasts (Wolf of All Streets, Kisco News) and regularly speaks at Global Crypto Conferences.
Christopher Jensen
VP / Director of Digital Asset Research, Franklin Templeton
Profile
Christopher Jensen is the Director of Digital Asset Research for Franklin Templeton’s Digital Asset Investment Strategies Group and co-leads its investment Committee. With almost 20 years of technology investing experience spanning venture capital, private equity, and private credit, Christopher’s focus is on developing and leading the fundamental research efforts for Franklin’s Digital Asset Token strategies team.
Work Experience
Christopher joined Franklin Templeton in 2015 as a Vice President and Senior Research Analyst in the firm’s Fixed Income group. He went on to become Head of Credit for Franklin’s Data Science and Digital Lending Strategies team in 2019. Before joining Franklin, he was a Principal with SLR Capital Partners, an alternative asset manager in New York focused on cash flow, asset-based lending, and specialty finance. He also served as an Assistant Vice President at the commercial lending firm, CIT Group, now a division of First Citizens Bank. He has served on the boards of numerous companies including Chairman of DS Waters, a billion-dollar water delivery services network in North America.
Education
Christopher holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Princeton University, an MBA from the Yale School of Management, and a Certificate in Data Science from Stanford University.
Christopher Jensen is the Director of Digital Asset Research for Franklin Templeton. With 20 years of technology operating and investing experience spanning startups, private equity, and private credit, Christopher’s focus is on developing and leading the fundamental research efforts for Franklin’s Listed Token strategies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Princeton University, an MBA from the Yale School of Management, and a Certificate in Data Science from Stanford University.
Vanessa Grellet
Managing Partner, Arche capital
Vanessa Grellet is a Managing Partner at Arche Capital and a board member of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA) and NFT Paris. Prior to founding Arche she was Managing partner at Aglae ventures, worked at Coinfund and was Executive director at ConsenSys, Strategy Executive at NYSE focused on investments and M&A. Vanessa is a Founding Board member of AABC focused on Blockchain and Art, Member of PleasrDao, a Milken Institute Associate, a contributor to the World Economic Forum Digital Future Council and part of Cointelegraph’s list of 100 most influential people for 2022. Mrs. Grellet graduated Cum Laude from Law School (Paris II Assas) and Business School (HEC).
Eljaboom
Founder, Ajoobz
Eljaboom is a notable figure in the cryptocurrency and tech space known for his involvement in blockchain technology, crypto investments, and portfolio advising. He is the founder and CEO of Ajoobz, a company focused on helping investors build their crypto portfolios. Eljaboom has been featured on Forbes for his work and holds a Guinness World Record certification, indicating his significant impact or achievements in his field.
He is also recognized for his social media presence where he shares insights on cryptocurrency trends and strategies, amassing a large following. His approach emphasizes understanding market dynamics over following internet tips, and he has a background in computer and industrial engineering, which underpins his strategic approach to investments.
Mario Alberto Casiraghi
Co - Founder / CFO, SingularityDAO / SingularityNET
Mario is an Executive of the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance, CFO at SingularityNET, CFO and Co-Founder of SingularityDAO. Mario spearheaded growth of the SingularityNET ecosystem since 2020 by leading the efforts across spin offs as well as at a SingularityNET level, more recently by leading ASI merger related activities . Mario also led the SingularityDAO product and quants strategy since the inception in 2021. He helped raise $100M+ for blockchain based companies. Formerly covered positions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and RBS. He also completed 50+ Debt Capital Markets transactions for c. $80bn in total financing.
Johnson Yeh
Founder & CEO, ROEHL/Ambrus Studio
Johnson Yeh holds a PhD in Strategic Management from Peking University and an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. He has significant experience in the gaming and circular economy sectors, having held senior positions at Riot Games and the World Economic Forum. Currently, Johnson leads Ambrus Studio, a Web3 game production company, and ROEHL, a Lifestyle as a Service brand focused on sustainability.
Helen Liu
Chief Operating Officer & Partner, Bybit
Helen Liu serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and partner at Bybit, where she oversees daily operations, sales & marketing, web3 development, technical operations, and product development for a diverse team of over 1,700 professionals spanning across more than 40 countries worldwide. Her visionary leadership has played a crucial role in propelling Bybit to a prominent position in the Web3, blockchain and cryptocurrency industry.
