TopQuants

Spring Event 2018

Blockchain and cryptocurrencies in finance

Organiser

Sponsors

Time table

  • 15:00Registration
  • 15:40Welcome
  • 15:55Keynote speakers
  • 17:30Panel discussion
  • 18:15Drinks & walking dinner
  • 20:30End of event

TopQuants – the networking organisation by quants for quants based in the Netherlands – is proud to present its Spring Event on

Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in finance

The event will take place on Thursday May 24th at 15:00 and will be hosted by AFS Group at their offices on the Euronext trading floor in Amsterdam.

Having been invented by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008, blockchain made bitcoin the first digital currency to solve the double spending problem without the need of a trusted authority. Since then, many other applications of blockchain are being explored and are potentially changing our society as we know it. Likewise – following the success of bitcoin, many other cryptocurrencies have been created and have risen to great popularity, particularly in the course of 2017. In 2018 their returns are nothing to write home about, but nevertheless blockchain, cryptocurrencies and changes in the FinTech landscape in general are causing headaches to regulators across the world.

Etienne vantKruys (Wanchain Foundation Limited, Token Research Group), responsible for business development of Wanchain in EMEA, will give an introduction to blockchain, and will explain what Wanchain is building – a secure blockchain that enables the cross-chain transfer of digital assets. Vince Meens (weareblox and BTC Direct), CEO and co-founder of weareblox, and also co-founder and advisory board member of the cryptocurrency broker BTC Direct, will give a short outlook on how decentralisation & tokenisation, together with other converging technologies, will rapidly impact the way we run and value our society. Kasper Keunen (GUTS tickets), Blockchain developer at GUTS tickets, will go into the economics behind GUTS’ utility token, the GET. GUTS, backed by Youp van ‘t Hek and Jochem Myjer in the Netherlands, aims to eradicate ticket touts by use of blockchain technology. Finally, Leonard Franken (AFM, TU Delft), technical counsel at the InnovationHub of the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and the Dutch Central Bank (DNB), will shed some light on the perspective of the regulator and answer the following questions – how does the regulator look at blockchain, cryptocurrencies and ICOs? Which challenges are there for a regulator?

To conclude the event, there will be the usual complimentary drinks and walking dinner with plenty of networking opportunities for all participants. Afterwards, you are all welcome to enjoy some beverages at the beer tasting bar “In de Wildeman”, where – for this event only – you will be able to pay using Bitcoin.

The ticketing for this event will be conducted by GUTS tickets – please register using the link above or here. If you have registered, but cannot attend – you will be able to put your ticket up for sale on the blockchain… but still, if it is close to the actual event, do let us know as soon as possible, so that as many people as possible can join the event!

We hope to see you at the event!

P.S. Did you know that the FinTech company VI Company, that built our website, found a bug which allowed individuals to give themselves unlimited ether? Read more here if you are interested!