Blockchain & Fintech Conference 2026 | Harvard

April 17, 2026 • Cambridge, MA

2026 Fifth Annual

Blockchain & Fintech

Conference at Harvard

Exploring the future of blockchain, fintech and digital asset regulation.

Hosted by

Harvard Law School

Blockchain & FinTech Initiative

AIMachine Learning

DeFiDecentralized Finance

Web3Next Internet

SmartContracts

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About The Conference

Where Innovation
Meets Academia

The 2026 Fifth Annual Conference brings together world-leading researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to explore the transformative potential of these converging technologies.

Hosted at Harvard Law School, this one-day event features keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

7 Panels

30+ Speakers

Presented By

Harvard Law School

Blockchain & FinTech Initiative

Conference Schedule

7 Panels | 30+ Speakers

Agenda

Presented by the Harvard Law School Blockchain & FinTech Initiative

8:30–9:00 AM

Registration

Registration will open at 8:30, and will remain available throughout the rest of the day.

9:00-9:30 AM

Opening Remarks, Networking

Introductory Remarks by HLS BFI Founding Members

Amy Aixi Zhang, Lead Product Counsel, Ramp & Thomas Hopkins, Product Counsel, Ramp

Featured Speaker

Timothy Massad, Research Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University | Former Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission

9:30-10:25 AM

Market Structure at a Crossroads: What Changed, What’s Next

Speakers

Lee Schneider, General Counsel, Ava Labs
Lindsay Lin, Chief Operating Officer, Dragonfly
Ben Gray, Chief Legal Officer, Kraken
Karen Ubell, Partner, Goodwin
Rodrigo Seira, Partner, Cooley

Moderator

Drew Hinkes, Partner, Winston & Strawn

10:30-10:50 AM

Global Market Structure: Comparative Perspectives

Speakers

Dr. Martin Hanzl, Attorney at law, Partner, Head of NewTech, EY Law Austria
*EY member firms do not practice law where not permitted by local law or regulation. Ernst & Young US does not practice law or offer legal advice
Anja von Rosenstiel, Lecturer, Boston University School of Law | Co-Director, Single Supervisory Mechanism Online Masterclass, European University Institute | Fellow, European Decentralization Institute

11:00-11:40 AM

Fireside Chat and Q&A with Commissioner Hester Peirce

Speakers

Commissioner Hester Peirce

Interviewers

Kristin Boggiano, Partner, DLA Piper & Timm Reinsdorf, CEO and Co-Founder, Particula

11:55 AM-12:40 PM

Navigating the New Enforcement Landscape

Speakers

Ben Prager, Associate General Counsel, Binance.US
Ashok Pinto, Executive Vice President, Legal & Government Relations, Blockchain Association
Michael Fluhr, Partner, DLA Piper
Hannah Banks, Deputy General Counsel, Litigation and Investigations, OKX

Moderator

Daniel Stabile, Chair, Digital Assets, Winston & Strawn

12:40-1:30 PM

Lunch, Networking

Complimentary lunch will be provided to all registered attendees.

1:30 PM-2:15 PM

Tokenizing the Real World: Institutional Capital Meets On-Chain Markets

Speakers

Patrick Murck, CEO and Founder, Surus
Mark Lurie, Chief Executive Officer, M1X Global
B. Salman Banaei, General Counsel, Plume

Moderator

Josh Boehm, Partner, Paul Hastings

2:30-3:15 PM

Stablecoins and the Future of Global Payments

Speakers

Michael Grazio, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Products & Technology, Mastercard
Sarah Wilson, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, Circle
Nick Gersh, Senior Regulatory Counsel, Paxos
Adrian Wall, Managing Director, Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA)

Moderator

Professor Howell Jackson, James S. Reid, Jr., Professor of Law, Harvard Law School

3:30-4:15 PM

Securing the Stack: Privacy and Cyber Risk in Crypto

Speakers

Yaya Fanusie, Global Head of Policy, Aleo
Noah Pravecek, Head of Product, Interop at Matter Labs
Cedrick Dalluge, Assistant General Counsel and Senior Policy Lead, Chainlink Labs

Moderator

Marc Piano, Director, Consultant, Horizons Global

4:30-5:15 PM

When Platforms Fail: Restructuring the Digital Asset Industry

Speakers

Alexander Nicas, Partner, Goodwin
Darren Klein, Partner, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Michael Klein, Partner, Cooley LLP

Moderator

Dennis O’Donnell, Partner, DLA Piper

5:30–5:50 PM

Closing Keynote

Featured Speaker

Talis Seja, Chief Legal Officer, Fidelity Digital Assets

6:00-8:00 PM

Cocktails & Networking Reception

All guests are invited to join us for a cocktail hour and networking reception.

Thank you to

Our Sponsors

Be Part of the Future

Join researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders at Harvard Law School for a day of dynamic conversations examining the future of blockchain, fintech, and digital asset regulation.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

April 17, 2026 • Wasserstein Hall, Harvard Law School