About the Speaker:
Shantnu Saxena is the founder of Encryptus (Regulated and Licensed Crypto <> Fiat) payment providers with licenses in UAE, Europe, and Asia Pacific. He is also the CEO of Anzens (Cardano backed and Emurgo supported) stable coin. He has been working in the payments space for 10+ years and in the crypto space for 8+ years. Shantnu got into crypto in 2016 to build the model between Bitcoin and money transfers for BitPesa and later went on to lead the business of Huobi in Middle East and Africa as their CEO. He supported several other companies like Paxful and LBank as Strategic Advisor. He spoke at conferences like Consensus, WebX Japan, India Blockchain Week, CryptoExpo to name a few.

About the Speaker:
Sergio Pisani is a strategic leader with over 15 years of experience in Risk Management and Cyber Risk Advisory. Currently Head of Specialised Underwriting at Trust Payments, he excels in enhancing compliance and team performance. A sought-after speaker, Sergio shares insights on digital currencies and regulatory strategies, driving innovation in the industry.

About the Speaker:
Leading Fuze, a pioneering regulated digital assets infrastructure platform in the MENA region. In August 2023, Fuze achieved a milestone with a record-breaking $14 million seed funding round?the largest of its kind for a digital assets infrastructure startup in the region. The company now generates over AED 8 billion in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and has cemented its status as the fastest-growing fintech in MENA.

About the Speaker:
Jehanzeb Awan is the Founder and CEO of J. Awan & Partners, a global consulting firm specializing in technology-driven governance, risk, and compliance solutions. He is also the Founder and CEO of Azakaw, a leading RegTech company offering compliance solutions to diverse industries worldwide. In addition to his executive roles, Jehanzeb is the Chairman of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Crypto and Blockchain Association, helping to shape the future of digital finance in the region. Jehanzeb?s career spans key leadership roles, including his tenure as Regional Head of Compliance for Morgan Stanley?s operations in the MENA region, and Head of Compliance at the National Bank of Dubai (now Emirates NBD). His professional journey began in New York with Hornblower & Weeks, followed by a role at Raymond James & Associates in Philadelphia. Jehanzeb holds a BSc degree with Magna Cum Laude honors from the University of Arizona and is an active member of the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists and several other regulatory bodies.

About the Speaker:
Henzie studied Business Management in Canada, before going on to study law in New Zealand. She qualified with an LLB with Honors in New Zealand and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2014. She then moved to Dubai early in 2014 after being offered a permanent role at an international law firm she interned at during her school vacations. Early 2019 she founded her own legal consultancy. Her firm is a legal consultancy and registered ADGM Corporate Service Provider which is seeking to disrupt the status quo of traditional law firms by giving them direct and ongoing access to senior legal counsel and improve on the provision of legal and corporate service provider services and the way that such services are provided.

About the Speaker:
Hakim is a seasoned crypto expert and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in blockchain and Web3. As a founder of three ventures with one successful exit, he has a proven track record of building and scaling impactful projects. Hakim serves as a trusted advisor to Web3 startups, helping them grow from concept to execution. Dedicated to decentralization, transparency, and empowering Web3 builders, Hakim continues to shape the future of blockchain technology.

About the Speaker:
Elias Ahonen is a blockchain author and legal expert described as ?one of the first Bitcoin historians? due to his 2016 book, Physical Bitcoins and Crypto-Currencies. His 2021 book, Blockland, serves as an industry textbook. A frequent contributor to Cointelegraph, his expertise is acknowledged in international media including The Wall Street Journal. With an academic background in Philosophy, Economics, and Political Science, his MA in International and Comparative Law (MICL) thesis, Encoded Territory, explores legal questions related to NFT?s and the metaverse. He is a broker and avid collector of crypto memorabilia and launched his consulting company Token Valley at the beginning of the ICO boom in 2017.

About the Speaker:
Dyma Budorin is a Co-Founder & CEO of Hacken, the leading blockchain security auditor, Co-Chair of EEA DRAMA (a DeFi Risk Assessment Management and Accounting group), co-author of crypto industry standards, and a Vice President of the Blockchain Association of Ukraine. Being a crypto enthusiast and cybersecurity expert, Dyma has had his insights featured by BBC, Wired, Cointelegraph, Coindesk, and other reputable media outlets.

About the Speaker:
Dani Mariano leads marketing transformation agency Razorfish. She?s committed to helping brands build relationships with consumers and future proof them for Gen Alpha. Dani is a recipient of the 2024 She Runs It Changing the Game Awards, a UN speaker, author, and board member of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance.

About the Speaker:
Amit Arora is a strategic builder with over 14 years of experience in financial services, including more than 5 years specializing in digital assets and Web3. As Head of Partnerships at RAK Digital Asset Oasis, Amit works alongside global stakeholders to drive ecosystem growth and deliver innovative solutions. His past work with Layer 1 ecosystems like Hedera has equipped him to continue expanding markets across EMEA and APAC by building impactful partnerships and enhancing ecosystem development. Amit?s approach is centered around performance marketing, collaborative innovation, and data-driven decision-making, all of which help him achieve measurable results.

About the Speaker:
With a career in cryptocurrencies dating back to 2012, Alessandro Pellegrino is the Founder and CEO of Traianus Partners, a leading firm in the digital asset liquidity sector, and also manages the investment fund Qubrax Capital. Starting his journey by trading and mining Bitcoin, he gained early insights during the ICO boom that shaped his approach to digital finance. Alessandro now focuses on developing algorithmic trading and market-making strategies that enhance the accessibility, efficiency, and security of the digital assets market. His vision is to build a decentralized, community-focused financial ecosystem that fosters fairness, innovation, and equitable wealth distribution.

About the Speaker:
Aaron van Wirdum is the author of 'The Genesis Book: The Story of the People and Projects That Inspired Bitcoin', the editor in chief at Bitcoin Magazine, and co-host of the Bitcoin, Explained podcast.

About the Speaker:
Rifad is the CEO of OKX for the MENA region. He brings in over a decade of experience in business strategy, management and public policy in the MENA region. Prior to OKX, Rifad was the Vice President and General Manager of Rain Financial in the UAE. Rifad's earlier roles included leading Uber's ride hailing business in the GCC and the levant region; Rifad has a bachelors degree from the University of Toronto and an MBA from IE Business school.