Speaker Line-up Announced for Inaugural Crypto Valley Summit
Industry titans, government personnel and Adam Wood, Lieutenant Governor and the Queen’s personal representative, are among more than 30 speakers due to make a powerful statement of the Isle of Man’s commitment to cryptocurrencies, as the speaker line-up for the inaugural Crypto Valley Summit is announced.
Due to take place on the 17th and 18th September at the Palace and Sefton Hotels, respectively, the Crypto Valley Summit is the meeting place for digital currency entrepreneurs looking to create and maintain ethical and registered businesses. Over the two days, top industry experts will share their views on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry and how the Isle of Man can assist them in meeting key business needs and getting more bang for their virtual buck.
Following an opening address from His Excellency Adam Wood the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, Steve Beauregard, CEO and founder of Isle of Man based payments platform GoCoin, will begin Day One’s proceedings with a keynote address outlining the big picture for cryptocurrencies. Managing Director of Counting House and key proponent for the industry, Paul Davis will then moderate the first of the Summit expert panel sessions with an examination of the banking and card payments industry and its role in the digital space.
The case for regulation will form the focus for the debate to follow as Kevin Perks, Co-owner of I-Cap Group, and John Spellman, Director of Financial Services for the Isle of Man Government take to the stage to represent the nays and yeas, respectively. Simon Dixon, CEO of Bank to the Future and author of Bank to the Future, a major crypto-industry report, will then take to the stage to discuss raising finance and crowdsourcing, after which Colin Tansley, Intelligence Consultant at IOM based Expol will tackle the spectre of digital crime. Drawing the first day’s discussions to a close is Steve Brennan, Chief Executive of the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, who will moderate the day’s second expert panel session on the application of digital currencies in gaming.
Day Two’s Isle of Man focused programme will be introduced by keynote speaker and MHK John Shimmin, who will provide a detailed insight into the Island’s crypto valley proposition before introducing a highlight of this year’s programme, the expert tables. Over the course of two hours, delegates will have the opportunity to quiz resident experts on the many softer issues faced by entrepreneurs looking to relocate and establish a business on the Isle of Man, ranging from offshore structures, intellectual property, VAT and taxation and government, to living on the Isle of Man, recruiting for digital business and local education.
Bobby Lee, Founder and CEO of the world’s largest Bitcoin exchange, BTC China, will outline the status of digital currency in China before delegates look to the future for the industry in the day’s final presentation. A closing statement will be provided by Chris Corlett, CEO at the Department of Economic Development.
Commenting on the announcement, Peter Greenhill, Director of e-Business Development at the Isle of Man Government's Department of Economic Development, said: “This is an opportunity to cement the Isle of Man’s reputation as a nimble, well regulated jurisdiction for cryptocurrencies. The Island has a track record for innovation and high quality service in the financial services industry that will be enhanced by events like this. By creating the Crypto Valley Summit we’re not only providing a forum that brings crypto currency experts and other businesses together, we’re also making it very clear exactly what’s on offer to entrepreneurs in the Isle of Man and what type of regime we want to run.”
Eric Benz, event committee member and Interim Director and founding member of the UK Digital Currency Association, also commented: “As a technology that is emerging into the commercial marketplace, Bitcoin is subject to many of the issues and scepticism other technologies faced throughout their own maturation process. Almost invariably, these issues were overcome at the hands of a community of like-minded people eager to share ideas surrounding best practise and educating the public about the benefits of its proper application. The Crypto Valley Summit is one such forum and is set in a jurisdiction which is at the forefront of international financial regulation, is business friendly, and agile in its response to such issues. This year’s programme is proof of the incredible response we’ve already had from the industry worldwide, and I invite you all to take part in what will be a landmark event for the Isle of Man.”
After a recent announcement from its government and Financial Supervision Commission, the Isle of Man has become the first jurisdiction to provide government registration of legitimate digital currency business, creating a safe and regulated environment for companies operating in the industry. Indeed, an amendment to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2008 is currently being drafted which will introduce ‘know your customer’ and anti-money laundering requirements to digital currency businesses, similar to those seen elsewhere in the financial services industry. The Isle of Man is also now home to what has been termed the digital currency incubator, a decentralised cooperative of local businesses which have pledged to offer services such as free office space, recruitment consultancy, discounted data hosting contracts and postal services, all available for payment in Bitcoin.
Graeme Brooks, event coordinator at organisers Ashgrove Marketing said: “It’s great to see such high levels of interest, but spaces are still available, including free spaces for digital currency operators. If you have any questions regarding visiting the Island, please do feel free to contact us and we will do all we can.”
For more information, or to keep up to date on the latest developments, visit www.cryptovalleysummit.com, follow @IOMCryptoValley on Twitter, or join the LinkedIn group ‘Crypto Valley Summit’.
