FiCAS AG lists world first discretionary managed cryptocurrencies ETP (July 2020)
Terrific event at SIX Swiss Exchange on 28 July 2020, with full house, celebrating the initial listing of the world first discretionary managed exchange traded product (ETP) conceived and managed by FiCAS AG, that I have the honor and pleasure to chair and advise. Switzerland 's cryptovalley innovates, once again.
Crypto Finance Conference (St Moritz) and World Economic Forum (Davos) (January 2020)
Delighted to attend and support the CFC in St Moritz with FiCAS (www.ficas.com) a cryptovalley company introducing the world’ first actively managed exchange traded product (crypto investments) on the Swiss Exchange.
Equally glad to attend several blockchain- and crypto-related events around the WEF 2020 in Davos, including panel discussions on financial services innovation, promoted by World Innovation Economics, and on cryptofinance regulatory approaches, priorities and threats ahead – at the Crypto Valley Summit.
Honored industry-only representative at annual IOSCO/BIS conference (November 2019)
Honored to represent the Cryptovalley and its association (CVA) in a IOSCO / BIS close-door event featuring 120 regulators from 57 countries. The 2-day conference on securities trading issues and market infrastructure offered great formal and informal discussion opportunities as well as a panel on cryptocurrencies (shared with Nick Cook from FCA and Adrien Delcroix from EBC) that touched on a variety of cryptofinance and DLT issues including ICO / STO, Stablecoins, cryptoassets and DLT benefits, risks, economic function, cryptoregulation, debate on the adequate regulatory approach, the issue of CBDC issuance, market infrastructure including cryptoexchanges and their regulation, latest AML rules and their implementation, as well as overall prospect for cryptofinance.
Introducing the Crypto Valley Ecosystem 2.0 to the World Federation of Exchanges (June 2019)
Introducing the emerging "CryptoValley Ecosystem2.0" to the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) as well as CVA, SEBA Crypto AG and Xwiss AG, and discussing challenges to traditional exchanges, the economics and prospects of crypto assets and debating strategic response. With Matthias Obrecht (FINMA), Luca Schenk (Xwiss) and representatives from 28 exchanges / jurisdictions. The emerging Crypto Valley Ecosystem 2.0 is characterised by 1) an articulated and performant regulatory environment that provides legal certainty to blockchain, 2) a higher degree of economic integration of blockchain companies, and 3) an institutional-grade market infrastructure, including licensed crypto banks and exchanges.
Standalone, closed-door, discussion at the BIS (April 2019)
Excellent standalone, closed-door, discussion at the BIS, in an expert capacity, meeting a number of in-house senior managers and functional specialists, presenting and discussing i) the challenges for banking raised by Fintech, ii) the Swiss blockchain industry, iii) the CryptoValley and its Association (CVA) and policy initiatives, iv) the cryptoassets markets, the ICO ‘bell curve’ and lessons learned, the nature and prospects of STO, v) the blockchain / crypto regulation in Switzerland, elsewhere and the key prudential and conduct themes, vi) the opportunities and challenges of cryptofinance, and vii) why projects such as SEBA Crypto AG are crucial to achieve the infrastructure ‘level-up’ needed for the cryptomarkets and associated financial processes to reach maturity and sustainability.
The proposed EU framework for crypto-assets (October 2020)
Foreword: METI Advisory wrote this report for SEBA Bank AG. Abstract: The EU’s regulatory crypto-asset landscape has so far been characterised by fragmentation and uncertainty. This has hindered the scaling-up and development of crypto-asset products and services. The European Commission (EC) reacted to this situation on 24 September 2020, by issuing a Digital Finance Package (DFP) that includes a proposal for an EU regulatory framework on crypto-assets aimed at seizing related opportunities in a risk-controlled environment. The DFP also includes strategy papers for digital finance and retail payments, a proposals for a framework on digital operational resilience, as well as a proposal for a pilot regime for market infrastructures based on the distributed ledger technology (DLT). A closer look at the proposals for crypto-assets—which include stablecoins, significant stablecoins, and crypto-asset service providers—reveals an approach based on the principles of ‘same activity, same risk, same rule’, proportionality and complementarity. The proposals are comprehensive and would implement, de facto, the current financial regulatory framework for crypto-asset products and services. This would also create additional duties and accountabilities for all concerned national and regional regulatory bodies. While the intention is laudable and much needed, the timeline for implementation (2024) is too far off, and the nature and extent of the proposed requirements raise the issue of adequacy vis-à-vis the reality of an industry that is, at best, embryonic. The proposal risks the deterrence—instead of the promotion—of the industry if not implemented in a way that encourages and attracts entrepreneurs.
Position on FSB Consultation on Stablecoin Arrangements (July 2020)
The Board has published on 14 April 2020 the paper "Addressing the regulatory, supervisory and oversight challenges raised by “global stablecoin” arrangements" in response to a call by the G20 to examine regulatory issues raised by “global stablecoin” arrangements and to advise on multilateral responses as appropriate, taking into account the perspective of emerging market and developing economies. The Board has sought the views of stakeholders on the issues and recommendations set out in the paper by 15 July 2020. In our position, we offer the Board, for consideration, ways to re-balance the risk analysis and to fine-tune the Recommendations. We also highlight a potential roadblock to the development of financial innovations such as stable coins.
Cryptonation (September 2019)
Honored to have contributed to the book "Cryptonation" and to have shared this privilege with 90 others distinguished shapers of Cryptonation Switzerland.
Europe-Australia Blockchain Webinar (9 September 2020)
I was delighted to offer a short overview of the Crypto Valley, its Association CVA, the impact of COVID19, the reasons behind the innovation "Crypto Valley", and stress the pivotal role of regulation, as well as point out the priorities going forward.