MARCH 12th–14th 2025

Our 1st Annual

Join a powerful community of women and allies driving diversity in digital assets at our exclusive, invitation-only summit.

Eve Wealth Summit

About the 2025
Eve Wealth Summit

As part of our mission to get more diversity in digital asset investing, we are bringing together an extraordinary group of women and allies to strengthen our community and work together to broaden the investor base of digital assets.
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At The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel Resort

The Eve Wealth Summit is by Invitation Only, and there are limited rooms available on-site at the Ritz-Carlton. Apply early to guarantee your spot. You seriously do not want to miss this event.

We will have amazing speakers, small breakout groups to tackle specific challenges facing our industry, plus an agenda full of opportunities for impactful and meaningful networking. We promise you will walk away with an expanded list of contacts, new connections and a network that is equally passionate about digit asset investing.

This will not be your typical crypto conference full of sound bites or paid talking heads. We are gathering industry leaders who share our vision of a more inclusive industry and an investor base that more closely resembles actual population demographics. Whether you just discovered crypto or you’ve been in this from the beginning, if you are passionate about an inclusive financial future, this is where you belong.

While we don’t want shilling or the typical conference full of pitching and selling, we do want to showcase the work you are all doing. We want attendees to build meaningful connections that could lead to business partnerships, professional development opportunities and other shared successes.

This first annual Summit is the realization of our dream to bring together senior women and allies in our industry to build and deepen relationships that will lead to business partnerships, professional development opportunities and so many more shared successes. Working together to elevate women’s roles and voices will strengthen our industry and burnish its reputation.

Ticketing

The Summit is an invitation-only curated gathering of industry leaders across digital asset investing, blockchain technology and Web3.

Space is limited, and ticket is not guaranteed until paid.

Early Admission Pricing

Save $300!

We have limited space for our early birds. Please apply now and secure this opportunity while it lasts.

$999/ticket

General Admission

We still think this is a steal at this price, and we’re excited to see you in March!

$1299/ticket

Agenda

Check out the agenda for our event and check back often as we continue to add amazing speakers and topics. If you have a topic request, reach out to hello@evewealth.com!
WEDNESDAY 3/12/25
Day 1
THURSDAY 3/13/25
Day 2
FRIDAY 3/14/25
Day 3
3:00PM
WELCOME EXPERIENCE-THE PLAZA

We are so excited for you to join us. Don’t be surprised if a red carpet meets you when you arrive. This experience will be one to remember.

5:00PM-6:30PM
COCKTAILS- Pacific Promenade 3

Come meet your fellow attendees and the Eve team as you sip expertly crafted cocktails and indulge in gourmet hors d’oeuvres. Dress code is business casual, emphasis on the latter. This is the perfect opportunity to introduce yourself, or catch up with familiar faces and enjoy a delightful evening with industry peers.

6:30PM-9:00PM
DINNER-PACIFIC PROMENADE BALLROOM

Join us for a delicious meal, with a welcome from our CEO Sadie Raney, and a keynote from Veronica Kirin, Anthropreneur, Author & Founder of Asterisk Women’s Health.

7:00AM-7:45AM
YOGA-SALON 6
8:00AM-9:30AM
BREAKFAST
9:00AM-9:45AM
Pioneering Progress: The US Role in Crafting Crypto’s Regulatory Future

SPEAKERS:

Hailey Lennon-General Counsel, Fold

Jennie Levin-Chief Regulatory & Strategy Officer at Figment

Kari Larsen-Partner & Co-Head of Wilkie Digital Works at Wilkie, Farr & Gallagher

Katherine Dowling-General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer at Bitwise Asset Management

Moderator: Jessi Goostree-Chief Operating Officer at Texas Blockchain Council

9:45AM-10:30AM
Fireside Chat: Emma Giancarlo & Chris Giancarlo

Speakers:

Emma Giancarlo-Current MBA Candidate

Chris Giancarlo-“Crypto Dad”, Attorney, Former Chairman CFTC

10:30AM- 10:45AM
Coffee Break
10:45AM- 11:15AM
AMA with Frederik Gregaard

Moderator: Sadie Raney, CEO of Eve Wealth

Speaker: Frederik Gregaard, CEO of The Cardano Federaton

11:15AM-12:00PM
Risk & Reward: Institutional Insights on Digital Asset Management

SPEAKERS:

Blue Macellari-Head of Digital Asset Strategy at T. Rowe Price

Cynthia Lo Bessette-Head of Digital Asset Management at Fidelity Investments

Laurie Katz-Chief Revenue Officer at Figure Markets

Moderator: Paget Stanco-Principal at Gemini Institutional

12:00PM-12:45PM
Crypto and Crime: Security Best Practices

SPEAKERS:

Eric Rosenberg-Partner at Silver Miller

Erin West-Founder of Operation Shamrock

Moderator: Elaine Asher-Chief Strategy Officer at Eve Wealth

12:45PM-2:00 PM
LUNCH
2:00PM-2:10PM
Virtual Keynote: Maggie Love

Speaker:

Maggie Love-Founder of SheFi

2:10PM-2:45PM
Tax Transformation: The US Framework for Crypto Compliance and Beyond

SPEAKERS:

Cynthia Pedersen-Director at Cohen & Company

Erin Fennimore-Vice President of Tax at TaxBit

McKenzie Arthur-Vice President of Finance at Eigen Labs

Moderator: Sam Leichman-Blockchain Practice Lead at Propeller Industries

2:45PM-3:25PM
Decentralized Intelligence: The Future of Crypto and AI

SPEAKERS:

Laura Cunningham-CEO & Co-Founder, Ava

Maika Isogawa-Co-Founder and CEO at Webacy

Maya Aloy-Director of Advisory at Republic

Moderator: Natalie Brunell-Head of the Coin Stories Podcast

3:25PM-3:40PM
COFFEE BREAK
3:40PM-4:20PM
Next Frontier: What Crypto VCs are Betting on for the Future

SPEAKERS:

Banafsheh “B” Fathieh-Co-Founder & General Partner at Faction

Vanessa Grellet-Managing Partner at Arche Capital

Moderator: Julie Wagne-Managing Partner at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB)

4:20PM-4:40PM
Code of Law: A Blockchain Debate

SPEAKERS:

Amy Caiazza- Partner and Fintech & Financial Services Practice Group Leader at Wilson Sonsini

Sarah Shtylman-Partner at Perkins Coie

Moderator: Lee Schneider-Financial services and technology lawyer, Counsel for Ava Labs

4:40PM-5:20PM
The Leadership Playbook: What Separates Good Executives from Great Executives?

SPEAKERS:

Veronica McGregor-Chief Legal Officer at Exodus

Erin Raney-Tech & Innovation Leader, Women in STEM champion

Leslie Feinzaig-Founder and General Partner at Graham & Walker Venture Fund

Moderator: Bhaji Illuminati-CEO of Centrifuge

5:20PM-5:25PM
SPEED ROUND WITH SADIE

Speaker: Sadie Raney, CEO of Eve Wealth

5:30PM-7:00PM
COCKTAILS-Pacific Promenade 3
7:00PM-8:30PM
DINNER-PACIFIC PROMENADE BALLROOM

KEYNOTE by Tim Hossain-Marketing Executive

8:30PM
AFTER PARTY & DESSERT-PAVILLION 3-5
7:00AM-7:45AM
YOGA-SALON 6
8:00AM-9:15AM
BREAKFAST
9:15AM-10:00AM
Unlocking Potential: How Crypto & Blockchain are Redefining Industries

SPEAKERS:

Jana Kreilein-Co-Founder of dVin Labs

Megan Knab-CEO at Franklin

Melyn McKay-Founder of Coala Pay, Anthropologist

Moderator: Kili Wall-COO of Melrose PR

10:00AM-10:45AM
Big Bets and Bold Moves: Inside the Minds of Institution Allocators

SPEAKERS:

Dawn Harflinger-CFA, Founder of Opihi Ventures

Joseph Marenda-Head of Hedge Fund Research and Digital Asset Investing at Cambridge Associates

10:45AM-11:00AM
COFFEE BREAK
11:00AM-11:45AM
Beyond the Canvas: How Digital Technology is Redefining Artistic Expression

SPEAKERS:

Cordell Broadus- President of Deathrow Games. Founder of GGC. Co-Founder Dr Bombay.

