Stablecoin Symposium by Unblocked Events & CMS
A gathering of industry innovators and thought leaders shaping the future of digital money.
As stablecoins move from niche to mainstream, this event will explore their role in financial markets, the evolving regulatory landscape, and the trade-offs between monetary stability, innovation, and financial sovereignty. We’ll unpack critical questions on the singleness of money, stablecoins beyond the dollar, and the political economy of digital assets. This event is designed for those looking to gain fresh insights into the future of digital finance. Join us for an afternoon of thought-provoking dialogue, followed by drinks and canapés.
1.45 - 2.15pm: Arrival and registration
Introductions from Helen Disney, CEO, Unblocked & Charles Kerrigan, Partner, CMS
2.15 - 2.45pm: Keynote: The State of the Stablecoin Market
Simon Taylor, Head of Strategy & Content, Sardine
2.45 - 2.55pm: Q&A
2.55 - 3:15pm: An Issuer’s View on the State of Stablecoins
Guillaume Kendall, Paxos in conversation with Helen Disney, CEO, Unblocked
3.15 - 4.00pm: Panel - Beyond the dollar: stablecoins, geopolitics & the future of money
As digital assets and tokenised real-world assets gain traction, the dominance of USD stablecoins poses challenges for settlement efficiency, cross-border transactions and financial sovereignty. This panel explores the need for a more diverse stablecoin ecosystem and its potential to reshape global finance.
Speakers:
Helen Disney, CEO, Unblocked (Moderator)
Ayo Ojerinola, Founder & CEO, NOBO
Varun Paul, Senior Director for Financial Markets, Fireblocks
Kam Dylan, Deputy CEO, Eurodollar
Sean Forward, Business Manager, Digital Currency, ClearBan
4.00 - 4:10pm: Panel Q&A
4:10 - 4.25pm: Coffee Break
4:25 - 4:40pm: A Brief History of Money
Elise Soucie Watts, Executive Director, GDF
Join Elise for a whirlwind tour through the evolution of money, from ancient barter systems to today’s digital assets, exploring how trust, technology, and regulation have shaped money over time, providing essential context for understanding the emergence of stablecoins and their place in the modern financial system.
4.40 - 4.55pm: Preserving the Singleness of Money
Matthew Osborne, Policy Director, EMEA, Ripple
Matthew will explore the concept of 'singleness of money'—the principle that all forms of money should trade at par and be seamlessly interchangeable. Introducing the recent research paper 'Single Minded', published by the Qatar Centre for Global Banking and Finance at King's Business School, he will outline key findings on the challenges posed by stablecoins, the role of regulation in maintaining trust, and why adhering to a narrow definition may not be desirable - or necessary - for a well-functioning financial system.
4.55 - 5:30pm: Panel - Single-minded: Rethinking the singleness of money
Is the singleness of money an unquestionable policy goal, or a convenient myth? This panel will debate whether regulators are right to pursue perfect singleness - or if doing so risks entrenching incumbents, stifling innovation, and ignoring the realities of the financial system.
Speakers:
Elise Soucie Watts, Executive Director, GDF
Tom Rhodes, Co-Author, Single-Minded - Stablecoins and the Singleness of Money
Mike Ringer, Partner & Co-Lead of Crypto & Digital Assets Group, CMS
Dina White, General Counsel, Zodia Markets
Laura Navaratnam, UK Policy Lead, Crypto Council for Innovation
5.30 - 5.40pm: Panel Q&A
5:40 - 6.00pm: Fireside: The Political Economy of Stablecoins
Andrew Whitworth, Director, Global Policy & Jannah Patchay, Director, Markets Evolution
Andrew and Jannah discuss the political economy of stablecoins, exploring their role in the financial system, regulatory challenges and the trade-offs between innovation and monetary stability, and unpacking how stablecoins intersect with policy, central banking, and geopolitical dynamics, shaping the future of digital money.
6.00 - 6.10pm: Closing remarks
Erica Stanford, Advisor, CMS
6.10 - 7.30pm: Networking Drinks and Canapés
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