MERGE Buenos Aires 2025 Flashcards
Aaron Stanley:
* Role: Media Innovator | Builder | Creator | Catalyzer | Dot-Connector
* Focus areas: Brazil, Web3, Digital Assets
* Editorial Director at Filecoin Foundation: Explores blockchain-powered data storage, decentralized compute, and decentralized AI
* Former Managing Director at CoinDesk: Oversaw content for Consensus conference and covered crypto as a reporter/editor
* Founder of BCR Media: Built a leading source for English-language analysis on Brazil and Latin America’s digital asset ecosystem
Abel Peña:
* Current Roles:
* CSO at Bit2Me
* CEO at BlueAgreement
* Experience:
* Over 20 years in sales strategy and management of complex international projects
* Worked across Europe, North & South America, Caribbean, Middle East, Central Asia, Asia, Africa, and Oceania
* Published Works:
* Reports featured in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Smart Money, and The Times
* Leadership Style:
* Cross-functional, healthy, and transparent team leader
* Experienced in digital, SaaS, AI, cryptocurrency, and navigating challenging economic scenarios
* High-Level Interaction:
* Skilled at interacting with Heads of State, Ministers, CEOs, and C-suite executives
Agustín Jamele:
* Current Role: Writer at Forbes Argentina
* Education:
* Bachelor’s in Journalism and Communication from Universidad del Salvador
* Previous Experience:
* Worked at Revista Anfibia, BigBang News, Editorial Perfil, Revista THC, and Forbes Argentina, among others
Alan Vey:
* Forbes 30 Under 30 Winner for his work as the founder of Aventus
* Aventus: Unlocks next-generation technologies (AI & Blockchain) for enterprise
* Secured deals with major companies like Vodafone, Heathrow Airport, NFL Alumni, and The Wolf of Wall Street
* Previous Experience:
* Worked at Deloitte and Brevan Howard
* Education:
* Undergraduate in Computer Science and Master’s in Artificial Intelligence from Imperial College London
* Created assets in AI, blockchain, and Web3 worth over $300M today
Alejandro Musso:
* Current Role: Cybercrime Prosecutor at Unidad Fiscal Especializada en la Investigación de Ciberdelitos (UFEIC)
* Director: Diplomatura en Investigación Práctica de Ciberdelitos y Criptoactivos at Universidad de la Marina Mercante
* Expertise: Focused on investigating criminal activities using Blockchain to obscure illicit profits
* Key Responsibilities:
* Transforming the judicial paradigm toward comprehensive digital investigations
* Pioneer in tackling disruptive crime methods in digital environments
* Collaboration: Member of Digital Piracy Working Groups and Cryptocurrency Working Groups with the DOJ
* Mission: Develop effective strategies against cybercrime and ensure technology benefits society
* Blockchain Certified by TRM Labs
* Education: University of Buenos Aires
Alex Puig:
* Founder of Context Protocol
* Expertise:
* AI, Agentic economy, Blockchain, Open Data, Digital Identity
* Specializes in Self Sovereign Identity, Blockchain, and Zero Knowledge Proof
* Founder of Alastria Blockchain Ecosystem, the first national-wide semi-public blockchain platform
* Previous Role: Led the Technical Team at Caelum Labs, a Blockchain consultancy and development firm based in Barcelona
* Professional Focus: Exploring how technology can impact society, with a particular interest in digital identity and blockchain
Alexander Ditzend:
* Current Role: President of Sociedad Argentina de Inteligencia Artificial (SAIA)
* Additional Role: AI Specialist at Yoizen
* Experience: Over 5 years in Artificial Intelligence
* Key Focus: Promotes safe AI, equal employment, and wealth distribution
* Core Competencies:
* Artificial Intelligence
* Innovation Development
* Natural Language Processing
* Conversational AI software design and development
* Previous Experience: Developer, consultant, and speaker in the AI field
* Mission: Advocate for ethical and socially responsible AI, aiming to contribute to humanity’s brightest future
* Education: Studied at University of Buenos Aires
Álvaro Arranz:
* Current Role: Finance Director at Outlier Ventures (Web3 accelerator)
* Education: Studied at Birkbeck, University of London
* Previous Experience:
* Former Head of Finance at Outlier Ventures
* Industry Focus: Specializes in finance and Web3 ventures
* Online Presence: Active on Twitter as @ajac_OV
Álvaro Castro Lora:
* Lawyer, Entrepreneur, Teacher, and Mentor
* Education:
* LLB (University of Piura), LLM in Banking and Financial Law (Queen Mary University of London), Fintech Specialization (MIT)
* Current Role: Founder of SUMARA Hub Legal, focusing on digital entrepreneurship, financial regulation, and capital markets
* Recognitions:
* Leaders League: “Leading” in Fintech, “Excellent” in Venture Capital
* IFLR1000: “Highly Recommended” in Banking and Capital Markets
* Active Roles:
* Chair of LACChain Legal Working Group (Peru), VP of Peruvian Blockchain & DLT Association, Ambassador of Peruvian Fintech Association
* Academic & Mentoring:
* Professor at U. Piura and U. Pacifico, Mentor at UTEC Ventures
* Host of SUMATECH Podcast and Co-organizer of Legal Hackers - Lima
Álvaro Duran Casares:
* Current Role: Working at Bit2Me
* Location: San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain
* Education:
* Master in Financial Management
* Master in European Law
* CFA Level I Candidate
* IBM Blockchain Foundation Developer
* Financial Management Certificate in Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations
* Experience:
* 10 years in Banking and Finance
* Expertise in Digital Asset Management, Digital Asset Treasury, and Decentralized Finance
* Background in Asset Management, Investment and Operation Analysis, Corporate and Retail Banking, Project Management, and Communications
* Focus: Interested in the application and impact of new technologies in the financial sector
Amanda Wick
* Current Role: Founder & CEO at Association for Women In Cryptocurrency
* Principal at Incite Consulting
* Location: Washington, D.C., United States
* Former Roles:
* Senior Investigative Counsel for the House Select Committee on the January 6th Attack
* Chief of Legal Affairs at Chainalysis
* Senior Policy Advisor at FinCEN
* Trial Attorney at the Department of Justice (Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section)
* University: Vanderbilt University Law School
* Mission: Help the crypto industry innovate responsibly and engage with regulators. Promote gender diversity in digital finance.
Antonio Javier Maza
* Current Role: Coordinator of the Cybercrime and Cyber Affairs Department at the Ministry of Security of the Argentine Republic
* Additional Role: Head of the Cybercrime Division at Gendarmería Nacional Argentina
* Key Responsibilities:
* Strategic planning, development of new projects, and training
* Supervision of work teams
* Expertise:
* Digital forensics
* Cybercrime investigation
* Professional Traits:
* Highly proactive, creative, and collaborative, with a “thinking outside the box” mindset
* Enjoys working both independently and within teams
* Education:
* Bachelor’s in Criminalistics and Professorate from the Instituto Universitario de Gendarmería Nacional Argentina
* Postgraduate in Information Security from the University of Buenos Aires
Bill Laboon:
* Current Role: Director of Education and Governance Initiatives at Web3 Foundation
* Education:
* Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh
* Master of Science in Software Design & Management from Carnegie Mellon University
* Professional Experience:
* Lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh, teaching software quality assurance, software engineering, and blockchain technology
* Author of two books:
* A Friendly Introduction to Software Testing (undergraduate textbook)
* Strength in Numbers (novel set in a world where cryptocurrency replaces traditional money)
* Speaker at various conferences on topics including cryptocurrency, software quality, and the ethics of software development
* Role at Web3 Foundation: Leads educational programs and governance initiatives to foster the growth and adoption of decentralized technologies, with a focus on the Polkadot ecosystem
Bruno Grossi, MSc
Current Role: Head of Digital Assets at Inter
* Expertise: Web3, CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency), Blockchain, AI, DREX, Quantum Computing
* Angel Investor with over 25 years of experience in technology, focusing on Blockchain, AI, DREX, and Quantum Computing
* Education: Master’s degree from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
* Location: Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
* Career Focus:
* Mentoring and investing in startups leveraging emerging technologies
* Technical and strategic leadership in Blockchain, AI, and DREX
* Development of distributed systems and cloud computing solutions
* Programming proficiency in Java, Go, Python, and Solidity
* Created the Digital Assets area and an applied science team at Inter
* Mission: Build a future where technology and financial innovation go hand in hand, driving positive market impact and helping startups scale and innovate
Caio Motta:
* Position: Senior Solutions Architect LATAM at Chainalysis
* Location: São Paulo, Brazil
* Role: Leading the development and implementation of blockchain analytics solutions across Latin America, focusing on compliance, risk management, and investigative support for financial institutions and government agencies.
* Specialties: Blockchain analytics, cryptocurrency compliance, financial crime investigation, risk management, regulatory technology
* Experience: Overseeing and driving innovation in blockchain analytics and compliance solutions at Chainalysis, contributing to the company’s advancements in cryptocurrency risk management and regulatory technology.
* Caio Motta is scheduled to speak at the Merge Buenos Aires 2025 event, discussing “Institutional Predictions
Candela Fazzano:
* Position: Team Leader at SEED Latam
* Company: SEED Latam
* Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
* Role: Leading initiatives to promote Web3 adoption and governance in Latin America.
* Specialties: Community building, Web3 education, governance coordination, digital marketing.
* Experience: Formerly led the Women in Crypto community and communication for DeFi Latam.
* Education: Universidad Nacional de La Matanza, Argentina.
SEEDLatam
* Mission: SEEDLatam aims to empower future Web3 leaders in Latin America through education, collaboration, and innovation in blockchain and crypto technologies.