Lenna Onto-Co-Founder and CEO of Clay Haus

Moderator: Aubrey Strobel- Communications Advisor to Trust Machines, Host of “The Aubservation”, Author, Speaker in Bitcoin space

11:45AM-12:15PM
Secure by Design: Balancing Transparency with Privacy in a Digital World

SPEAKERS:

Veronica Kirin-Anthropreneur, Author, Founder of Asterisk Women’s Health

Kristy-Leigh Minehan- Co-Founder of The Crow’s Nest

Moderator: Joy Souligny- Co-Founder of Investera

12:15PM-12:30PM
Closing Remarks

Speakers:

Sadie Raney-CEO & Co-Founder, Eve Wealth

Elaine Asher-CEO & CSO, Eve Wealth

Alana Podrix- Founder & Entrepreneur

12:30PM-1:00PM
LUNCH
1:00PM
WINE TASTING OR POKER LESSON

Speakers


More speakers to be announced soon!

Venue

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The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel Resort

One Ritz Carlton Dr.
Dana Point, CA 92629
+1 949-240-2000

Our chosen venue is the Ritz-Carlton, a Surfside oasis in Laguna Beach, California with miles of beaches and crystal blue water. Here you will enjoy meetings by the ocean, elevated menus with local and organic ingredients and luxurious accommodations. Not to mention the services and activities the resort provides, such as daily yoga and pilates, access to the tennis courts, golf courses, the beach, bicycle rentals, shopping, sailing and more.

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A Coastal Luxury Resort Inspired by California Soul

Perched atop a seaside bluff, surrounded by panoramic views of the Pacific and the sandy shores of Salt Creek Beach below, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is a coastal haven of new experiences. Located halfway between LA and San Diego along the coast, our Dana Point resort awakens the senses with its vibrant beachfront locale and celebrated Five Diamond service. Sprawling shoreline vistas create awe-inspiring memories from the moment of arrival. Dine on Southern California coastal cuisine, explore your surfside surroundings on an eco-adventure, or soothe with a spa escape at our Salt Creek Beach hotel. The California coast is calling.

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Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

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What’s the best way to get here?
JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT–ORANGE COUNTY

Distance from Property: 22.0 Miles
Phone Number: +1 949-252-5200
Learn More

This hotel does not provide shuttle service.


Alternate Airport Transportation
Best Transportation (arrange through hotel concierge 949-240-2000 ext 5360); reservation required

Reservation Required: +1 714-375-9128

LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Distance from Property: 75.0 Miles
Phone Number: +1 310-646-5252
Learn More

This hotel does not provide shuttle service.


Alternate Airport Transportation
Best Transportation (arrange through Guest Relations 949-240-2000 ext 5825); reservation required

Reservation Required: +1 714-375-9128

SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Distance from Property: 60.0 Miles
Phone Number: +1 619-400-2400
Learn More

This hotel does not provide shuttle service.

Alternate Airport Transportation
Best Transportation (arrange through Guest Relations 949-240-2000 ext 5825) ;reservation required

Reservation Required: +1 714-375-9128

If I have questions, who do I contact?
QUESTIONS?

Email us at hello@evewealth.com

How do I become a sponsor?
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Please reach out to elaine@evewealth.com for more info.

2024 Baxter Acquisition Inc. All rights reserved.

Mary Peltola

Congressman

Mary Peltola previously served as Alaska’s At-Large Representative in Congress, where she successfully delivered for Alaskans during her two years in office. She brought home more than $7.8 billion for state infrastructure and rural broadband and hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate the Railbelt Energy Grid and lower energy prices. She served in the Alaska State House for ten years, championing education, public safety, and affordable energy. Later on, she worked to restore Alaska fisheries as the Executive Director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. She is a lifelong Alaskan, a mother of seven, a grandmother of two, and a fishing boat captain at the age of fourteen. She recently joined Holland & Hart as Senior Director of Alaska Affairs to work on projects that will improve economic conditions for all Alaskans.

Emma Giancarlo

Current MBA Candidate

Emma Giancarlo is completing her MBA in Finance at the Fordham Gabelli School of Business, combining her clinical expertise with a focus on finance and investment to enhance healthcare delivery. A licensed Registered Nurse and Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner with an oncology specialization, Emma completed her inpatient clinical training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC. With extensive experience in clinical healthcare operations, and management, she is now deepening her understanding of the financial landscape to expand her impact on healthcare through finance, personnel management, and business administration.

 

Chris Giancarlo

"Crypto Dad". Attorney. Former Chairman CFTC

The Honorable J. Christopher (“Chris”) Giancarlo served as 13th Chairman of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Giancarlo was first nominated as a CFTC Commissioner by President Barack Obama and unanimously confirmed in June 2014. He was subsequently nominated as CFTC Chairman by President Donald Trump and again unanimously confirmed in August 2017. He departed the CFTC in July 2019 following the expiration of his five-year term.

Named as one of “the most influential individuals in financial regulation” (International Financial Law Review), Mr. Giancarlo’s opinions on matters of financial market regulation are widely sought after and readily accepted for publication in major online and print media. As CFTC Chairman, Chris served as a member of the U.S. Financial Stability Oversight Committee, the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, and the Executive Board of the International Organization of Securities Commissions and participated in meetings of the Financial Stability Board. Giancarlo has testified twenty times before the US Congress and the UK and European Parliaments.

Mr. Giancarlo is Senior Counsel to the international law firm, Willkie Farr & Gallagher. In addition, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Common Securitization Solutions LLC, a joint venture between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and on the Advisory Board of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. Mr. Giancarlo also serves as an independent director of the American Financial Exchange, the sponsor of Ameribor and Ameribor Futures.

Before entering public service, Giancarlo served as Executive Vice President of financial services firm GFI Group Inc., leading its initial public offering, and as Executive Vice President & U.S. Counsel of Fenics Software. He also served as Chairman of the French American Academy. Previously, he practiced law in New York and London as a partner in the law firms of Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner and Giancarlo & Gleiberman and an associate with Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle.

Giancarlo is a renowned blockchain technology advocate, a “Top 25 Crypto Lawyer” by the American Crypto Association and key contributor to the global discourse on digital assets. Under his administration, the CFTC oversaw the launch of the first bitcoin futures contracts, created LabCFTC as the agency’s stakeholder in the digital evolution of derivatives trading markets, published primers on virtual currencies and smart contracts and entered into FinTech cooperation agreements with several overseas regulators. Mr. Giancarlo was Founding Co-Editor In Chief: eSecurities: Trading and Regulation on the Internet (Leader Publications). Mr. Giancarlo has discussed digital technology on broadcast television and radio and numerous conferences and podcasts.

Mr. Giancarlo is the founder of the Digital Dollar Project (DigitalDollarProject.org), a partnership between Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and the Digital Dollar Foundation to advance exploration of a United States Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). The purpose of the Project is to encourage research and public discussion on the potential advantages of a digital dollar, convene private sector thought leaders and actors, and propose possible models to support the public sector.

Mr. Giancarlo received his J.D. in 1984 from Vanderbilt University School of Law and graduated with a B.A. in 1981 Phi Beta Kappa from Skidmore College. Mr. Giancarlo is a member of the bar (1985) of the State of New York. Among other honors, Mr. Giancarlo has been awarded: “Contribution to Regulatory Reform” by IFLR Americas (2020);“The Freedom of the City,” from The City of London (May, 2019); and “Person of the Decade,” from The French American Academy (October 2017).

Cordell Broadus

President of Deathrow Games. Founder of GGC. Co-Founder Dr Bombay.

Cordell Broadus is the founder of Dr. Bombay Ice Cream and a prominent investor with a keen eye for innovation. He is the Chief Strategy Officer for Snoop Dogg, Death Row Records and the Tupac Estate, ensuring their legacy thrives in the digital age. Known for his strategic vision and creative direction, Broadus has been instrumental in driving forward initiatives that blend technology, entertainment, and culture. His leadership in developing gaming experiences and digital assets highlights his commitment to pushing boundaries and creating immersive, cutting-edge experiences for global audiences.

