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April 30th, 2018 – Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies: Separating Hype from Reality

Join your fellow NYFWA members for a panel discussion that will cover several aspects of the nascent cryptocurrency industry, such as: what's happening with the cryptocurrency markets, which virtual currencies are over-hyped and under-hyped, and what are the most promising, near-term applications of blockchain technology. We'll also discuss what stories should be getting more attention in the space and how journalists should approach covering this topic.

PANELISTS: 

Jake Brukhman, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, CoinFund: Jake is Managing Director & CEO at CoinFund, a blockchain-focused cryptofund founded nearly three years ago as one of the world’s very first diversified portfolios of cryptoassets, regarding cryptocurrencies and tokens as a radically new asset class.  CoinFund invests and works with companies of all stages in accelerating cryptoeconomic business models. In 2018, CoinFund announced a strategic partnership with Venrock to help evaluate, invest, and accelerate companies in the blockchain space. Jake has worked as an advisor to companies like Kik Interactive and YouNow, the first major VC-backed technology companies to take on blockchain-based business models, as well as decentralization-focused projects like Decentraland, Aragon, and Cent. Previously, Jake was Partner & CTO at Triton Research, a technical product manager and engineer at Amazon.com, and spent five years as a financial technologist at Highbridge Capital Management and as a quantitative researcher at Kohera. Jake has nine years of experience in pure and financial technology, a background in computer science and mathematics, and an avid interest in blockchain and financial technology. 

Akshi Federici, Executive Director Strategic Projects, ConsenSys Academy Founder & Global Lead: Akshi Federici is a blockchain supporter with 10+ years of experience in business strategy, project & implementation management, analytics, operations, and optimization. After several years at a top-tier strategy consulting firm and focusing on Financial Services clients, she spent time in-house in digital, financial services, media, retail, big data, and social impact. In her role at ConsenSys, she founded ConsenSys Academy and leads it globally - ConsenSys Academy is the educational core of the Ethereum movement, and ConsenSys’ answer to the global blockchain talent shortage. The team has launched 9 programs last year across developers, lawyers, business executives etc. and also developed a blockchain enabled certification ed-tech product Ethense which is in live public beta tests with universities globally. Selected Media: Bloomberg, Nasdaq.

Prior to ConsenSys, she has held leadership roles at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Conde Nast Publications, BlackRock Financial, the Clinton Foundation and has an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, a Masters in Engineering Management from Dartmouth, and a B.Tech. in Computer Science & Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

Joe Sack, President, Asset Managers Tech: Joe, who is a lawyer, was affiliated with the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and the Bond Market Association for 20 years as a Managing Director responsible for developing new ventures which contributed to the growth of these Associations. Mr. Sack formed a regional bond dealers group, organized a corporate bond division which advanced the industry's goals concerning transaction price transparency, established an industry group that helped define the major protocols of the initial online bond trading platforms, and was a leader at the staff level in the process of recruiting assert management firms to participate as members in the many industry-wide activities of SIFMA.

Asset Managers Tech is a not-for-profit trade group designed to foster the industry-wide technology objectives and related policy positions of its members. All members are involved in the investment management business, whether as investment managers or as investment service providers or as investment management-related trade associations.

As always, the evening will feature light appetizers and NYFWA members’ first two drinks are on us.

This event is only open to members in good standing/who have paid their 2018 dues. Guests of the NYFWA are welcome to attend for $15, which must be paid in advance.

When: Monday, April 30th, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Even location will be provided when you sign up.

RSVP's MANDATORY: contact@nyfwa.org