Crypto Currency and More... The Future of the Blockchain

This event brought to by our Premier Members Grant Thornton & The Royal Bank of Scotland.


 

Blockchain - the technology that forms the basis of all crypto currency - is on the rise and executives are beginning to leverage blockchain technology to create new markets and disrupt legacy industries.  While the concept of the blockchain may still be hard to imagine, this technology has the power to fundamentally change the world and the way we do business.
 
Today more than 84,000 businesses - including several companies in the Bay Area - are accepting crypto currency and this number continues to grow as crypto currency becomes a mainstream form of payment.  Like any new business model - there are things you and your company should know if you are considering switching to accept a new currency.  What is next for crypto currency, and are these new forms of currency only the beginning of what the blockchain can offer? 

Join us for a panel discussion that will address:

• What is the Blockchain and how can it benefit my company?
• What are the legal implications and regulations?
• How do we implement the block chain for our business and what does it cost?

This is an unprecedented opportunity to learn from a high profile panel of experts about the evolution of the blockchain, where the crypto currency industry is heading - and most importantly - how new forms of payment and new technologies could impact your business.    

Speakers:

		Joel Waterfield, Grant Thornton Joel is a Director within Grant Thornton’s Mid-Atlantic State and Local Tax Practice. He is experienced in all areas of state and local taxation with an emphasis on transaction taxes for diverse industries including high tech, manufacturing, utilities, financial services, construction, publishing, and retail. Experience Joel has over 19 years’ experience state and local taxes. He is considered the area expert in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, as well as an industry expert in the high-tech, telecom and government contracting fields. Joel has extensive experience in engagements such as Corporate Restructuring, Merger and Acquisition Due Diligence, Audit Controversy, Refund Recovery, ASC 450 (FAS 5) Accrual assessments, and implementing Managed Compliance Agreements. He has assisted multiple industry specific clients in identifying and implementing tax planning strategies that have resulted in significant tax savings. Joel was previously a tax auditor for the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Taxation and has spent the past 14 years in public accounting consulting. Presentations and publications Joel has spoken professionally at Tech America, Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), Institute of Professionals in Tax (IPT), Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), the Maryland and Virginia Association of CPA’s, and various other trade associations and professional groups.
		Bart Stephens, Blockchain Capital Bart is a Founder and Managing Partner of Block chain Capital, the General Partner of Crypto Currency Partners funds. Bart Stephens has also been a Managing Partner of Stephens Investment Management, LLC (SIM). Stephens Investment Management is a family owned and operated hedge fund and venture capital firm. Bart and his brother and Co-Founder Brad invented the term and pioneered "Nano cap" investing - venture capital style investing in the public markets focused on sub micro-cap equities.  Bart has a background as both an operating entrepreneur and a venture capitalist. Prior to co-founding SIM, Bart was Executive Vice President, Venture Capital for Ivanhoe Capital Corporation (ICC), an international investment firm.  Before joining ICC, Bart was a founding investor and Head of Corporate & Business development for Oncology.com. Oncology.com grew to become the internet's largest cancer related web site before being sold to Pharmacia (now Pfizer) in 2001.  Prior to Oncology.com, Bart spent more than two years with E*TRADE, an early internet innovator in online financial services. While at E*TRADE, he held senior positions focused on product marketing, business development and corporate development. Bart earned a BA degree in Political Science from Princeton University in 1997. While at Princeton, his academic work focused on the intersection of information technology and national security issues.
		Daniel Romero, Coinbase Dan leads international expansion and banking partnerships for Coinbase. He previously worked at Bain & Company and spent time in both the private equity and financial services practices. He holds a BA from Duke University.
		Wendy Matheny, Federal Reserve Wendy leads the Federal Reserve's System Cash Product Office market analysis team in San Francisco. As part of her team's work analyzing the future of cash among U.S. and global consumers, Wendy follows emerging payment trends throughout the payments landscape. She holds a Master of Public Policy and previously worked for social enterprises in Washington, D.C.
		Moderator: John Stewart, Royal Bank of Scotland John joined RBS in March 2011 and relocated to San Francisco in March 2014 as Head of Silicon Valley Solutions. He manages the corporate innovation outpost established in early 2014. His role is to identify new and innovative technologies that improve the way customers interact with RBS and help to progress them through to being live solutions and services. John has held senior roles in financial services since 1987 at TSB Bank, IBM, Barclays and KPMG where he had a lead role in the UK Government Banking Transformation Programme and helped to resolve some of the financial organizations impacted by the 2009 financial crisis. John lives in Marin County with his wife and is enjoying the California weather and wines.