Alana Podrx

Serial entrepreneur, investor, and founder

Alana Podrx is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and founder known for creating impactful ventures in fintech, wellness, and SaaS. She launched Eve Wealth in 2020 to empower women in digital asset education, following successful exits from Space Btwn and Omni. Currently, Alana leads Mechanism Institute, a think tank advancing the future of digital-age institutions, while advising in AI, blockchain, and longevity sectors.

 

Amy Caiazza

Partner and Fintech & Financial Services Practice Group Leader at Wilson Sonsini

Amy Caiazza is a securities, fintech, and blockchain partner in Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s Washington, D.C., office and is the leader of the firm’s fintech and financial services group, which is recognized as a leading U.S. fintech practice by Chambers FinTech. Amy works with companies using new technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain to provide investment services. She specializes in structuring innovative fintech platforms to minimize regulatory requirements while advancing a company’s business goals. Amy has significant experience helping clients set up digital asset offerings and crypto investment platforms and is a recognized leader in analyzing how cryptoassets and transactions are viewed under the securities laws and other regulations. Amy was recognized as a 2022 Fintech Trailblazer by the National Law Journal.

Aubrey Strobel

Aubrey Strobel is a Communications Advisor to Trust Machines, the host of The Aubservation (sponsored by Cash App), and an author and speaker in the Bitcoin space. She previously served as Director of Communications at Lolli, the leading Bitcoin rewards company. Before Lolli, Aubrey was a senior executive at a blockchain consulting firm based in New York, where she led high-profile accounts. Her op-eds have appeared in outlets including CNN, NBC, Forbes, CoinDesk, and Newsweek.

Banafsheh "B" Fathieh

Co-Founder and General Partner at Faction

Banafsheh “B” Fathieh is the Co-Founder and General Partner at Faction, a $285M venture capital firm focused on early-stage blockchain opportunities. Prior to Faction, B was the Head of Investments, Americas at Prosus Ventures (fka Naspers Ventures), the venture arm of Prosus Group (AMS: PRX, market cap $120B+), one of the largest technology investment firms in the world. During her time at Prosus, B led early-stage technology and blockchain investments, deploying more than $250 million of capital across Series Seed to D (Immutable, Republic, and Polygon, among others). B has served in various operating, investing, board and advisory roles in her career and brings over a decade of experience around startups and venture capital.

Bhaji Illuminati

CEO of Centrifuge

Bhaji is a visionary growth leader with a proven track record of scaling early-stage tech companies into market-leading brands. As CMO of Centrifuge, she is driving the adoption of real-world assets onchain, positioning Centrifuge at the forefront of the RWA movement. Previously, at Dragonboat, she grew the team from 5 to 40 in a year and secured $12M in funding led by Insight Partners. At Taulia, her strategies helped pave the way for its $1B acquisition by SAP. Bhaji’s expertise spans go-to-market strategy, organizational scaling, and navigating complex ecosystems to drive growth and impact. Beyond work, she founded GLOW, a network connecting women executives in Los Angeles, and enjoys life in Venice, California, with her husband and two daughters.

Blue Macellari

Head of Digital Assets Strategy
T. Rowe Price

Blue Macellari is the Head of Digital Assets Strategy for T. Rowe Price. She is part of the Global Trading organization and is responsible for developing and leading the implementation and execution of T. Rowe Price’s digital asset strategy. Blue has more than 20 years of buy and sell-side markets experience. Most recently she was a Managing Partner at Dunamis Trading, a market-neutral crypto fund, where she spent four years focused exclusively on crypto investing. Prior to moving into crypto in 2018, her background was in emerging markets credit, rates, and FX with Lehman Brothers, Elliott Management, and TD Securities. Blue holds an undergraduate degree with High Honors from Mount Holyoke College, an MBA from Duke University, and she performed her graduate studies in International Economics and Middle Eastern Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS and the London School of Economics. She is a mother of three and her favorite dinosaur is the triceratops.

Cynthia Lo Bessette

Head of Digital Asset Management at Fidelity Investments

Cynthia Lo Bessette is head of Fidelity’s Digital Asset Management division where she has oversight and responsibility for setting the strategy and priorities for the division in building digital asset investment capabilities and solutions for Fidelity clients and investors across our platforms, offering investment products and advisory services designed to meet the growing needs of Fidelity’s retail customers and intermediary and institutional clients.

Ms. Lo Bessette leads the teams responsible for the development of the digital asset research and data platforms and research agenda, including evaluation of blockchain protocols, infrastructure, and financial applications. In addition, she leads the teams responsible for the establishment of the digital asset operating platform, the expansion of the strategic product roadmap for digital assets and the expansion of the business development function.

Ms. Lo Bessette has extensive experience working with asset management firms investing globally across asset classes and serving a worldwide investor base, including retail and institutional investors. She has broad experience working with global asset managers on strategic transactions and on start-up and establishment of new businesses in global markets, investment product development and distribution, and portfolio management matters involving US and foreign regulations and local market practices. She has been in the financial industry since 1995.

Previously, Ms. Lo Bessette was head of Asset Management and Digital Assets Legal.

Prior to joining Fidelity in August 2019, Ms. Lo Bessette was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of OppenheimerFunds, and was also a director of OFI International, Ltd, the UK affiliate of OppenheimerFunds, and OppenheimerFunds ICAV, a family of UCITS offered globally.

Cynthia Pedersen

Director at Cohen & Company

Cynthia is a high-energy adviser whose open communication style leaves clients feeling heard and appreciated. Clients enjoy working with Cynthia not only because of her direct approach in raising and addressing important tax issues, but because her consistently positive attitude lets them know they are in good hands.

Cynthia communicates with clients daily regarding their complex tax questions on investment strategies and how those strategies may fit into their long-term goals. Her areas of specialty include taxation of hedge funds, international tax compliance, tax compliance for tax-exempt organizations, and ultra-high-net-worth estate succession planning. Cynthia’s background as an attorney, and specifically as an estate planner, makes her a vigilant adviser when it comes to tax issues for high-net-worth individuals considering changes to their business structures and investments. In addition, she is responsible for firmwide tax research pertaining to a broad range of issues that influence alternative investment fund managers and investors. Beginning in 2016, Cynthia became actively engaged in the firm’s Cryptocurrency Group, providing tax consulting to emerging managers. As the cryptocurrency asset class rapidly evolves, she continues to help shape the firm’s tax positions.

Actively involved in quality control efforts for the firm’s Tax Practice

American Institute of CPAs (Tax Practice Responsibilities Committee)

Frequent writer and speaker, including writing for the AICPA’s Tax Adviser and serving as a panelist at CoinAlts Fund Symposium

Maryland Bar Association

New York Bar Association

Baltimore City Bar Association

American Bar Association

Cynthia lives in Baltimore City, Maryland, but often spends time in New York City working with clients and networking. Always ready to strike out of her comfort zone, Cynthia loves to travel the world. Her goal is to set foot on each continent before she retires someday.

David Silver

Founding Partner of Silver Miller

David C. Silver is a founding Partner of Silver Miller and is focused exclusively on representing aggrieved investors and cryptocurrency users worldwide who seek to recover their financial losses. Unlike many attorneys at large law firms, David does not charge his clients on an hourly basis. David accepts almost all of his cases on a pure contingency-fee basis. If you have a pure contingency-fee case and do not recover all or a portion of your losses, you do not have to pay us a fee for our services. You can find David on Twitter @dcsilver!

Though David has handled various matters across the spectrum of commercial litigation throughout his career, David has focused during the past ten years on individual clients who have lost money through fraud or other acts of deceit. When you lose or are owed money, David helps you get what belongs to you. Too often, lawyers and companies attempt to exploit financial regulations. David helps clients recover what belongs to them.

David is a Martindale Hubbell Preeminent “AV”-rated attorney (generally recognized as the highest rating given in the legal industry for general ethical standards and legal ability), and he tirelessly fights for his clients, having achieved victories totaling greater than $100 million in the last few years alone. For his efforts, David has been inducted into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an honor limited to attorneys who have won multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, which includes fewer than one percent of lawyers in the United States.

