The Owl Explains Hootenanny
Ep 14 The Ticking Timebomb of AML Compliance
We are glad to release our last panel from this spring’s Avalanche summit, delving on how anti-money laundering policy is impacting the world of digital assets and DeFi. AML rules have been part of the conversations in the space for almost ten years, and after being formalizing them into standards, regulators are getting serious about implementation – notably, with the travel rule. Not complying with AML standards can bear significant risk for builders and investors, both from a financial and reputational perspective. Globally, however, it remains very hard to establish a common framework for the industry, which has to deal with a patchwork of regulations from jurisdictions moving at different speeds. Get up to speed on where we stand with AML compliance, as well as on predictions on where regulators will be looking at next, and how the industry can contribute to sensible rule-making with: Caroline Malcolm, Vice President of Global Public Policy at Chainalysis; Monica Sah, Partner in the Financial Regulation Group at Clifford Chance; Seema Khinda Johnson, Co-Founder and COO of Nuggets; and Isabella Chase, Senior Policy Advisor at TRM Labs. This panel is moderated by Olta Andoni, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Enclave Markets.
Ep 13 Mirror on the wall, what does the CBDC future hold?
Welcome to another insightful episode of the Owl Explains podcast! Russel Klein, our moderator for the day, takes you along as he and the speakers dive into a topic that's reshaping the landscape of modern finance: Central Bank Digital Currencies, or CBDCs. As the world hurtles toward a more digital future, governments and central banks are actively exploring the possibilities and implications of introducing their own digital currencies. In this episode, we're peeling back the layers of CBDCs to understand what they are, why they matter, and how they might revolutionize the way we transact, save, and invest. Join Mai Santamaria of the Department of Finance in Ireland, Jannah Patchay of the Digital Pound Foundation, and Varun Paul of Fireblocks as they dive into what the future of CDBCs hold, the risks they pose, the solutions they suggest, and the very necessity (or not) of digital money. So, grab your favorite headphones and prepare to embark on a journey into the heart of digital finance. Let's demystify the world of CBDCs and gain valuable insights into how they're set to transform the way we perceive, use, and interact with money.
Ep 12 DAO If You Do; DAO If You Don't
Join us as we explore the basics of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) and how they work compared to traditional organizations. Our guests discuss the regulatory landscape, balancing decentralization with leadership, and the challenges DAOs face from a legal perspective. From liability concerns to the concept of a 'killswitch,' we'll uncover the intricate dynamics of DAO governance. Join Eugenio Reggianini, Joni Pirovich, John Yarwood, and Steve Wink as they unravel the complexities of DAOs and share insights into the future of effective regulation. Joni dives into the regulatory waters, probing the sentiment surrounding the current regulatory landscape for DAOs. How do these innovative entities navigate the evolving legal environment, and what implications does this hold for their future growth and adoption? The pendulum of decentralization swings wide, and we delve into its transformative arc with insights from our panel. From the European perspective, Eugenio weighs in on the significance of community identity within DAOs and its impact on governance dynamics.Legal challenges loom on the horizon, and Steve navigates us through the complex web of legal concerns that DAOs grapple with. He unpacks the liability issue and provides a glimpse into how these challenges might be met head-on. But what about the infamous 'killswitch' concept? John leads us through a thought-provoking discussion on implementing market halts during times of distress. Is it time to hit the brakes, or should we lay more groundwork before pursuing this ambitious goal?
Ep 11 Regulation Beyond the US and EU
We talk a lot about blockchain policy in the EU and the US… But in this episode our guests take a tour around the world looking at the legal frameworks and regulatory developments in other territories including Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, Gibraltar, Japan, Australia, Argentina and many more - and question whether the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) is really setting the global standard or if other territories are stealing a march.
Ep 10 The European Blockchain Regulatory Sandbox
Blockchain technology offers vast benefits across many sectors, but applications face significant hurdles when dealing with regulatory frameworks that are not comprehensive at best, or outright unclear at worst. The European Blockchain Regulatory Sandbox, initiated by the European Commission, seeks to bridge this gap. This week, we go in detail into the objectives and accomplishments of the sandbox, explore its unique approach to facilitating discussions between regulators and SMEs, and learn about its focus on building infrastructure around blockchain technology, rather than just the technology itself. Our nest welcomes Helen Köpman, Deputy Head of Unit, Platforms policy and enforcement - Technological and economic assessment at the European Commission’s department for technology, together with Marjolein Geus, partner at Bird & Bird (the law firm leading the project’s operations), and Yuji Develle from OXYGY Consulting (Bird & Bird’s consulting arm). The three wise owls walks us through the criteria used to select the first cohort of innovative projects, their diverse spread across industries and company sizes, and how the pan-European sandbox aims to address the complexities identified by national regulations before the new Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation comes into force in the EU. They also explain how the project fosters cross-sector learning by focusing on sharing best practices and lessons learned – potentially having an impact on the way future regulations beyond blockchain.
Ep 6: Is the UK on track to become a global hub for crypto?
The UK government has declared it wants the UK to be a global hub for crypto - how is that journey going? We talk to Dr Lisa Cameron MP who is at the heart of policy and regulatory discussions on crypto and blockchain in the UK to find out. In her role as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Crypto and Digital Assets, Lisa recently published a report with over 50 recommendations on what needs to happen for the UK to achieve its ambition. She concludes the UK needs to act fast to keep up with the EU that is already benefitting from first mover advantage. The discussion is hosted by Owl Explains team member Emma Pike. Listen to find out more.
Ep 3: What’s next for blockchain policy in the EU & the US?
Lee Schneider (Chief owl and Ava Labs General Counsel) talks to policy experts from the key blockchain trade associations on both sides of the Atlantic to find out what's next for blockchain and crypto policy and a few simple things policymakers could get done this year Tune in for the lowdown on the discussions that are shaping the policy and regulatory framework for web3, straight from our expert guests who are in the thick of it all.
Ep 2: Why the US needs a framework to regulate digital assets
Why is the CFTC is an appropriate regulator for digital assets? Why is principles-based regulation better than prescriptive regulation for innovative markets? Why is it essential to create a framework to classify tokens sensibly? How can the SEC and CFTC potentially work together on such a framework? What does the global perspective look like? How does this all tie to The Tree of Web3 Wisdom?. The podcast was moderated by Olta Andoni, General Counsel of Enclave Markets.
Ep 1: 5 principles to guide policymakers
Join us as Lee Schneider, chief Owl and General Counsel of Ava Labs, introduces the Tree of Wisdom - 5 branches to guide policymakers thinking about how to regulate blockchain and web3. Read more about the Tree of Wisdom here. The session will be moderated by Emma Pike of H+K Strategies.