Nordic Fintech Trend Seminar

Hybrid event. Doors open at 12:30 w/lunch. Streaming starts at 13:00

Participate via streaming link or in person at:

Free to participate for Nordic Fintech Week Tickets holders and Copenhagen Fintech members & partners. (including Danish Universities)

Participant fee others: Euro 150 per person.

Speakerbee
Aldersrogade 6C 3.sal
2100 København


Europe stands at the brink of a significant digital and economic transformation.

Achieving a fully integrated Capital Markets Union (CMU) is crucial not only for
Europe’s economic competitiveness, but also for securing its digital sovereignty in an
increasingly interconnected global landscape.

The recent Draghi report and the EU Competitive Compass emphasize that Europe's
competitive standing is increasingly challenged by other global regions that are
rapidly advancing in economic integration, innovation, and the financial market
development. These challenges underscore the imperative for Europe to respond
strategically and assertively to maintain and strengthen its economic influence
globally.

Addressing these competitive pressures requires Europe to reinforce its foundations
with a robust, scalable, open, and secure technology infrastructure. Such
infrastructure will be vital for ensuring Europe’s continued prominence in global
finance. This symposium explores how Europe's financial techstack can be purpose-
built to address these essential needs, facilitating sustained growth, heightened
security, seamless interoperability, and accelerated innovation.

Main Themes

1. Digital Assets and Infrastructure
- Tokenization and asset digitalization in Europe's capital markets.
- Case studies from existing private-sector initiatives.
- Infrastructure needs for digital asset trading and settlement.

2. Regulatory Frameworks and Market Stability
- Insights from MiCA implementation and anticipated impacts.
- Regulation as an enabler or barrier to innovation.
- Lessons from Libra/Diem and implications for future regulatory actions.

3. Digital Money: Crypto, Stablecoins, and CBDC
- Overview of private-sector crypto and stablecoin trends in Europe.
- Analysis of European CBDC projects (Digital Euro, e-krona).
- Cross-border interoperability and implications for European monetary
sovereignty.

Speakers confirmed (more TBA):

Roman Beck, Professor, Computer Information Systems, Bently University

Dr. Roman Beck is the Chester B. Slade endowed chair at the Computer Information Systems Department at Bentley University. His research focuses on blockchain economics and distributed ledger technologies, examining their impact on economic systems and governance. He received an honorary doctorate from West University Timisoara in 2023 for his contributions to crypto and ledger research. Dr. Beck serves as senior editor for several leading information systems journals, including JAIS, MISQE, and BISE, while advising various corporate and government organizations.

Dea Markova, Director of Policy, Fireblocks

Dea Markova is the Policy Director at Fireblocks, an enterprise platform for managing digital asset operations and building innovative businesses on blockchain technology.
In her role, Dea leads global advocacy efforts, focusing on shaping policies and fostering collaboration between the digital assets industry and regulators worldwide. Dea brings over a decade of experience in financial regulation and innovation.
Before joining Fireblocks, she spearheaded political intelligence and advocacy campaigns for leading digital asset firms in the European Union, playing a key role in shaping the region’s regulatory landscape. She previously served at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) within the Financial Technology and Innovation Group, contributing to developing Singapore’s forward-thinking fintech ecosystem. Dea’s career also includes significant contributions to fintech and banking regulation in London, where she worked with public and private sector stakeholders on adopting emerging technologies and adjusting to the post 2008 regulatory landscape.
Dea is an affiliate with the Cambridge Centre for Digital Finance, an advisor to the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) in Gujarat, and a regular opinion contributor to CoinDesk, where she shares insights on the intersection of policy and innovation in the digital economy.