* Focus: Promotes knowledge of Web3, blockchain technologies, and crypto, particularly targeting the Latin American region.
Carlos Fernandez Herraiz, PhD
* Current Role: COO at Tritemius
* Location: Las Rozas de Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain
* Experience:
* 20+ years in financial markets and alternative investments
* Led investment strategy and asset allocation for Single Family Offices
* Founded a Global Macro Alternative Fund and established a fund research franchise for a bank
* Involved in digital assets, Web3, blockchain, CBDC, tokenization, NFTs, and other finance-related use cases
* Conducted academic research and provided training for institutions, supervisors, and regulators
* Focus: Founded Tritemius to drive the Web3 revolution with innovative, profitable solutions
Carlos Morillo
* Position: Co-founder and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at XHYPE
* Company: XHYPE
* Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
* Role: Leading financial strategies and operations for XHYPE, a decentralized marketplace for investing in gold-based NFTs.
* Specialties: Startup funding, financial management, resource optimization, financial planning for tech startups.
* Experience: Seasoned financial executive with deep expertise in startup funding and financial management, skilled in optimizing resources and financial planning for tech startups.
* Social Media: Twitter profile: Carlos Morillo on X
César Kobayashi
* Current Role: CEO and Founder of Nuclea
* Mission: Building the new infrastructure of the financial market with Blockchain technologies
* Location: São Paulo, Brazil
* Education: Harvard University
* Experience: Almost 20 years in the financial services sector, with a focus on leveraging blockchain to improve financial systems
* Expertise: Extensive experience in the application of blockchain technology, fintech, and financial market innovation
* Previous Roles: Experienced leadership roles in major financial institutions and tech companies, contributing to the development and deployment of new technologies in the financial space
* Industry Focus: Primarily focused on financial services, blockchain, and technology-driven financial innovations
Chad Barron:
* Current Role: Founder of Blockchain Factory (BCF Services LTD)
* Location: Laguna Beach, California, United States
* Education: Presidio Graduate School
* Expertise:
* Web3 Innovation: Blockchain, DeFi, Nodes
* Real Estate Infrastructure: Development, planning, and execution of large-scale projects
* Financing & Capital Raising: Project finance, venture capital, tokenized real-world assets
* Leadership: Leading high-performance teams and scaling startups
* Focus:
* Bridging the digital and physical worlds through decentralized applications, tokenized ecosystems, and blockchain-based solutions
* Pioneering solutions in Web3 and real estate to reshape how assets are financed, transacted, and managed
Coty de Monteverde:
* Current Role: Group Vice President - Crypto & Blockchain at Santander
* Location: Spain
* Education: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
* Experience: Over 15 years in banking, with a focus on FinTech, Crypto, and Blockchain
* Mission: Leading the Crypto & Blockchain Center of Excellence at Santander, focusing on massive adoption of blockchain technology within the bank and the financial sector.
* Key Focus: Strategic consortia, new product and service delivery, customer loyalty, efficiency, and security through blockchain innovation.
* Team Leadership: Leads a team of top-tier blockchain experts at Santander.
Daniel Mangabeira Dantas:
* Current Role: Strategy & Policy, Latam at Circle
* Location: São Paulo, Brazil
* Education:
* PhD in International Law from Universidade de São Paulo
* Master’s in International Relations from Universidade de Brasília
* Master’s in International Economic Law from University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
* Key Expertise:
* Regulatory, policy, and governmental affairs
* Public and private sector stakeholder management
* Anticipating and managing political and regulatory risks
* Experience:
* 20+ years in Government Affairs and Institutional Relations
* Worked with Federal & State Governments, International Organizations, Multinational Corporations, and Associations
* Skilled in Crisis Management, Reputation Building, and Relationship Management
* Expertise in Public Policy Monitoring and Macroeconomics Analysis
Diego Fernández:
* Current Role: Co-Creator of QuarkID
* Co-Founder of The Future Co.
* Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
* Education: Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires
* Key Expertise:
* Blockchain and ZK (Zero-Knowledge) technologies
* Self-Sovereign Digital Identity
* Purpose-driven companies and rural poverty alleviation
* Involvement:
* Co-created QuarkID, a Self-Sovereign Digital Identity protocol
* Co-founded The Future Co., focused on tackling extreme rural poverty
* Part of Crecimiento, a movement aiming to make Argentina a global hub for crypto, startups, and innovation
Diego Martin Diaz:
* Current Role: Leading Innovator in Crypto & Fintech Industry
* Specialization: Payment Systems Specialist
* Education: MSc Finance Candidate at UTDT
* University: Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina
* Location: Argentina
* Experience:
* Over 10 years of experience in finance and technology
* Focus on digital payments, crypto, and fintech innovation
* Expertise in regulations and strategy for the fintech ecosystem
* Bridging the perspectives of public and private sectors