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Digital Assets Conference

Friday 29 November 2024, Chartered Accountants' Hall

Join us at our inaugural in-person full day event. Understand the vital role of accountants in the digital assets space, including how to navigate the complexities of digital asset transactions, regulatory frameworks, audit requirements, and financial reporting standards, as well as exploring emerging trends, addressing challenges and charting a course for the future of the profession.

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Highlights

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Navigate complexities

Explore strategies to navigate the intricacies of digital asset transactions, regulatory frameworks, audit requirements, and financial reporting standards.

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Future vision for digital assets

Discover the UK government's and regulators' vision for establishing the UK as a digital asset hub.

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Insightful learning and networking

Engage with keynote speeches from government and regulatory leaders and join interactive roundtables for thought leadership.

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Stay ahead with emerging trends

Stay informed about the latest trends and challenges in the digital asset space with expert insights that will shape the future of the profession.

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CPD

Earn up to 7.5 hours of verifiable CPD by attending this event.

Programme

Please note the programme is subject to change.

Morning sessions

Registration and refreshments
09:30
Welcome
Polly Tsang, Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager, ICAEW
10:00
Opening keynote
Jane Moore, Head of Department, Payments and Digital Assets at the FCA will look at the future of digital assets in the UK, role and importance of profession.
10:05
Learnings from the fall of FTX
In this session, Jason Gunter from PwC, who was involved in the insolvency proceedings for FTX, provides an overview of the key lessons learned from the collapse of FTX. He highlights the crucial role accountants play, particularly in helping to mitigate the types of issues identified during insolvency.
10:25
AML considerations for onboarding crypto clients
This session will explore the benefits and challenges of conducting AML due diligence in the digital asset ecosystem. Key topics include leveraging blockchain for compliance, analysing data sources like funds origins, and addressing complexities such as pooled wallets. The discussion will also cover the importance of on-chain and off-chain data and the difficulties posed by a fragmented regulatory environment. Joining the session are Michelle Giddings from ICAEW; Alexander Morton from Deloitte; and Henry Burrows from HopTrail.
10:40
Break
11:10
Challenges of crypto and financial reporting
Dylan Ryninks from Grant Thornton lays out the current accounting framework for digital assets and explores classification and measurement challenges through a hypothetical cryptocurrency.
11:30
The state of tax
This session will address the current challenges and uncertainties that tax practitioners encounter with cryptoassets. We will discuss potential solutions and evaluate whether the existing tax framework is effective, identifying any shortcomings. Joining the discussion are Dion Seymour from Andersen; David Britton from BDO; and Michelle Robinson from Deloitte.
12:00
Lunch
12:40

Afternoon sessions

Optional lunch session - Crypto Accounting Made Simple: Recap’s New Tools Featuring HopTrail Wallet Screening
Join us to explore Recap's latest professional features, empowering accountants to run a full-service crypto practice. Our enhanced platform supports client onboarding, automatic wallet screening powered by HopTrail, and comprehensive tax reporting – all in one place.
12:40
Considerations for extracting data from blockchains
This session will bring the ICAEW's audit of cryptocurrency publication to life and explore the opportunities and challenges of using blockchain explorers in audits. Laeeq Shabir from EY and Matthew De La Fuente from Kyax will cover how to ensure the reliability of third-party tools, understanding the availability and limitations of assurance methods like SOC 1 and SOC 2 reports, and managing the difficulties in obtaining consistent data from different blockchain explorers.
13:30
Onchain analytics and recovery
Hide and seek! In this illuminating session, we speak with the experts on what happens when digital assets go AWOL. We shine a light on how to track them down and recover them for your clients. Joining the discussion are Phil Arris from TRM; Lisa McClory from D2LT; and Racheal Muldoon from Maitland Chambers.
14:05
Evolving nature of decentralisation
Decentralisation, DAOs, and De-Fi – oh my! In this session, we’ll demystify key acronyms and bring you up to speed on the current state of decentralisation. You'll gain insights into what it is, the UK/EU regulatory landscape, and the tax and financial reporting implications. Joining the discussion are Dion Seymour from Andersen and Meglena Grueva from ForvisMazars Germany.
14:30
Break
14:50
Future of digital assets with insights from academia, law and industry
Panelists will examine the implications for legal frameworks, professional practices, and the broader industry as digital assets continue to reshape the financial and technological sectors. Hear from Professor Sarah Green from D2Legal Tech; Katey Neate from BNY Mellon; Nicola Beattie from ClearToken; and Marina Antoniou from NatWest Markets.
15:10
Closing keynote
15:40
Closing remarks
Reuben Wales, Head of Financial Services, ICAEW
15:50
Networking drinks reception
16:00
End of event
17:00