David Chaum
Founder , XX Network
David Chaum pioneered privacy in modern communication as the inventor of mix nets, blind signatures, and multiparty computation that laid the foundation for enabling secure voting systems, anonymous internet surfing (Dark Web/TOR Network) and DigiCash, the first cryptocurrency and precursor to Bitcoin to allow for anonymous transactions. Chaum is currently leading xx network, a completely private, quantum-secure decentralized messaging and payment platform. He is working with the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) on new technologies for CBDC digital currencies.
Gregorio Maiorano
Founder, Global Market of Artification (GMA)
Gregorio Maiorano, an Italian financial consultant, began his career in insurance and finance while studying Economics at the University of Lecce. In the late '90s, he delved into derivatives and specialized in over-the-counter markets at the Milan Stock Exchange. Transitioning to fundraising pre-2008 crisis, he later founded Azzurra Consult, recovering mortgage interest. Now, he offers financial consulting in Italy and is the founder and CEO of GMA (Global Market of Artification).
Sean Lee
Co-founder, CSO, IDA Finance Hong Kong Limited
Sean is a veteran in the Web3 and Fintech industry. He is the Co-founder of IDA, a premier digital asset technology company to lead the widespread adoption of blockchain finance and to empower Belt and Road businesses to seamlessly integrate between Web2 and Web3.
Sean also has active engagements with global regulators and policymakers as a Senior Advisor for the Crypto Council for Innovation in regulatory advocacy and advancing the transformative potential of digital assets. In addition, he is a mentor at the MIT Entrepreneurship and Fintech Innovation Node, Techstars Web3 Accelerator, an elected member of Hong Kong Government’s Cyberport Entrepreneurship Committee Advisory Group, and a Forbes Digital Asset contributor.
Previously, Sean was the founding CEO of the Algorand Foundation, where he spearheaded ecosystem development and token governance efforts which led to the layer-1 protocol achieving a network valuation of over 10B under his leadership.
Jonas Werner
Founder, C1
Dynamic founder of the largest onboarding networking company, driving innovation and connection in the digital landscape. A visionary entrepreneur dedicated to empowering individuals and businesses through transformative networking solutions, founder of multiple digital business tools and solutions.
Charlie Hu
Co-Founder, Bitlayer
Big Passion on the future of Web3, Decentralized Technology Platforms and Applications. Current pushing the ecosystem of Polygon and Web3.
Expert in community building, technology driven innovation ecosystem development and growth marketing. Experienced in Meetup and Hackathon Events Organization. and Tech related content creation.
Member of World Economic Forum Global Shaper Beijing Hub | Organizer of TEDxHangzhou | Organizer of ThingsCon Shanghai | Alumni of Google Launchpad Amsterdam | Google Design Sprint China | Alumni of Aspire Academy Harvard leadership program
Janet Adams
COO/ Board Director, SingularityNET / ASI
A disruptive tech advocate and decentralised AI expert with published works on Ethics and Regulation of AI. My leadership role at SingularityNET entails responsibility for technology, operations, marketing, investment, accounting and payments, strategic partnerships, business development, decentralisation and Deep Funding (SingularityNET's community driven crypto-accelerator programme).
Leading AI and Blockchain initiatives across multiple vertical markets including robotics, biotech, gaming and metaverse, media, DeFi, music and arts, I was with the team that launched the world’s first humanoid robot fronted band; the Jam Galaxy Band at NAMM festival in LA in June 2022. I am co-founder of Cogito Protocol, an algorithmic tracer-coin that is the missing piece in crypto-assets.
I am committed to a positive and beneficial Singularity for the benefit of all of humanity, and have a special love of African music and culture, with interest in education, sustainability and jobs in Africa. I am also passionate about diversity, inclusion and equality.
