Speaker details

Biography

Jeff Bandman has worked as a regulator, attorney, business executive and educator in digital assets& financial services. He leads Bandman Advisors, helping clients ranging from governments to global firms to start-ups meet strategic innovation and regulatory challenges. He advises on cryptoassets, NFTs, Web3 and metaverse initiatives, FinTech, derivatives and regulatory framework. He conducts advanced training for regulators on digital assets and maintains a strong global network of relationships with regulators. He is IFF Fellow at University of Nicosia (UNIC). His flagship course on law, policy and regulation of blockchain and cryptoassets was adapted from his seminar on blockchain and global affairs at Yale Jackson Institute of Global Affairs. He was appointed as expert to the Consultative Working Group of experts for ESMA’s Financial Innovation Standing Committee and Expert Panel of the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum. He advised the Republic of Cyprus on new DLT legislation and performed a FATF national risk assessment for Cyprus on money laundering risks of virtual assets and VASPs. He was commended by the Cyprus Advisory Authority for “excellent collaboration, insight and meticulous work.” He advised CYSEC on new AML Directive for cryptoassets & VASP regulatory application. He is COO & Chief Legal Officer of the 6529 Group & 6529 Capital. The 6529 mission is to accelerate the development of an open metaverse in Web3. 6529 has launched the OM Open Metaverse initiative & the 6529 Museum District. 6529 Capital manages the 6529 NFT Fund, which invests primarily in collectible art NFTs. He is co-Founder of the GBBC Digital Finance (GDF) policy initiative and co-chairs its regulatory engagement through the GDF Regulator Forum, a quarterly regulator-only roundtable. Jeff was a senior official at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Special Counsel to Chairman Tim Massad, & FinTech Advisor to Chairman Chris Giancarlo. Jeff is known as Founding Director and architect responsible for design and launch of LabCFTC, the CFTC's hub for FinTech innovation. He led work by international regulators on post-trade digital innovation, & established and led the CFTC’s blockchain, digital asset and FinTech work from inception in 2015. Jeff led the CFTC's Division of Clearing & Risk, which oversees many of the world’s largest clearinghouses, & the Office of International Affairs. He led negotiations resulting in Clearinghouse Equivalence with the European Commission and equivalence for U.S. futures exchanges. Jeff clerked on the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for Judge J. Clifford Wallace, was an associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore & rebuilt & ran Cantor Fitzgerald’s market data business after the events of September 11. He graduated from Yale magna cum laude, with honors in History and English, & law degree from Stanford Law School, with honors in “Order of the Coif". He is a six-time Jeopardy! Champion.