On behalf of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), David has led multiple investigations into wrongdoing by officers and directors of several closed financial institutions as well as investigations into D&O insurance carriers, fidelity bond carriers, attorneys, accountants/auditors, real estate appraisers, and brokerage professionals as they related to the downfall of certain closed financial institutions.

David is also quickly becoming recognized as one of the leading lawyers in America representing victims of crooked and abusive cryptocurrency exchanges, helping investors who have been exploited after investing in digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ether, and Litecoin. In 2015, David was named lead Class Counsel in the litigation against now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange Cryptsy, where he led the effort in recovering for the Court-certified class of Cryptsy customers settlements and judgments valued in excess of $40 million. With additional class action lawsuits pending against Kraken, and other cryptocurrency exchanges, David is continuing his fight for individuals aggrieved by exploited members of the cryptocurrency community.

Along with being an active litigator in the cryptocurrency community, David is also very active in his own local community, as he serves on the Board of Directors of one of the largest housing communities in South Florida and on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Broward County as well as the Federation’s National Young Leadership Cabinet.

Professional Experience 

David began his legal career at Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy Graham & Ford, a large Florida-based law firm. In April 2004, David joined the international law firm of Patton Boggs LLP (now Squire Patton Boggs LLP) in Washington, D.C., where his practice as a trial lawyer involved all aspects of civil litigation, including noteworthy pro bono work. In 2010, David left Patton Boggs LLP and returned to Florida. He was a Partner at Blum & Silver, LLP and Silver Law Group until he and Jason Miller founded Silver Miller.

Dawn Harflinger

CFA. Founder Opihi Ventures

Dawn Harflinger, CFA, is a seasoned executive with over 15 years of institutional investment experience. She is the founder of Opihi Ventures, a Hawaii based firm providing investment and management services to non-profit and for-profit clients. Prior to Opihi Ventures, Dawn served as President and CEO of Liliuokalani Trust, a private foundation where she was the first institutional investor in several West Coast-based crypto/blockchain funds. Dawn serves on the board of University Health Alliance Health Insurance and is the past president of CFA Society Hawaii.

Debbie Soon

Investor. Entrepreneur. Advocate. Author.

Debbie Soon is a Singaporean investor, entrepreneur, and advocate for inclusivity in the global onchain community. She is the author of Digital Mavericks, an accessible guide to crypto and blockchain that features inspirational stories from pioneering innovators in the space. With a decade of experience spanning finance, consumer tech, retail, media, and wellness, Debbie is passionate about shaping the future of consumer businesses across the U.S. and Asia.

Previously, she co-founded and served as Co-CEO of HUG, an inclusive social marketplace empowering next-generation creators, launched in 2022 alongside Facebook Live creator Randi Zuckerberg. Under her leadership, HUG grew to 35,000+ users across 180+ countries, securing partnerships with major brands such as the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, DIOR, and the United Nations, before its successful acquisition by .ART Domain Registry in 2024.

Debbie’s expertise lies in bridging the worlds of arts, technology, and finance. In 2023, she was recognized by NFT Now as one of 10 trailblazing Asian founders shaping the future of Web3. She has spoken at major blockchain conferences, including NFT NYC, NFC Summit, and the USC Blockchain Conference.

Before HUG, Debbie built and invested in multiple multimillion-dollar consumer businesses. She was a portfolio manager at GIC, managing over $1 billion in global consumer sector investments, before joining ONE Championship as Chief of Staff to the CEO and VP of Consumer Products, where she led expansions into new markets and business lines.

Debbie holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Cambridge and an M.S. in Financial Engineering from Columbia University. She also founded Singapore and Southeast Asia’s first boutique indoor cycling studio and remains an avid fitness enthusiast. Outside of championing inclusive innovation, you’ll find her lifting weights, watching football, or hanging out with her senior dog, Guinness, between Miami and Los Angeles.

Elaine Asher

Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of EVE Wealth

Elaine Asher is Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of EVE Wealth.  She was previously Chief Revenue Officer of Strix Leviathan, where she led the firm’s investor relations and revenue generation efforts. Elaine joined Strix Leviathan in 2021 from Anchorage Digital, where she helped grow and support the company’s base of institutional investors. Prior to that, she served as the Head of Business Development at CMT Digital, a leading crypto VC firm. Elaine began her crypto career in 2018 as an early employee at Bitwise Asset Management.Prior to falling down the crypto rabbit hole, Elaine was a Vice President in J.P. Morgan’s Private Wealth Management division. She also served as the West Coast Director for Plum Alley, a women’s angel investing collective. She previously had a decade-long career in the non-profit realm, raising funds for institutions such as SFMOMA and the California Academy of Sciences.Elaine is a frequent speaker on institutional investor adoption and allocation strategies at industry conferences (including iConnections and North American Blockchain Summit), and regularly hosts educational sessions on digital assets and blockchain technology for women.Elaine holds a B.A. from Duke University, where she is actively involved in the annual student-led Web3 Summits.

Erin Fennimore

Vice President of Tax at TaxBit

Erin Fennimore is a preeminent digital asset tax and information reporting expert specializing in cryptocurrency and digital assets. As the Vice President of Tax at TaxBit, she brings over a decade of expertise in information reporting and withholding. Her industry-leading insights have been featured in top-tier publications such as Bloomberg Tax, Tax Notes, and Fortune. Additionally, she has been prominently featured in Thomson Reuters, where she provided insights on the IRS’s proposed regulations for digital asset brokers and their implications for the industry (TR Tax & Accounting). Erin has also contributed to Blockworks, discussing critical developments in digital asset tax solutions and compliance (Blockworks).

Furthermore, her expertise is prominently featured in Taxbit’s knowledge hub, including discussions on the launch of their CESOP Compliance Platform, where she emphasizes the critical importance of precision and automation in tax reporting for crypto exchanges. For more insights, visit Taxbit’s Knowledge Hub.

Before joining Taxbit, Erin led the Global Tax Reporting group at Moss Adams, where she became a recognized leader in the private equity and venture capital sector. She also guided multinational corporations and financial institutions on navigating complex information reporting and withholding regulations related to digital assets. Her extensive background includes a key role at IHS Markit (formerly Compliance Technologies International), where she was instrumental in the design, testing, and implementation of innovative tax software solutions for tax due diligence, withholding, and information reporting, solidifying her position as a leading authority in the digital asset tax landscape.

Erin Raney

Technology & Innovation Executive | Strategic & Visionary Leader | Champion for Women in Tech

Erin Raney is a distinguished technology executive renowned for building and leading high-performance teams across technical and creative fields, driving customer-focused innovation and delivering impactful products. Recognized as a thought leader in wireless networks, AI, and emerging technologies, Erin excels at transforming strategic initiatives into tangible outcomes through storytelling, collaboration, and advancing technology enablement.

With over 24 years of experience, Erin most recently served as Senior Director of Systems Architecture, Technology & Innovation at T-Mobile. She directed the 5G Hub and Innovation Center, spearheading partnerships and launching solutions across healthcare, sports, entertainment, manufacturing, public safety, and more. Erin also expanded T-Mobile’s innovator and developer ecosystem through workshops, hackathons, and early access programs, while producing and moderating the 5G Hub Speaker Series, which played a pivotal role in shaping the 5G landscape.

Earlier in her career, Erin developed T-Mobile’s award-winning Tech Experience Center, led a national innovation tour, and positioned T-Mobile as a leader with the launch of advanced wireless products and services, including Rich Communications Services (RCS), global roaming, and location-based solutions. Her leadership in Systems Architecture and Innovation generated new revenue streams, boosted customer satisfaction, and expanded T-Mobile’s market influence.

Erin holds a Master’s in Telecommunications Engineering and a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado. A committed advocate for STEM, she previously led T-Mobile’s Women in Technology initiatives, served on the GSMA NA Women4Tech Regional Interest Group, and acted as a STEM sponsor and mentor with the University of Washington’s Global Innovation Exchange, supporting the development of future technology leaders and innovators. She continues her advocacy as an advisory board member with Ignite Worldwide, inspiring the next generation of women in technology.