Other interests are Tai Chi, Chi Gung, yoga, meditation, and growing to contribute the most I possibly can in this lifetime
John Patrick Mullin
Co-Founder & CEO, MANTRA
John Patrick Mullin is a Hong Kong-based entrepreneur and builder, focused on DeFi, blockchain technology, digital assets, and Web3. John has been investing/building in the crypto and digital assets space for over 10 years, having worked in decentralized finance and exchange/brokerage businesses. John helped found MANTRA, a Layer 1 blockchain for RWA tokenization and has raised tens of millions of dollars for various ventures while working with a dedicated team of 50+ builders worldwide.
David Palmer
Chief Product Officer, Co-founder, Vodafone’s Digital Asset Broker (DAB) Platform, Vodafone
David Palmer, Chief Product Officer and co-founder of Vodafone's Digital Asset Broker (DAB) platform, is a digital visionary and recognized thought leader in blockchain and Web3. With expertise in converging digital technologies and new business models, he explores opportunities in IoT, Blockchain, DeFi, Digital Identity, AI, and the Metaverse, making significant contributions to Vodafone Business's leadership in blockchain technology.
Dr. Sameer Al Ansari
CEO, RAK DAO
Dr. Sameer Al Ansari, CEO of RAK Digital Assets Oasis, leads the only common law free zone dedicated to non-regulated digital and virtual asset companies. With over 35 years of finance expertise, he also heads RAK ICC, a fast-growing offshore corporate registry. Dr. Al Ansari's leadership extends to multiple boards including Marjan, TVM Healthcare Partners, and Al Ramz Capital. Previously, he served as Chairman & CEO of Dubai International Capital ($13B AUM) and held various roles on regional and international boards, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Dubai Holding. Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
Martin Derka
Co-Founder, Zircuit
Grace Wang
Global Head of Web3, Alibaba Cloud
Grace Wang leads the Digital Assets
Campaign for Alibaba Cloud International,
leveraging her deep expertise in
supporting the evolving needs of the
crypto and blockchain ecosystem.
Since joining Alibaba Cloud in 2022 as
Business Development Manager for
Australia and New Zealand, Grace has
worked extensively with a diverse range
of clients, including crypto exchanges,
wallet providers, NFT platforms,
blockchain layer1s, and DApps. Drawing
on her strong understanding of the
infrastructure requirements and
challenges facing the digital assets
industry, she collaborates with her HQ
virtual team and frontline regional teams
to help these customers scale securely
and compliantly.
Prior to Alibaba Cloud, Grace practiced
extensively serving clients across multiple
industries, including empowering
Reeve Collins
Co-Founder and former-CEO, Tether, TreasuryX, WeFi, SuperSol
Marcello Mari
CEO and founder, SingularityDAO
Marcello Mari, is the CEO and founder of SingularityDAO as well as founding member of SingularityNET. He has led the blockchain protocol to significant achievements, including raising over $5.8 million from VCs and reaching a peak valuation of $600 million. He also coordinated the first NFT collaboration between a human and AI, raising over $1.4 million. Starting his career in London and contributing to major publications, Marcello has been recognized for his work in blockchain and AI, including speaking at TEDx and receiving the prestigious AIBC award for Top AI Voice in 2024. Over his career Marcello has participated to the foundation and launch of over 6 crypto / AI projects.
Michael Heinrich
CEO and co-founder, 0G Labs
Michael started two unicorns. He’s currently running 0G Labs (0g.ai), the first decentralized AI operating system. He’s previously generated over $200 million in revenue and secured $200 million in venture capital. His strategic leadership guided over 650 employees through volatile markets and achieved remarkable customer satisfaction. He previously worked at Microsoft, SAP Labs, Bain, and Bridgewater Associates. He’s been named a top technologist, top YC company, and top entrepreneur and featured in esteemed media outlets such as Entrepreneur, Bloomberg, Inc, Techcrunch, Forbes, and Cheddar TV. Educated at Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley.
Saqr Ereiqat
Secretary General, Dubai Digital Asset Association
Saqr Mashhor Ereiqat is the Secretary General of Dubai Digital Asset Association. Previously he Co-Founded Crypto Oasis Ventures and Riddermark, a boutique advisory firm that invests and grows fintech, blockchain, healthtech, and govtech solutions.
