Capital Pioneer Digital Assets Summit 2025

Many thanks to Elizabeth Pfeuti and Capital Pioneer for inviting me to speak at the Digital Assets Summit this week. I believe it’s an imperative to get out and meet in person others facing the same evolution in finance, albeit from a range of different perspectives. Thanks also to my fellow panellists Mizuho Tanaka and Pavan K. for their contributions on the origination side of capital markets.

Preparing for impending change in any ecosystem always leaves me with a sense of déjà vu as I am reminded of the preamble to the birth of hashtag#HybridCapital in Europe and hashtag#GreenBonds, among other anticipated product developments during my career.

In every case, my advice has always been the same: standing still is not an option. Dedicate resources to a comprehensive understanding of what may be coming (considering timelines and probability), supplement with CPD in the relevant field and focused scenario planning through pilot projects and/or otherwise. Engage with clients and other stakeholders early. From my perspective, it’s a challenge the City has always risen to.

Indeed, it is an approach I adopted when advising the European Commission's New European Bauhaus on how to get a better result from philanthropy throughout the EU. Q4 Capital Advisors advised them to establish a dedicated Hub (modelled on the Capital Solutions teams I established for several banks) to unknot the c.€60bn of philanthropic funds available throughout the EU per annum and with a view to part channeling funds towards NEB-compliant projects.

I am pleased to see that advice adopted by the European Parliament, the Commission and backed by funding to bring the ambition to life. The outcome of a tender contract for the Hub’s establishment is soon to be announced.

Challenging (but exciting) times! I look forward to taking our conversations forward.