Erin West

Founder of Operation Shamrock

Erin West is a globally recognized speaker and educator specializing in transnational organized crime, with a focus on the criminal investigation and prosecution of cryptocurrency-related cases. Recently retired after 26 years as a Deputy District Attorney in Santa Clara County, California, Erin spent the last eight years of her career assigned to the REACT High-Tech Task Force, renowned for its arrests and prosecutions of SIM-swappers and successful cryptocurrency recoveries.

As the founder and leader of the Crypto Coalition, an international network of nearly 2,000 law enforcement agents focused on cryptocurrency investigations, Erin has played a pivotal role in advancing global collaboration in combating digital crimes. Following her retirement, she launched Operation Shamrock, a groundbreaking non-profit organization dedicated to uniting law enforcement, private industry, and cross-border stakeholders in the fight against transnational organized crime originating in Southeast Asia.

Erin’s leadership, innovation, and passion for justice continue to make her a driving force in the global effort to dismantle criminal enterprises and protect communities worldwide.

Hailey Lennon

General Counsel, Fold

Hailey provides clients with front-end advice on regulatory requirements related to fintech and crypto companies, including the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Hailey also handles SEC investigations and enforcement actions concerning the cryptocurrency space. She also assists clients in obtaining state money transmitter licenses, the New York Bitlicense, Wyoming special purpose depository institution (SPDI) license, and National Trust and Bank Charters. Hailey is a certified anti-money laundering specialist (CAMS).

Prior to joining Brown Rudnick, Hailey was regulatory counsel at leading cryptocurrency platforms Coinbase and bitFlyer. At Coinbase, Hailey helped oversee regulatory relationships with the SEC, CFTC, OFAC and state regulators. She worked with the New York Department of Financial Services to obtain approvals for new products, services and digital assets and managed the companies’ Bitlicense and Trust Company supervisory relationships, reporting and audits. She also assisted with the Crypto Rating Counsel and reviewed securities law analysis of coins considered for listing and custody; managed external law firm relationships and lobbying efforts; obtained state lending licenses; and assisted with the launch of Coinbase’s margin product in 23 states.

At bitFlyer, Hailey helped the company’s expansion into the United States, obtaining money transmitter licenses for 33 states, as well as the coveted New York BitLicense. She oversaw bitFlyer’s Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) program, including internal policies and procedures, training, audits, and required reporting. She also managed meetings with FinCEN, DEA and other regulatory agencies, as well as the company’s strategy with respect to CFTC and SEC. Her regulatory responsibilities included response to subpoenas requesting customer information, to questions from FinCEN and OFAC, and to Attorney General requests.

During her tenure at bitFlyer, Hailey served as board secretary for the Virtual Commodity Association, a working group seeking to establish an industry-sponsored self-regulatory organization for the cryptocurrency industry.

Previously, Hailey was AVP of regulatory compliance at Silvergate Bank, a leading digital asset bank, where she conducted compliance and legal reviews for prospective cryptocurrency customers looking to bank at Silvergate. She also worked in conventional currency exchange, as a consultant at FX Depot, and as in-house counsel and director of compliance at Dolarex.  

Hailey is a frequent speaker at cryptocurrency conferences and is a contributing author for Forbes and Bitcoin magazines. She is frequently quoted on cryptocurrency matters in financial and cryptocurrency media, including CoinDesk, Yahoo, Bloomberg, and CoinCentral.

Jana Kreilein

Co-founder of dVIN Labs

Recognized as ‘the.wine.girl’ for her engaging social media and storytelling skills, Jana stands at the forefront of wine, communication, and blockchain innovation. Her work extends beyond digital platforms, fostering a global community of wine aficionados and insiders, and pushes the boundaries of traditional wine investment. Jana’s entrepreneurial spirit and storytelling prowess have led her into new ventures in television and tourism, all while emphasizing blockchain’s transformative potential in wine. Her commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and community building underscores dVIN’s mission, positioning her as a trailblazer in the evolving landscape of luxury wine.

Jennie Levin

Chief Regulatory and Strategy Officer at Figment

Jennie Levin currently serves as Chief Regulatory and Strategy Officer at Figment. Prior to joining Figment, Ms. Levin worked at DraftKings where she was responsible for navigating the complex regulatory issues related to Web3, Sportsbetting, and Casino. From approximately 2010 – 2019, Ms. Levin served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois, where she focused on financial crimes, and has been an adjunct professor in Trial Advocacy at Northwestern Law School for the last 11 years. Ms. Levin earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her J.D from Northwestern University School of Law.

Jess Cheng

Partner at Wilson Sonsini

Jess Cheng is a partner in the New York office of Wilson Sonsini, where she represents fintech clients on sophisticated regulatory, transactional, and product development projects involving financial services. Jess helps innovative companies adapt and thrive in the evolving payments space. She was formerly senior counsel at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, counsel at the International Monetary Fund, deputy general counsel at enterprise crypto company Ripple, and counsel and officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Jessi Goostree

Chief Operating Officer at Texas Blockchain Council

Jessi Goostree is the Chief Operating Officer of the Texas Blockchain Council, bringing a wealth of experience in strategic leadership and a deep passion for driving digital asset innovation. With over 17 years in financial services and blockchain technology, Jessi has a proven track record of delivering impactful strategies that shape the future of the digital economy.  In her current role, she is responsible for all strategic initiatives, financial operations and advises on policies aimed at positioning Texas as the jurisdiction of choice for blockchain and digital asset innovation. 

Jessi was instrumental in the development of the newly formed North American Blockchain Association (NABA) and currently serves as a Board member and Treasurer.

Prior to joining the Texas Blockchain Council, Jessi held various senior leadership roles at Fidelity Investments. As VP of Investment Products & Strategy for Digital Assets, she developed enterprise strategies and designed innovative crypto products. During her tenure, she played a critical role in launching products such as Fidelity’s Digital Asset Account and the Wise Origin Bitcoin ETP. Her career at Fidelity spanned multiple leadership positions in corporate finance, treasury, and institutional asset management.

Outside of her professional life, Jessi is the proud mom of two boys. She is a professional amateur sports spectator, has been known to run marathons for fun – not punishment, and is an advocate and mentor for women in financial services, digital assets and public service.

Joseph Marenda

Head of Hedge Fund Research, Head of Digital Assets Investing at Cambridge Associates

Joe Marenda is the Head of Hedge Fund Research, Head of Digital Assets Investing, and a Partner at Cambridge Associates.

Joe joined Cambridge Associates in 2006 and has more than 25 years of investing experience, with a focus on alternative assets. He oversees the discovery, diligence, and recommendation of new and established hedge fund managers. He also chairs the Hedge Fund Ratings Committee.

Responsible for finding and assessing venture and hedge funds focused on digital assets, Joe completed the firm’s first due diligence on a digital assets fund in 2017 and has been working with client investments in digital assets funds since 2018.

Joe is often cited in the media and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and client events on both hedge funds and digital assets. He regularly contributes to firm research, including our research paper, Hedge Fund-ing the Pension Deficit.

Prior to joining Cambridge Associates, Joe worked for a hedge fund and a venture capital firm. He also took over as a turnaround CEO at Keizon, K.K., a Tokyo-based Internet company focused on the Japanese public markets.

Joe received his MBA from University of Virginia, his MA in East Asian Studies from Yale University, and his BA in East Asian Languages & Cultures from University of Southern California.

Joy Souligny

Co-Founder at Investera

Joy Souligny is an advocate for financial inclusion, dedicated to empowering underrepresented communities through education and innovative financial solutions. She previously co-founded INVESTERA, an educational community guiding underrepresented investors into the future of finance, and has advised pioneering crypto communities and projects, including Eve Wealth and Bittrex Global.

Before diving into crypto in 2019, Joy spent over a decade serving the underbanked in 20+ countries as Director of Operations for FINCA Impact Finance, leading initiatives that helped over 2 million entrepreneurs in emerging markets access capital.

Today, she consults across the tech, digital assets, and impact finance sectors. Outside of work, you’ll find her recharging in the great outdoors, hiking or rock climbing.