A thirteen-year veteran of IBM in Middle East and Africa, he is the former Head of Public Sector Consultancy in Dubai, where is recognized as a pioneer in enterprise blockchain, being a co-author of the first IBM blockchain for government methodology and helped define the official government blockchain strategy of Dubai. While at IBM, Saqr led projects in 23 countries across Europe, Middle East & Africa where he worked with both public and private sector entities to define, create, and implement their blockchain strategies. Former clients include DHL, Shell, Airtel, Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA), Smart Dubai Government Establishment, Karnataka Government, Government of Pakistan and The Prime Minister's Office of the UAE.
Alex Fazel
Chief Partnership Officer, SwissBorg
He is a founding partner at SwissBorg, overseeing assets surpassing $2 billion and a team of 230 employees. As a Cointelegraph Accelerator Mentor, TEDx speaker, and host of "Cryptonites" on YouTube, Alex is a prominent figure in the crypto space. His expertise extends to keynotes, panels, and educational sessions at prestigious events such as WEF Davos, CNBC, Cointelegraph, Coindesk, Token2049, AIM Summit, Le Figaro, Paris Blockchain Week, Blockdown, Cryptoslate, and more, solidifying his influence in the global blockchain and cryptocurrency community.
Patrick O’Kain
General Partner, Borderless Capital
Patrick brings 18+ years of experience in VC, national security, federal law enforcement, and consulting;with nearly a decade focusing on crypto/web3. He previously was a founding member and GP of RW3 Ventures, co-lead of KPMG's Crypto Practice, served as a Special Agent in the USDOJ focusing on crypto-investigations, and supported the US Intelligence Community on counterterrorism and other national security objectives. He received his MBA from Columbia University.
Carmen Tan
Chief Communications Officer, CoinW
Carmen, the Chief Communications Officer of CoinW, is a dynamic leader whose journey embodies resilience, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Equipped with esteemed certification in ASIC RG 146 Tier 1 Foreign Exchange General Advice, Generic Knowledge, and Derivatives. Her dedication to financial acumen is further underscored by her proficiency in AML and CTF compliance.
Carmen is a frequent panelist and keynote speaker at esteemed crypto and blockchain conferences and events worldwide. Her presence has illuminated renowned gatherings such as Token2049 in Singapore and London, the World Blockchain Summit in Dubai, as well as Tokyo Web3 Summer Hackathon, among others. Carmen's visionary insights have left an indelible mark on prestigious platforms like the TradingLive Trading Influencer Award Ceremony.
Bibin Babu
Co-Founder, Paycio
Bibin Babu is Co-Founder of Paycio. World's most user-friendly crypto payments application enabling crypto payments using mobile numbers. Paycio is non-custodial, functions cross chain, also works offline and processes in-store payments. He is on a mission to make cryptocurrency mass adopted in the most simplest way.
He has over 8 years of experience in Web3 and Fintech space. Had 2 successful exits from his previous ventures which clocked revenues of 50 Million+ and 100k+ users. He has been recognised as Economic Times Global Leader, 30 under 30, and by Forbes, Entrepreneur and more.
Apart from Web3, Bibin supports public diplomacy through his non profit organisation Confederation of Young Leaders. In his free time, Bibin loves to read, meditate and attempt public welfare messages through theatre acts.
Maha Al-Saadi
Head – Regulatory Affairs, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC)
Maha Al-Saadi, with 17 years of financial services, compliance, and regulatory expertise, presently serves as the Head of Regulatory Affairs at Qatar Financial Centre Authority. She has navigated distinguished roles at Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority, Deutsche Börse, Trade Republic Bank GmbH, and Bankhaus Scheich.Maha played a role in adopting the European Digital Package, contributing to initiatives like MiCAR and the Pilot Regime. She actively implemented the German Electronic Securities Act, a crucial step towards dematerializing securities in Germany. Her extensive experience deepened her proficiency in blockchain, DLT, digital assets, CBDCs, cryptocurrencies, DeFi, and new market structures.As an ardent advocate for digital asset adoption, Maha is committed to formulating regulatory outreach strategies. Her passion lies in integrating new technologies to boost financial market efficiency, shaping regulations that foster innovation, reduce costs, and drive financial inclusion.Holder of an LLM in Finance Law from the Institute of Law and Finance, Goethe University, Maha is also a certified Blockchain Expert through the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
Kat Miroshnikova
Co-founder Unit Network, Unit Ventures
Kat Miroshnikova is the co-founder of Unit Network, a consumer-facing L1 blockchain, and Unit Ventures, the Unit ecosystem fund. Since 2017, she has been deeply involved in the crypto space, focusing on angel investing, advising, and building disruptive technologies that make blockchain accessible and impactful for businesses and individuals.
