HLS BFI Presents

The Fourth Annual Conference

Chartering the Future of Blockchain and FinTech — a full day of panels on fintech and crypto regulation, plus networking with industry leaders and students across Harvard.

April 25, 2025 • Austin Hall, Harvard Law School

Location

Austin Hall
1515 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

Reception

Cocktail & Networking Reception (Sponsor: DLA Piper)

Format

All panels conducted pursuant to Chatham House Rules.

Keynote Speaker

Aamon Simon

Chief Counsel, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

Closing keynote conversation on the evolving policy landscape for blockchain and fintech.

Agenda

Registration Morning

Registration opens at 8:30 AM.

Welcome & Opening Remarks Opening

With Amy Aixi Zhang (HLS BFI Founding Member; Lead Product Counsel, Ramp).

Panel: Regulating Blockchain and Market Structure Panel

David Hirsch (Partner, McGuireWoods; ex-Chief of SEC’s Crypto and Cyber Unit; ex-Counsel to SEC Commissioner)
Khurram Dara (Regulatory and Policy Principal, Bain Capital Crypto)
Laura Sanders (Senior Counsel, Blockchain Association)
Dr. Martin Hanzl (Partner, Attorney at Law, Head of NewTech, EY)

Moderated by: Kim Prior (Partner, Winston & Strawn)

In Conversation: Filing for Godot — Crypto Taxation Conversation

Jason Schwartz (Partner, Fried Frank)
Jamison Sites (Digital Asset Principal, KPMG US)
Prof. Thomas Brennan (Stanley S. Surrey Professor of Law, Harvard Law School)

In Conversation: Navigating Uncertain Waters with In-House Counsel Conversation

Dan Cohen (VP, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Crypto.com)
Daniel Stabile (Partner, Winston & Strawn)
Laura Brookover (Deputy General Counsel, OpenSea)
Ben Prager (Associate General Counsel, Binance.US)

Lunch & Networking Hour Break

Lunch will be provided to all registered attendees.

Panel: Decentralization, DeFi, and the Future of “Control” Panel

Rebecca Rettig (Chief Legal Officer, Jito Labs)
Lee Schneider (General Counsel, Ava Labs)
Marc Piano (Consultant and Director, Horizons Global)
Jolie Yang (Assistant General Counsel, Uniswap Labs)
Douglas Pepe (Partner, Zaiger Linden Roberti & Pepe LLC; Professorial Lecturer in Law, George Washington University Law School)

Moderated by: MacKinzie Neal (Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP)

Panel: The Unstable Landscape of Stablecoin Regulation Panel

Kristin Boggiano (Partner, DLA Piper; Founder, Digital Asset Regulatory Legal Alliance)
Sarah Wilson (General Counsel, Circle)
Lesley (Young) Chavkin (Global Head of Public Policy, Paxos)
Timothy Massad (Research Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; Former Chairman of the U.S. CFTC)

Moderated by: Prof. Allen Ferrell (Harvey Greenfield Professor of Securities Law, Harvard Law School)

Coffee & Networking Break Break

Coffee break between sessions.

Panel: Banking and Payment Innovations and Regulations Panel

Jai Massari (Co-Founder and CLO, Lightspark)
Leila Perkins (Head of North America Regulatory, Stripe)
Conor O’Hanlon (Bitcoin Regulatory Lead, Block)
Dan Ongaro (Senior Associate, Global Regulatory, Hogan Lovells)

Moderated by: Prof. Howell Jackson (James S. Reid, Jr. Professor of Law, Harvard Law School)

Panel: Investors and Builders — Market Opportunities Panel

Drew Henderson (Partner, Delphi Ventures)
Patrick Murck (Chief Executive Officer, Surus)
Sharif Nesheiwat (Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, retired.com; ex-Head of RippleX Legal)
Pyrs Carvolth (Partner, Business Development, a16z)

Moderated by: VJ Vesnaver (Co-Founder, Epoch)

Closing Keynote Keynote

Closing keynote with Aamon Simon (Chief Counsel, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs).

Cocktail & Networking Reception Reception