Julie Wagne

Managing Director at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB)

Julie works closely with later-stage and public Fintech companies across the U.S. as a Managing Director at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a division of First Citizens Bank. Prior to joining SVB, Julie spent four years with JP Morgan with the Private Bank and its Tech & Disruptive Commerce group within the Commercial Bank, focused on venture-backed fintech and enterprise software companies. She also has experience in partnering and syndications across early to late-stage technology and fintech companies. Julie has also worked at Square, Inc. and Wells Capital Management researching and underwriting public and private company credit risk.

She is experienced in many aspects of early stage and middle market financing, including growth capital lending, working capital lending, asset- based lending, international credit products and trade finance. 

Julie earned her MBA from San Francisco State University, and her undergraduate degree in Art History from The Colorado College. She volunteered with the Peace Corps in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for two years, and continues to volunteer with the SF-Marin Food Bank. She keeps busy with her husband and two daughters in San Francisco.

Kari Larsen

Partner and Co-Chair of the Willkie Digital Works

Kari Larsen is a partner and Co-Chair of the Willkie Digital Works practice based in the firm’s New York office. A pioneer in the digital asset industry, Kari has more than two decades of private practice, in-house and government experience advising financial institution, digital asset, environmental commodity, derivatives, financial technology, and blockchain clients on some of the industry’s most innovative technologies and products. 

As part of her practice, Kari counsels clients on business and usage strategies, drafts and negotiates third-party agreements, advises on potential regulatory requirements, and liaises with government agencies. She regularly assists clients in their interactions with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) and other state regulators. Her experience regularly includes the potential application of governmental requirements to innovative financial instruments and assisting clients in navigating often complex and overlapping regulatory regimes.

Kari has extensive exchange and trading platform experience, including as general counsel for an environmental derivatives exchange and also a digital asset derivatives exchange and clearinghouse.  She often represents CFTC registrants in regulatory, compliance, and market infrastructure matters, and assists clients with applications for CFTC registration, such as designated contract markets, swap execution facilities, and foreign boards of trade. She also advises spot trading and auction platforms, particularly concerning environmental commodities, providing product counseling, financial regulatory and compliance guidance, and assistance with policies and procedures.  

Her blockchain clients include platforms in the funds, payments and money transmitters, trading, investments, and exchange spaces. She also assists fintech and digital business clients in matters involving information governance, anti-money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Know-Your-Customer, and vendor management matters.

Kari recently ended her term as a board member of the Futures Industry Association (FIA) and speaks regularly regarding fintech matters.

Katherine Dowling

General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer at Bitwise Asset Management

Katherine Dowling is on the Executive Management team and is the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Bitwise Asset Management. She previously served in General Counsel, CCO, and COO roles at several financial and private equity firms, and was a co-founder, Managing Director and COO of Luminate Capital Partners, a software private equity firm in San Francisco. A Harvard Law School graduate, Ms. Dowling spent over a decade as a federal prosecutor, most recently in the Economic Crimes Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, where she worked with the FBI, SEC, IRS and other agencies to prosecute insider trading, fraud, and money laundering cases, among others. She serves on the boards of two non-profit organizations.

 

Kelley Weaver

CEO of Melrose PR

Kelley Weaver is the CEO of Melrose PR, an industry leading crypto PR and communications agency, which recently appeared on the Inc.5000 fastest growing private companies list for 2024. Since falling down the rabbit hole in 2016, Kelley has been passionate about spreading the word about how Bitcoin and blockchain technology will change the world. She and her world-class team help companies achieve their communications goals through their pioneering approach to brand strategy, media relationships, content creation, and thought leadership. Kelley will be launching Bitwire, a modern newswire service this year.

Kelley also hosts Proof-of-PR, a podcast that dives into the world of public relations and marketing for crypto companies. Her op-eds have been published in Forbes and Thrive Global, and she is frequently quoted in mainstream media publications.

Kili Wall

COO of Melrose PR

Kili Wall is the COO of Melrose PR, a leading on-chain communications agency that helps web3 projects amplify their brand presence and secure impactful media coverage. Since joining Melrose in 2018, Kili has been dedicated to fostering meaningful relationships across the crypto ecosystem and beyond. Her passion for growth has paved the way for her current role, overseeing operations, business development, and internal team management. Kili works closely with Melrose’s CEO, Kelley Weaver, and CSO, Nikki Brown, to drive strategic initiatives and ensure the agency’s continued success in the rapidly evolving web3 space.

Laura Cunningham

CEO and Co-Founder of Ava

Laura Cunningham is the CEO and Co-Founder of Ava, an AI company that reduces the mental load of motherhood. Prior to that, she was GM and Head of Product at NEAR, a layer-1 AI blockchain. Laura started her career in management and technology consulting and then went on to serve as a product and policy leader in public and private sector education + ed-tech organizations. Laura holds a BA in History and English from Williams College and lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and two daughters.

Laurie Katz

Chief Revenue Officer at Figure Markets

With more than 25 years of experience in asset management, I am currently the COO/CMO at Figure Markets. I have extensive relationships with institutional investors including pension funds, endowments, insurance companies, family offices, fund of funds and bank platforms. At Figure Markets, we believe in a decentralized future for finance. We are building an “exchange for everything” – a blockchain native, decentralized custody exchange for digital assets with features like MPC wallets, cross-collateralization of assets, crypto backed-loans, and asset management. In my role at Figure Markets, I oversee many of the operational and marketing functions of the company, ensuring that we deliver high-quality services and solutions to our clients. I am passionate about driving growth and innovation in the financial industry.

Lee Schneider

Financial services and technology lawyer. General Counsel for Ava Labs

Lee A. Schneider is a financial services and technology lawyer with extensive experience in blockchain. Lee serves as General Counsel for Ava Labs and is the contributing editor for the Chambers and Partners Fintech Practice Guide. He co- founded Owl Explains and is active with a number of organizations. Lee is the father of two wonderful Oxford graduates who recently joined the workforce. He learns about Japanese art history from his wife. He speaks and writes only in his personal capacity, so accept the views as his and not those of Chambers, Ava Labs or anyone else. His views do not constitute legal, investment, tax or any other type of advice.

Lenna Onto

Co-founder and CEO of Clay Haus

Lenna is the Co-founder and CEO of Clay Haus, a creative studio & entertainment platform redefining storytelling and digital ownership through animation, IP licensing, and blockchain-driven experiences. With a previous role at IOHK (Input Output Hong Kong), she has deep roots in the Cardano ecosystem and a passion for empowering creators. Under her leadership, Clay Haus has forged high-profile collaborations with industry leaders like The Sandbox, Ledger, and Snoop Dogg, solidifying its position as a trailblazer in Web3 innovation. A Forbes 30 Under 30 lister in Arts & Culture, Lenna is driven by a vision to make Web3 more accessible, experimental, and inclusive for creators worldwide.

Leslie Feinzaig

Founder and General Partner at Graham & Walker Venture Fund

Leslie Feinzaig is the founder and General Partner at Graham & Walker Venture Fund, an early stage VC fund that identifies and invests in venture capital’s biggest blindspots. Feinzaig is a 2x startup exec with 8- and 10-figure exits, and a 2x movement starter recognized nationally for her leadership and influence. In 2017 she founded the Female Founders Alliance, the largest community of its kind in the US, which also serves as Graham & Walker’s proprietary deal flow machine. In 2024, she founded a civic coalition of 850+ VCs, representing $300B in AUM, which includes a “who’s who of Silicon Valley” according to NPR. Feinzaig has been named among Fortune’s Most Powerful Women from Central America, Worth Magazine’s Worthy 100, and Seattle Magazine’s Most Influential People, and is a contributor for Fortune and Fast Company. She was born and raised in Costa Rica, and now lives in Seattle with her husband and two young daughters.

Lynne Marlor

Co-Founder of Women in Digital Assets Forum

As the Co-Founder of Women in Digital Assets Forum Lynne is responsible for creating dynamic content and educational resources for women (and their allies) to learn, thrive, contribute and excel in the Fintech and Digital Asset space. She is also an Ambassador for the largest blockchain association in the globe. Lynne is an experienced capital markets, fintech and asset management expert with a substantial global financial network. Her innovation, growth mindset and leadership have proved successful in building the Women in Digital Assets Forum and the Boston Blockchain Association into the forefront of the ecosystem. She was most recently a Managing Director and Group Head of the Non-Bank Financial Services Segment within BNYMellon, engaged in all aspects of capital markets and asset management front, middle and back-office infrastructures. Based on her deep understanding of the markets, blockchain, digital assets, market structure, and the Web3 space, Lynne was nominated as an Unstoppable Women of Web 3 (12/22), BeinCrypto Women of 2024 and has been a Banking Innovation Judge at MIT, the Fintech Banking Awards, London (2022) and the Northeast Innovation Symposium. 