Prior to Web3, Kat worked as a tech architect in Web2, contributing to leading SaaS companies. Her journey began as an Olympic-level athlete, starting her running career at age 9 before transitioning to technology.
Kat is an active member of prominent communities like the Satoshi Roundtable (Bitcoin OGs), ARC, and UnDavos at the World Economic Forum. She is also part of the Forbes Web3 community and has been recognized as one of the Most Inspirational Women in Web3 and AI by Unstoppable, as well as receiving Advocacy Project of the Year from AIBC for her work with Unit Network.
Outside of tech, Kat has summited two of the Seven Summits—Elbrus and Kilimanjaro—and participated in an Antarctica expedition. Having traveled to 49 countries and lived in multiple global cities, she currently divides her time between NYC, Dubai, and Hong Kong.
Himanshu Sahay
Co-Founder & CTO, Arch
Himanshu is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Arch Lending, a leading crypto-backed loan provider known for its industry-leading security and compliance, exceptional customer service, and automated product experience. Arch specializes in over-collateralized loans to both individuals and institutions, ensuring that customer assets are stored in qualified custody, are not rehypothecated, and remain bankruptcy remote. Arch has recently raised $70M through a first-of-its-kind collateralized loan obligation (CLO) structure for a crypto company, a groundbreaking move in the industry, backed by Galaxy. Himanshu's background in consumer technology includes key roles at Tinder, Bird Rides, and Snapchat. He has also run a venture fund and has invested in several early and growth stage companies and cryptocurrency projects.
Mo Ali Yusuf
Co-Chair, Digital Assets, Mena Fintech Association
Building and advising in regulated Digital Assets and Fintech infrastructure across Middle East, Africa, Turkey
An international business leader with a passion for growing fintech, eCommerce, and crypto through:
Speaker, adviser and angel investor in startups. If you are driving the growth in the region - let's connect!
Canadian born, living in Dubai, working across the region.
Irina Heaver
Partner, NEOSLEGAL
Irina is a leading Web3 and Crypto lawyer based in Dubai and Switzerland, representing clients worldwide.
She is highly regarded internationally for her extensive experience and deep technical knowledge of blockchain, Web3, and cryptocurrency matters.
She is a partner in an International LawFirm, as well as the Founder of the UAE’s first legal technology services & business consultancy dedicated to crypto matters (established 2016).
Irina advises across the value chain in the blockchain space, including multinational companies and protocol developers, issuers of tokens, DeFi and NFT projects, and blockchain infrastructure projects, such as tokenisation platforms, cryptocurrency exchanges, payment providers, and funds investing in Web3 ventures.
Irina has consulted multiple Governments and Regulators on policies surrounding emerging technology and has drafted crypto-related laws and regulations. Her nearly two decades of experience — accrued as a partner in a law firm, in-house as a regional General Counsel, and as a co-founder of a regional crypto exchange — have led her to advise on over USD $500 billion worth of projects and transactions in the oil & gas, mining, construction, maritime, and technology sectors.
Irina’s expertise is in aiding visionary entrepreneurs with legally compliant launches, capital formation, and growth, leveraging her vast network in the Middle East and Europe.
Arto Bendiken
Founder and CTO, Haltia.AI
Arto Bendiken is a pioneering figure in blockchain technology, with involvement dating back to early digital currency experiments in 1997. As a regular at Berlin's Room 77, the first establishment to accept Bitcoin for everyday transactions, he contributed significantly to early cryptocurrency discourse. His technical leadership includes heading the EVM team at NEAR Protocol (backed by a16z with over $1.1 billion in funding) and serving as CTO at Aurora Labs, where he developed groundbreaking solutions for Ethereum compatibility.