Our speakers

Headshot of Phil Ariss
Phil Ariss Director, UK Public Sector Relations, TRM Labs

Phil leads UK Public Sector Relations at TRM Labs, working to maximize cryptocurrency investigation capabilities for law enforcement across the UK. Prior to joining TRM, Phil was National Coordinator for Cryptocurrencies and Virtual Assets for the NPCC Cybercrime Programme, where he focused on ensuring that the UK public had confidence in law enforcement’s ability to bring offenders to justice and deny criminals the benefits of crime. He was also responsible for the standardisation of the UK’s approach to seizure, restraint and confiscation of cryptocurrencies.

Marina Antiniou
Marina Antoniou Financial Services Faculty Board Member

Marina specializes in risk management and innovation with a focus on Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation. She has extensive experience in global capital markets non-financial risks with a focus on conduct risk, reputation risk, rogue trading, fraud, financial crime, trade and comms surveillance. She also has experience in risks and controls relating to Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Models and Data Privacy and acts as speaker at conferences globally.

Headshot of Matthew de la Fuente
Matthew de la Fuente CEO, KYAX

Matthew is the CEO of KYAX, a Digital Asset Data Subledger and Financial Reporting tool to enable Business, Financial Audit and Transaction Reconciliation reporting. KYAX’s products are built to SOC and ISO institutional grade standards, aggregating Google Sheets, CeFi and DeFi transactional data, providing reliable and timely reporting and attestations for the most Institutional Crypto Transactors, Auditors, Fund Administrators and Accountants. He started in Investment Banking and Management Consulting with 15 years scaling and building VC/PE backed growth businesses, in Finance, Business Operations and Audit in and around Silicon Valley.

Headshot of Michelle Giddings
Michelle Giddings Head of AML and Operations, ICAEW

Michelle is ICAEW’s Head of AML with operational responsibility for the AML supervision of ICAEW’s 11,000 AML-supervised firms. She is co-Chair of the Accountancy AML Supervisors Group and was Chair of the AML Supervisors’ Forum in 2021. Michelle qualified as a chartered accountant in 2005, completing her training contract at a Big Four firm and working within audit for professional services firms.

Meglena Grueva
Meglena Grueva Senior Manager, Forvis Mazars

Meglena is an expert in blockchain and digital assets legislation and has deep knowledge and experience in the regulatory developments in this area. She is leading the Digital Assets Solutions practice at Forvis Mazars in Germany and consults and engages with institutions that leverage DLT and Blockchain in their activities. Meglena is also a part of the Global Financial Services RegCenter at Forvis Mazars Group where she focuses on global initiatives in digital assets and blockchain.

Richard Jones
Richard Jones Senior Technical Manager, Tax Policy, ICAEW

Richard joined the ICAEW Tax Faculty in November 2020,coordinating the work of ICAEW on business tax and tax compliance & investigations matters and manage the committees related to these areas. Richard is a regular contributor to TAXline, newswire and IACEW’s Insights Podcast. Richard began his tax career at PwC where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2001. 

Profile image of Esther Mallowah
Esther Mallowah Head of Tech Policy, ICAEW

Esther influences Technology policy to enable businesses, accountants and society to harness its benefits while limiting harm. Prior to joining ICAEW, she worked in technology internal and external audit roles, focussing on information and cyber security and operational resilience. She is also a qualified ICAEW Chartered Accountant, qualifying whilst at Deloitte.

Headshot of Jane Moore
Jane Moore Head of Department in Payments & Digital Assets, FCA

Jane is Head of Department in Payments & Digital Assets at the FCA, working on crypto and payments policy. Jane came to Payments & Digital Assets from Resolution, covering the insolvency of FCA regulated firms. Previously Jane concentred on Client Assets, and has a background as a corporate lawyer.