Lynne is a sought-after global speaker, investor and subject matter expert in the digital assets, financial markets, fintech, blockchain, AI, tokenization and Web3 space. A traditional finance professional, Lynne embraced blockchain in 2018 by completing the Oxford Blockchain Strategy Program, Said Business School at Oxford University.

Maggie Love

Founder of SheFi

Maggie is the Founder of SheFi, which empowers professional women and non-binary folks to master Web3. It’s a cohort-based educational program with live instruction, hands-on tech demos, and peer support, all aimed at accelerating careers in Web3 and AI. SheFi also produces large-scale events called SheFi Summit, offers dedicated career support and provides education to corporate organizations. Some corporate clients of SheFi include Fidelity’s Center for Applied Technology, Google and United Talent Agency. To date, 4,489 members have enrolled in SheFi from 90+ countries.

Maggie joined the Web3 space full time in 2017. Prior to SheFi, she co-founded W3BCLOUD, a joint venture between ConsenSys and Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) to build a gpu-based cloud computing platform for blockchain and AI workloads. She also was on the founding team of Cellarius, a science fiction universe on the blockchain. While at ConsenSys, she drove ventures, partnerships, and client engagements.

Before falling down the crypto rabbit hole, Maggie led product strategy for IBM Watson in Financial Services. She graduated with honors from Northwestern University.

Maika Isogawa

Co-Founder and CEO at Webacy

Maika is the CEO of Webacy, the leading risk engine for apps, protocols, and end-users in crypto. Maika is also a former professional acrobat and performer for Cirque Du Soleil. She attended Stanford University and specialized in Artificial Intelligence. Maika was most recently a Cybersecurity Engineer for Microsoft. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 lister, and the recipient of the Innovative Web3 Female Entrepreneur Award.

Maya Aloy

Director of Advisory at Republic

Director of Advisory at Republic

Maya manages the Client Portfolio & Operations at Republic Crypto, with over six years of experience in Web3. She advises a global client base on go-to-market strategies, product development, and business growth across AI, DeFi, and DePin. Prior to Republic Crypto, she spearheaded and advised on Security Token Offerings, focusing on LatAm.

McKenzie Arthur

Vice President of Finance at Eigen Labs

McKenzie Arthur is a Strategic Finance & Operations Leader specializing in Web3/Blockchain, FinTech, and SaaS. She is currently VP of Finance at Eigen Labs, an a16z-backed company advancing open innovation on Ethereum. Eigen Layer, the company’s protocol and developer platform, enables building, operating, and securing applications and services using Ethereum’s cryptoeconomic security.

McKenzie began her career in public accounting before transitioning into strategic finance roles. Prior to joining Eigen Labs, she was VP of Finance & Operations for Blocknative, a global blockchain infrastructure provider, and has held Finance & Treasury leadership roles with Bitski and Coinme during her 15+ year career.

She approaches Finance as the connective tissue across an organization, transforming it into a collaborative powerhouse that drives proactive value, boosts organizational performance, and delivers significant impact to both the top and bottom lines.

Megan Knab

Ceo at Franklin

Megan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Franklin, a tax compliant hybrid cash & crypto payroll service. With a background in accounting and product management, Megan has held leadership positions at Web3-native firms since 2016. She is a Crypto Accountant with experience from working with the likes of ConsenSys, DriveWealth, and most recently Serotonin, a Web3 marketing firm and product studio, where Megan served as VP of Finance.

Melyn McKay

Founder of Coala Pay. Anthropologist

Melyn is a PhD anthropologist and seasoned humanitarian aid professional with more than 15 years experience working in some of the world’s most challenging conflict zones, including Syria, South Sudan, and Myanmar. As an expert in international aid and humanitarian access, Melyn has advised leading global donors such as the FCDO and the EU. Melyn is the founder of Coala Pay, a blockchain company revolutionising money movement in the humanitarian sector. Coala Pay leverages smart contracts and stable coins to deliver efficient, transparent payments to partners operating in high-risk and conflict-affected regions. A first time founder, Coala Pay recently closed a $3.5m seed round lead by Castle Island Ventures.

Michelle O'Conner

Vice President of Global Brand and Market Expansion, TaxBit

A seasoned technology and financial services executive, Michelle is the Vice President of Global Brand and Market Expansion at TaxBit. In this role, she drives the global brand presence for the leading tax and compliance unicorn while spearheading market expansion efforts and acting as a brand ambassador and thought leader. Her team promotes an inclusive culture, encouraging engagement through leadership and collaboration.With over ten years in the digital asset space, Michelle is recognized as a preeminent thought leader, voted among the top 5 Women in Blockchain, and a finalist in the Diversity in Tech Awards in the Tech Leader category. In addition to her role at TaxBit, Michelle is a well-known FinTech leader, voted among the top 30 FinTech marketers, and a leading Web3 executive. She is passionate about improving access to financial services for the unbanked. She has a proven track record of leading brand management, marketing communications, and community building in the FinTech space.Before joining TaxBit, she was the VP of Marketing and Community at Uphold, a digital money platform. In that role, she developed and implemented the brand’s marketing strategy, brought cohesion and intention to the brand voice, and facilitated Uphold’s online community. She also managed public relations, content marketing and development, and social media strategy.Michelle also serves as the Expansion Chair of NYC FinTech Women, Chief Strategy Officer and Board Chairwoman for The Association of Women in Crypto, and as an advisor for The Financial Club and the Blockchain Steering Committee of WTIA.

Natalie Brunell

Host of the Coin Stories Podcast

Natalie Brunell is a podcast host, educator and media commentator in the Bitcoin space.

Her popular independent show, the Coin Stories Podcast, features interviews with Bitcoin thought leaders and covers headlines related to finance and economic issues facing society. Coin Stories is the top woman-hosted Bitcoin education show in the world, and ranks Top 10 in Business News podcasts.

Previously, Natalie was an award-winning TV journalist and investigative reporter. For more than 10 years she covered in-depth local and national news topics and holds a regional news Emmy for breaking news coverage as well as multiple Emmy nominations for investigative news stories. Natalie was recently an adjunct professor of advanced communication and visual storytelling at the University of Southern California. She holds a Master’s of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University.

Paget Stanco

Principal of Gemini
Institutional

Ronee McLaughlin

Educator

“Doing well by doing good.” It is not incongruous to spend one’s professional life working for nonprofit organizations while simultaneously embracing profit-making pursuits. After studying corporate taxation in law school, I worked in finance as an analyst and became a founding member of the FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) Board of Arbitrators. Overseeing disputes involving the business activities of U.S. brokerage firms and individual brokers led me to pursue master’s degrees in ethics and business. After being invited to speak to law students at Harvard University and business students at Clark-Atlanta University, I found my calling as a teacher and advocate. Being an ambassador for EVE Wealth allows me to fuse my passion for teaching with my enthusiasm for wealth creation. I can’t wait to see what wonderful things we all do together!

Sadie Raney

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Sadie Raney is co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of EVE Wealth. Sadie has co-founded two prior digital asset investment management companies: Strix Leviathan and Makara. Strix Leviathan was founded in 2018, and remains a successful quantitative hedge fund with six years of track record. Sadie also co-founded Makara in 2021, one of the first SEC-registered automated investment advisors in crypto, which was acquired by Betterment in 2022. Sadie previously served as Financial Controller for Blue Box, a cloud computing startup, where she helped lead the finance and administration team through the company’s acquisition by IBM. She began her career at Deloitte.