Currently CTO at Haltia.AI, Bendiken focuses on integrating blockchain principles with AI development, emphasizing decentralized data ownership and privacy-preserving computation. As co-founder of the Cypherpunk Guild, he continues to advocate for digital sovereignty and decentralized systems, bringing over two decades of experience in advancing blockchain technology and its applications
Serena Sebastiani
Virtual Assets Lead, Director Financial Services Consulting, PwC Middle East
Serena Sebastiani is a Senior Director in the Financial Services Advisory arm of PwC Middle East, and Consulting Virtual Assets Leader. Building a digital, innovative, open economy is a priority for most of the GCC Nations, to support the sustainability of their growth strategies, diversify from legacy oil-based economies, and improve financial inclusion. Serena has 13+ years of experience in supporting Regulators, Governments and the Private Sector to achieve these objectives, through designing strategies, policies and implementation actions that will define the Future of Banking and Finance.
Dennis Maliani
CEO Apotheka Systems Inc
Dennis Maliani is the CEO disruptor & innovator behind Apotheka Systems Inc. with vast experience in the Web3 space, driving innovation in Blockchain and AI technologies. Experience covers 17 plus years at world-class companies, hospitals systems and academic centers. From startups to Fortune 500 companies. Touching upon innovation M&As, operations, IPO readiness & global portfolio management.
NICK SPANOS
Bitcoin Pioneer/Founder, Bitcoin Center NYC
Founder of the Bitcoin Center in 2013 the first live crypto currency exchange. Located 100 feet from the New York Stock Exchange(prominently displayed on the netflix documentary "Banking on Bitcoin"). Inventor of the multi-branched blockchain, and blockchain voting. Both patents have been granted. Thirty years of experience in technology and politics. Pioneer and thought leader in the blockchain paradigm. He was also Founder of GetaRoom.com in 1997. In 1983 he attended New York Institute of technology where he studied computer science and AeroSpace Engineering.
Irina Karagyaur
Co-Founder & CEO, BQ9
Irina Karagyaur is a dynamic leader in the blockchain and Web3 space. Her involvement in various projects, including founding initiatives aimed at leveraging technology for social impact, as well as her roles in advocacy and education within the blockchain community, showcase her leadership and dynamic approach to addressing complex issues like energy transition and climate change through innovative technologies. Irina co-founded BQ9, an ecosystem growth agency on a mission to turn great ideas into great Web3 products. BQ9 works on business model creation, product ideation and development & Ecosystem Strategy. She is also founder of Creators4Impact (the open knowledge community), creator and host of Creators Imagining the Future Community Dialogues. Irina is an editor and expert contributor to ITU Focus Group on Metaverse (FG-MV), and a mentor for UN Women Mentorship Program. Irina is an active Polkadot Head Ambassador, creators of Energy Web X Global Leaders program & creator and a host of The Business Case for Polkadot podcast & DOT4Business community in partnership with Polkadot Blockchain Academy. Irina is named one of the Top 100 Women of the Future, the winner of the 2022 Rising Women in Crypto Power List by Wirex and The Cryptonomist, Asia's 100 Women Power Leaders, the winner of Women of Web3 Changemakers 2023 by Near Foundation, Top 20 Women Blockchain Leaders in 2023 by Whizlabs, LinkedIn Top Strategy & Metaverse Voice 2024, Top 20 women in blockchain 2024 by Mural, Top 20 Women Blockchain Leaders in 2024 by Whizlabs. Irina has delivered a TEDx talk "Knowledge Communities are Shaping the Metaverse" at TEDxMaviliSquare 2023. Featured in Entrepreneur India, Arab Finance, CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, BeInCrypto, Financial Times, Harvard Business Review Turkey, GeckoCon by CoinGecko, Benzinga, NFT NYC and more. Delivered lectures and talks at COP26, COP27, COP28; UNESCO HQ, Politecnico di Milano, Queens College City University of New York, UCL, Glasgow University Engineering Technology Society.