Clare Pearson, Head of Technology Operations and Delivery Management, Fnality

Clare Pearson is the Head of Technology Operations and Delivery Management at Fnality International, where she leads the delivery of innovative payment solutions leveraging Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and blockchain. With deep expertise in digital transformation and agile methodologies, Clare is a certified SAFe 5.0 Practitioner, passionate about driving operational excellence and scalable technology delivery. She is a vocal advocate for diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) in the tech sector, actively mentoring women in technology and championing initiatives that foster inclusive workplaces. Clare also serves as an advisor to the Payment System Regulator, contributing her insights on the future of payments and regulatory best practices. Her leadership is marked by a commitment to empowering teams, embracing cutting-edge technology, and shaping the next generation of financial infrastructure. Clare’s dedication to mentoring and advocacy has made her a respected voice in the fintech community, inspiring others to pursue excellence and equity in technology.

Ronit Ghose, Global Head of Future of Finance, Citi Institute, Citi

Ronit runs the Future of Finance team in Citi Institute , Citi’s thought leadership unit. The team is focused on the intersection of the future of money, finance and emerging tech, including AI, Digital Assets, XR and beyond. We provide analysis and advice to Citi’s institutional clients and the bank’s leadership. Before current role, Ronit was Citi’s global head of banks and FinTech research. Alongside his Citi role, Ronit is an Advisory Board member of the Financial Technology Centre at Imperial College Business School and at several technology firms and early-stage VC investors based in the U.K., Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Prior to joining Citi, Ronit worked in the policy world, including as Research Assistant for a former UK Prime Minister. Ronit's new book “Future Money” has been published in March 2024 and presents a vision of the digital future of money, finance, and culture.

Omri Ross, Chief Blockchain Officer, eToro

Professor Omri Ross is Chief Blockchain Officer at eToro and Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Computer Science. He leads eToro’s Blockchain Lab, driving innovation in blockchain, NFTs, and decentralized finance (DeFi) products. At the University of Copenhagen, he heads the Decentralized Finance Group, focusing on blockchain applications, financial transparency, and regulatory compliance.

With a PhD in Financial Mathematics from the University of Cambridge, Ross combines deep academic expertise with extensive industry experience, including roles in algorithmic trading and fintech entrepreneurship. He was previously CEO of Firmo Network, a blockchain startup acquired by eToro.

Ross’s research bridges applied computer science and finance, emphasizing practical blockchain solutions and their impact on financial markets. He is a recognized speaker and mentor, committed to advancing blockchain technology through collaboration between academia and industry.

Ville Sointu, Chief Strategist, Digital Currencies at Nordea

Ville Sointu is the Chief Strategist for Digital Currencies at Nordea Bank, where he leads strategy and development around central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and other digital assets. With a fintech career beginning in 2002, Ville has held pivotal roles globally, driving innovation in financial services and connected devices. He previously headed Nordea’s emerging technologies team and has contributed to key industry groups, including the European Central Bank’s former Digital Euro Market Advisory Group, the Mobey Forum board, and the advisory board of GSMA’s Inclusive Tech Lab.

Ville is also active in policy and research organizations such as the European Banking Federation, OECD, and EBA, and is a member of the European Commission’s Blockchain Observatory working group. Known for his thought leadership, he co-hosts the ‘Fintech Daydreaming’ podcast, sharing insights into the evolving fintech landscape. Ville is recognized for his critical role in shaping Nordea’s digital currency strategy and his broad expertise in payment technologies and digital innovation.

Simon Ousager, CEO and founder, Januar

Simon Ousager is the CEO and co-founder of Januar, a Copenhagen-based fintech company specializing in compliant banking and payment solutions for crypto businesses across Europe. Before founding Januar in 2021, Ousager was the first non-technical hire at Chainalysis, where he advanced from account executive to Lead Training Specialist, training financial authorities, major crypto exchanges, banks, and law enforcement globally. He is recognized as a cryptocurrency and compliance expert, with a background in anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF), and blockchain investigations. Ousager holds a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology from the University of Copenhagen. Under his leadership, Januar has raised a record €6 million seed round and aims to become Europe’s leading financial infrastructure provider for the digital asset industry.