The much-anticipated eighth edition of Ripple’s Swell Conference has officially begun in Miami, Florida. This prestigious event is set to bring together influential personalities from various sectors, including payments, financial services, blockchain, digital assets, regulation, and economic policy. Ripple announced the conference with enthusiasm, stating, “Mark your calendars for the 8th edition of Swell, taking place in Miami, Florida on October 15-16. Swell brings together the brightest minds and leaders across payments and financial services, blockchain and digital assets, and regulation and economic policy.”
Highlights from Day 1 of Ripple Swell
The opening day of the conference featured a pivotal session titled “Regulatory Fireside Chat: Discussing the US Crypto Landscape.” This discussion included Adrienne Harris, Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, alongside Stuart Alderoty, Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer. Their conversation provided valuable insights into the evolving regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies in the United States, with potential discussions on ongoing legal matters, including the prominent case against the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
As the financial world continues to embrace digital currencies, another significant session titled “Exploring the Growing Stablecoin Market” delved into the transformative power of stablecoins. Experts in this session included Jack McDonald, Senior Vice President of Stablecoins at Ripple; Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO of Moonpay; Bobby Zagotta, Chief Commercial Officer of Bitstamp and CEO of Bitstamp USA; and Nancy Beaton, Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at Uphold. They explored how stablecoins are enhancing transaction efficiency in an increasingly digital world.
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The session “Banking on Blockchain: LATAM’s Path to Digital Transformation” offered insights into how leading banks in Latin America are leveraging blockchain technology. Pablo Arboleda Niño, Vice President of Analytics, Data, and AI at Grupo Bancolombia, and Pegah Soltani, Head of Payments Product at Ripple, shared their experiences on adopting innovative technologies to improve financial services, strengthen security, and advance towards a tokenized economy.
The afternoon keynote featured a compelling fireside chat with Sheila Bair, the former Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and founding Chair of the Systemic Risk Council. Joining her was Monica Long, President of Ripple, as they engaged in a conversation that shed light on the intersection of traditional finance and blockchain.
Exciting Sessions on Day 2
The second day of the conference commenced with the “Morning Keynote: Strategic Financial Leadership in the Era of Crypto.” Jon Bilich, Chief Financial Officer at Ripple, and Neil DeSilva, former CFO of PayPal Digital Currencies & Remittances, discussed sustainable business models leveraging blockchain technology. They also explored the future of tokenization and stablecoins, emphasizing the importance of strategic partnerships and risk management in this evolving landscape.
Another noteworthy session, “Crypto-Centric Banking: US Banks Leaning In,” featured a panel of banking leaders discussing the integration of crypto services into traditional banking. Panelists included Erica Khalili, Chief Legal and Risk Officer and co-founder of Lead Bank; Michael Rose, Chairman, CEO, and Managing Principal of Metropolitan Capital; Miles Paschini, CEO of FV Bank; Joanie Xie, Managing Director, North America at Ripple; and Nader Souri, Managing Director at BNY. They explored how banks are addressing the emerging financial needs brought about by the rise of cryptocurrencies.
The session “Charting Our Course: A Look into Ripple’s Product Roadmap” featured Monica Long and Aaron Slettehaugh, Senior Vice President of Product at Ripple. They unveiled the company’s latest product roadmap, discussing upcoming innovations, strategic objectives, and the future direction of Ripple’s offerings.
The conference concluded with an engaging “Fireside Chat: Dan Morehead & Brad Garlinghouse.” This session provided closing insights into the state of the crypto industry, with Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, conversing with Dan Morehead, CEO of Pantera Capital. They shared their perspectives on the firm’s role within the broader cryptocurrency landscape.
At the time of writing, XRP is trading at $0.5371.