Christian Gleich
International Ambassador, European Blockchain Association
Christian Gleich is the ambassador of the European Blockchain Association and well-known as a consultant and international speaker on topics related to blockchain, web3, tokenization and the metaverse. His focus over the last 25 years has been on the specific development of digital use cases and business models as well as their monetization. In various leadership positions, the digital expert led innovative projects for Samsung, Nike as well as NASA. He also holds the Guinness® World Record for the largest product launch of all time - streamed from the international space station (ISS). Right now he is focusing on tokenization for companies of different industries.
Anton Golub
Founder & Chairman, SwissAssetDAO
Anton Golub, Founder & Chairman of SwissAssetDAO, and Advisor & Venture Partner at Full Stack VC. He founded flovtec, a Swiss market-maker for digital asset exchanges, and co-founded Trust Square AG, a blockchain hub. Previously, he co-founded Lykke Corp, a fee-free blockchain exchange, and worked as Chief Science Officer. With experience at Olsen Ltd and Alliance Manchester Business School, he specializes in high-frequency trading and market microstructure. He contributed to the Foresight Project on algorithmic trading and EU-backed research projects.
Maja Vujinovic
CEO, OGroup
Maja Vujinovic is a seasoned investor and innovator in emerging technologies, specializing in blockchain, AI, and digital payments. With experience spanning 17 global locations, she excels in identifying transformative technologies and market opportunities. In 2005, Vujinovic pioneered mobile payments, developing assets worth over $700M across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Recognizing Bitcoin's potential in 2010, she became a leader in digital assets, facilitating Tether's first bank acquisition in 2013. As CIO of Emerging Technologies at General Electric (2013), Vujinovic spearheaded global blockchain initiatives. She introduced Ethereum, Ripple and other platforms across various sectors, developed GE's first "blockchain-as-a-service" platform, and uncovered $5 billion in trapped cash through automation. Notably, she catalyzed the first trade-finance blockchain deal between JP Morgan and GE. Currently, Vujinovic's company, OGroup, partners with $4B in family offices, guiding investments in ETFs, crypto, blockchain, and AI. OGroup invests in and operates over 45 companies and funds, assisting corporates, governments, and startups with digital transformation and scaling. Vujinovic holds a BA in Political Science and Finance and a JD from Emory University. She serves on several boards, including Catalan.ai, Republic Crypto, Civic, and Longevity Science Foundation. A respected voice in emerging technologies, she has spoken at prestigious forums such as the World Economic Forum, FII Institute, Consensus, Financial Times, etc.
Arjun Kalsy
COG Fuel, Network
Arjun is the Chief of Growth at Fuel Network. Prior to this he was the Head of Ecosystem at Mantle where he was responsible for building out the teams, launching the network and scaling the ecosystem. Prior to that he was the Head of BD & Growth at Polygon where we was responsible for growing the ecosystem to 50K+ dApps and closing out major partnerships. He comes with experience in Engineering, Sales and Entrepreneurship and has held leadership positions at several companies across a host of technologies like Blockchain, Analytics and AI.
Jeroen Gillekens
Principal, Digital Assets & FinTech Roland Berger
Jeroen Gillekens is a Principal with Roland Berger, leading the strategy consultant’s Digital Assets & FinTech practice in the Middle East region. He has extensive experience in advising financial institutions, corporates as well as crypto-native firms on innovative growth strategies, new market entries and investment decisions (incl. M&A). Jeroen is also actively involved in the broader ecosystem, by sharing his market perspectives through publications and conference panels.
Maria Vovchok
Podcast Host/Master of Ceremonies, Dubai Blockchain Center
With over 12 years of journalism experience, Maria Vovchok is a seasoned news presenter, editor, and Blockchain enthusiast for six years. She's held roles in Blockchain media and marketing for companies, fostering connections with VCs, angel investors, and startups. Maria moderates and hosts at global Tech and Business conferences, serving as an Ambassador for the Blockchain Association of Ukraine and a member of "Blockchain Ladies" and "Women on Tech." Currently, she co-organizes Metaverse and Blockchain conferences, advises companies in the Middle East, and hosts the "Encrypted" podcast at the Dubai Blockchain Center.