Sadie serves as an advisor to Franklin Payroll and Jetson, and is an advisory board member for Veriledger. She is also a mentor for the Barcelona Technology Transfer Group at IESE Business School and a member of the Female Founders Alliance

Sadie was listed as one of Hedge Fund Journal’s 50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds in 2023 and was featured in 100 Women in Finance’s 100WFinTech Changemaker series. She has also been featured on CNBC’s Crypto World show and Bloomberg’s What Goes Up podcast, as well as in CNBC, Bloomberg, Forbes, Barron’s, and Financial News, among others. She has spoken at conferences including the Avalanche Summit, CoinAlts 2022 & 2023, Women in Tech Regatta, and IIA Seattle Fraud Conference.

Sadie holds a B.A. from Pepperdine University and an M.B.A. from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, during which she attended the IE Business School in Madrid for an International MBA exchange.

Sam Leichman

Blockchain Practice Lead at Propeller Industries

Sam ‘fell down the rabbit hole’ when he started working with Solana Labs in 2019. As the lead of Propeller’s crypto/Web3 practice area, Sam provides strategic financial guidance to Propeller’s crypto and blockchain-related clients while also assisting them with the nuances of token accounting.

After starting his career in M&A investment banking, Sam worked at the modern furniture retailer Design Within Reach overseeing FP&A. Subsequently, Sam co-founded LivingPlug, a consumer hardware product. He served as Operations and Finance Lead, where he was instrumental in the company’s formation by spearheading its growth from concept to overseeing a Kickstarter campaign, from fundraising to launch, and from e-commerce to retail distribution.

Sam is inspired to work with smart and passionate colleagues while helping the team achieve its collective goals (both P&L and non-financial). To that end, he has always believed that the finance role should be a business partner as opposed to a scorekeeper.

Sam lives with his wife Christina in Sausalito and enjoys sailing and mountain biking.

Sarah Shtylman

Partner at Perkins Coie

Sarah Shtylman counsels clients on regulatory, commercial, compliance, and product development matters for fintech projects. She supports firms that seek to obtain or maintain financial services licenses, charters, and registrations by advising on structure, compliance programs, documentation, and engagement with regulators. For clients that seek to build products and services that do not require such regulatory oversight, Sarah provides support on product deployment, required disclosures, commercial terms, and strategic negotiations. Sarah handles matters involving regulated digital asset custodians and exchanges, licensed payment platforms, payment services integrations, marketplace payments, content monetization, in-game currencies, asset-backed blockchain tokens, and non-fungible tokens.

Sarah provides actionable regulatory assessments that drive product development, marketing, and regulatory licensing strategies. She also drafts and negotiates commercial agreements, vendor contracts, and terms of service that support her clients’ product launches. Clients appreciate that Sarah is well-versed in state and federal financial services regulations, particularly those related to digital asset custody and exchange, payments, and money transmission. She has advised clients through the application and compliance processes for state and federal charters, money transmission licensing and registration, and lending licenses. Sarah has engaged directly with state and federal regulators to discuss the applicability of various financial services regulatory regimes to emerging blockchain technology platforms and protocols that her clients are developing.

Sarah provides guidance on matters related to marketplace payments, the issuance of application-specific virtual currencies, points and rewards programs, stored value devices, and other in-app value systems or payment mechanisms. On behalf of various international companies, Sarah has negotiated co-brand card deals, buy-now-pay-later payments integrations, and other significant payment processing arrangements. She also supports clients in financings, particularly on diligence questions related to digital assets, payments, and money services regulatory concerns.

Tim Hossain

Marketing Executive

Tim Hossain is a marketing leader in the technology sector driving growth and innovation at companies like Amazon and Microsoft. With a rich career across education and technology, Tim is a mission-driven leader who understands the importance of community, culture and supporting communities. Tim is a first-generation American whose parents immigrated to the US in the early 1970s. He is a child of two worlds, walking the line between his Bangladeshi roots and the realities of being a minority in America.

Vanessa Grellet

Managing partner at Arche Capital

With over 20 years of experience, she has held significant roles in various organizations, including Head of Portfolio Growth at CoinFund and Executive Director at ConsenSys. At ConsenSys, she was instrumental in driving the adoption of Ethereum-based products and establishing key initiatives such as the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA) and the Blockchain for Social Impact Coalition (BSIC). Before her tenure in the blockchain industry, Grellet held senior positions at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and PwC, where she contributed to global wealth management strategies. She is also actively involved in advisory and board roles with organizations like the Arts and Antiquities Blockchain Consortium and the Resolution Project.

Veronica Kirin

Anthropreneur. Author. Founder of Asterisk Womxn's Health

Veronica Kirin is an award-winning anthropreneur and author. She is the founder of Asterisk Women’s Health and cofounder of Anodyne Magazine. She is also an anthropologist studying paradigm shifts and the author of the award-winning book “Stories of Elders.” She has been named a Forbes NEXT 1,000 Entrepreneur, one of GO Magazine’s “100 Women We Love,” and a BEQ 40 LGBTQ Leader Under 40. She has spoken at two TEDx events.

Veronica McGregor

Chief Legal Officer at Exodus

Chief Legal Officer at Exodus

Veronica serves as Chief Legal Officer at Exodus, a self-custody crypto wallet company that enables users to manage their digital assets seamlessly through integrations with third-party exchanges, staking platforms, and fiat ramps. With a global workforce of ~250 and status as a publicly traded company, Exodus is at the forefront of making crypto accessible. Veronica oversees the company’s global legal strategy, regulatory affairs, and government relations, navigating the complex and evolving landscape of crypto regulation.  Exodus was listed on the NYSE in December, of 2024.

Driving Decentralization at ShapeShift

Before joining Exodus, Veronica was the Chief Legal Officer of ShapeShift, where she spearheaded legal and regulatory strategy for 3 years, including its groundbreaking transition to full decentralization. This transformation led to the creation of the ShapeShift DAO, establishing a decentralized framework for the future of the platform.

Crypto Legal Trailblazer Since 2011

Veronica began speaking on the subject of Bitcoin in 2011, when it was in its infancy.  Having developed a reputation as a prolific speaker on the “weird new thing in payments,” she began giving frequent talks on Bitcoin (the only cryptocurrency at that time).  Her early efforts focused on educating banking and payments professionals about digital currencies and their regulatory implications. These speaking engagements established Veronica as one of the first lawyers to specialize in cryptocurrency and blockchain and earned her recognition as a pioneer in the field.  An OG, if you will.

BigLaw Career: Payments and Fintech Expertise

Enduring two decades in BigLaw, most recently as a partner at Goodwin Procter, Veronica specialized in payments, financial services, and emerging technology. Her expertise covered a broad range of matters, including payment systems, blockchain, mobile banking, prepaid systems, anti-money laundering compliance, and privacy. She advised on significant projects such as the launch of ApplePay and represented clients in high-stakes transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, IPOs, and technology licensing deals.

Her clients ranged from fintech startups to large organizations, including banks, wireless carriers, gaming developers, and online retailers, showcasing her ability to bridge the gap between regulated entities and disruptive innovators.  She was a fintech lawyer before fintech was a word.

Thought Leadership and Industry Recognition

Veronica is a respected thought leader in both crypto and fintech. She has delivered dozens of talks globally, written extensively on the subject, and held numerous leadership roles in esteemed organizations. Her accolades include:

  • Named one of the “Top 100 Women Lawyers” by the Daily Journal in 2015.
  • Included on several “Top Lawyers in Crypto” lists.
  • Elected to the Board of Regents for the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers after serving as a fellow.
  • Vice-Chair of the Consumer Financial Services Committee of the American Bar Association.
  • Past Chair of the Electronic Financial Services & Digital Currency Subcommittee of the ABA.
  • Past Chair of the Consumer Financial Services Committee of the California State Bar Association.
  • Former President of the San Francisco Bank Attorneys Association.

Bay Area Native with Entrepreneurial Roots

A native of the Bay Area, Veronica’s entrepreneurial spirit was inspired by her father’s legacy as the CEO of several startups. Throughout her career, she has partnered with innovators at the forefront of payments and crypto, serving as a key advisor for navigating the patchwork of state, federal and international laws and regulations. Her ability to bridge traditional finance and cutting-edge technology has made her a trusted mediator between the old guard of finance and the disruptive new wave of blockchain and digital assets.