Headshot of Racheal Muldoon
Racheal Muldoon Barrister, Maitland Chambers

Racheal is a barrister based in London's Lincoln's Inn. She is an internationally recognised expert at the intersection of new and emerging technologies and the law for which she is ranked by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 as a Band 1 junior barrister and has won numerous awards including the Citywealth Fintech Adviser of the Year Award 2024. Racheal has appeared in the leading 'tech law' matters of the day encompassing cryptoassets (eg, the FTX insolvency), artificial intelligence and data class actions both domestically and internationally.

Headshot of Katey Neate
Katey Neate Chief Operating Officer, Digital Assets, BNY Mellon

Katey’s role encompasses business management, regulatory engagement, communications, strategy and R&D and risk management. She was directly responsible for the establishment of the risk management practice and team for digital asset products at the firm, drawing on her extensive and diverse experience in the financial services industry. As a leader in Risk Management and Digital Assets, Katey is engaged in driving diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly in the Digital Assets space. She is actively involved in advising leadership of digital asset startups on business and risk management strategy, which includes representing BNY Mellon on the board of Coin Metrics.

Dylan Ryninks
Dylan Ryninks Director, National Assurance Services Financial Reporting, Grant Thornton UK LLP

Dylan Ryninks CA(SA), Director, National Assurance Services Financial Reporting, Grant Thornton UK LLP Dylan a SAICA registered Chartered Accountant and is a Director in the Grant Thornton UK LLP National Assurance Services, Financial Reporting team. He leads a team responsible for supporting audit teams navigate the complex requirements of IFRS and UK GAAP financial reporting frameworks in the context of their audits. Having been a specialist technical accountant for Grant Thornton since 2014, Dylan is a subject matter specialist in accounting for Impairments, Share-based payments and Employee benefits and Digital assets.

Headshot of Dion Seymour
Dion Seymour Crypto Tax & Accounting Technical Director, Andersen

Dion is a highly experienced tax specialist with over 20 years in tax and, uniquely, has extensive experience in all aspects of the taxation of cryptoassets. He was formerly the cryptoasset policy and product owner at HMRC. His unique experience brings an in-depth knowledge of direct and indirect taxation for individuals and businesses, the OECD’s Cryptoasset reporting framework (CARF), and HMRC investigations.

Headshot of Amarjit Singh
Amarjit Singh Partner, EY

Amarjit is leading EY’s Blockchain Assurance Practice across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. He is currently responsible for a number of Ernst & Young’s largest financial services clients and also provides regulatory assistance especially advising on CASS, MiFID II, CRD IV and Suitability. He chairs the ICAEW’s Digital Assets SteerCo and represents EY at the FRC and FCA on various matters. Amarjit is an active supporter of the Diversity & Inclusiveness programme at EY and is the chair of the EY Sikh Network. He leads engagement with clients on their D&I initiatives in the Financial Services industry.

Polly Tsang
Polly Tsang Financial Services Regulatory Manager, ICAEW

Prior to joining the ICAEW, Polly specialised in structured finance and asset backed securitisation at PwC, helping firms raise debt market funding and buy/sell asset pools. She qualified as an ACA with PwC London within investment management and banking and capital markets. She is interested in exploring the risks and opportunities in regulating financial services in the post-Brexit landscape, particularly in evolving areas such as ESG, crypto and AI.

Reuben Wales
Reuben Wales Head of Financial Services Faculty, ICAEW

Reuben was previously at the FCA where he covered technical roles in Competition and Economics and most recently managed a team responsible for prudentially assessing higher risk mergers and acquisitions. Prior to his time at the regulator, he worked at Close Brothers plc, where he was responsible for delivering strategic financial and prudential analysis. He has a deep interest in the future of financial services regulation in the UK, including themes that touch upon the health of competition in markets and market stability.

In partnership with

ICAEW works with global companies that support the finance profession to bring you the best events possible.

Headline sponsor: Andersen

Conference sponsors: Hoptrail, Recap



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