Belinda Zhou
Founding Partner, Sharding Capital
Belinda Zhou is the Founding Partner of Sharding Capital, a Middle Eastern-based fund that focuses on investing in web3 projects. They specialize in providing portfolio companies with a range of resources, including capital injection, mentorship, marketing strategies and access to a vast network of founders, VCs and KOLs especially in the Middle East and the APAC market.
Naeem Aslam
Columnist, NASDAQ
Naeem is a former hedge fund trader with over 10 years of experience in investment banking. He is a regular guest with all tier one media such as CNBC & Bloomberg. He has spoken at the headquarters of the European Parliament on the subject of blockchain and its adoption. Moreover, Naeem has guest lectured at the most prestigious universities in the UK such as The London School of Economics, The Warwick University and his own university, The University of Leeds.
Naeem was awarded National Award (Irish Brokers Young Award) in October 2010. He has vast experience in investments, portfolio management and proactively takes advantage of various market trends in all aspects of investment origination, such as research and appraisal, valuation, structuring, deal execution, ongoing management and exit strategies.
Alnura Belyalova
Director of PR, INPUT Comms
Alnura is an accomplished Director of Public Relations with a passion for the transformative potential of Web3 technologies. With over 7 years of experience, she has worked with high-profile companies such as Bitget, Hacken, Outlier Ventures and many others, and has consistently developed and executed high-impact communication strategies.
Deeply invested in the evolution of the Web3 landscape, Alnura believes in the revolutionary power of this technology to shape the future. Her commitment to raising awareness in this dynamic space reflects a personal mission to contribute to an industry that will change the lives of generations to come.
As a seasoned speaker, Alnura has participated in a number of events globally including the WOW Summit, Crypto Valley Conference, Step UAE, Digital Transformation Summit and others. She engages with decision-makers in Web3 and FinTech, including CEOs, entrepreneurs, investors, and government representatives, aiming to foster insightful discussions that illuminate both the opportunities and challenges of the industry.
Alexis Johnson
Co founder & CEO, Light Node Ventures
Alexis began passively investing in cryptocurrencies early 2017 and, during the spring of 2018, launched the Light Node Ventures subsidiary, a growth & advisory company which targets the Blockchain community. In summer of 2019, Alexis founded Legends Investment Network, the largest private investment network for professional athletes and entertainers in North America, another subsidiary. Athletes and entertainers come together to learn about alternative investments and asset classes.
Laura K Inamedinova
Principal, Gate Ventures
Laura K. Inamedinova - an award-winning serial entrepreneur, investor and keynote speaker sharing her insights on Web3 space since 2016.
Currently serving as Principal at Gate Ventures, the venture arm of Gate.io, she oversees investments, partnerships and growth of the fund.
Before joining GVC, she founded a Web3 marketing agency LKI Consulting, which she grew to 8-figures. This led her to be globally acclaimed as one of the “10 Women Entrepreneurs” by Entrepreneur Magazine and among “Top 10 Women in International Business” by Silicon Valley Times.
In 2024, she transferred the leadership of LKI Consulting to a new management team, while Laura retained her position as a majority shareholder.
On a personal level, Laura is a successful angel investor with 40+ projects in her portfolio, ex-Forbes and Huffington Post columnist, and an internationally renowned speaker with a track record of 156+ conferences in 25+ countries.
Anil Kumar
Founder & CEO, Rome Protocol
Anil Kumar is the co-founder and CEO of Rome Protocol, with a 20-year career in financial services, working at JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche At the helm of Rome Protocol, based on the Solana blockchain, Anil is pioneering efforts to improve blockchain interoperability by enabling chains and ecosystems to compose and scale with Solana while remaining sovereign. His leadership is instrumental in expanding Solana's app development landscape and developer community, propelling a broader adoption of Web3 technologies through enhanced user experiences.
Alex Malkov
Co-founder, HAQQ Network
Alex Malkov combines over a decade of legal experience with a focus on Web3 projects. He has worked with major blockchain and fintech firms like AAVE and Bequant, ensuring legal compliance and innovative approaches in the space. His leadership at HAQQ focuses on building an ethics-first blockchain platform that addresses real-world challenges, particularly in emerging markets.
If you know someone who belongs on the Global Blockchain Show stage, or if you belong there yourself, we want to hear from you!