Fintech & FS Group: Communicating crypto in 2021

Event Overview

How to talk crypto without alienating traditional financial audiences

In the past few months, cryptocurrency has dominated discussion across the business and financial services sector. Bitcoin and cryptocurrency have become a part of the broader reflation narrative which presents both opportunities and challenges for communications professionals. 

As the market cap of the entire crypto space broke above $1 trillion for the first time ever, the crypto space has become too big to be ignored by traditional players. But how do traditional players join the discussion without putting their reputation at risk? 

At this first event for the PRCA Financial Services & Fintech Group, CARMA will explore the media conversation around cryptocurrency and look into fintech and financial services companies’ attitudes towards space. Following the presentation, we will ask a panel of experts whether cryptocurrencies are here to stay, and if so whether it will have significant consequences on the future of financial services and the industry’s communicators. 

Attendees will gain access to:

• Tips and tricks from bleeding-edge crypto firms as well as established financial institutions on the intersection of formal and decentralised finance 
• Exclusive insights from a media audit of crypto and mainstream publications in the time period 1 April – 30 June (Q2 2021) to understand recent trends in the crypto world
• Detailed analysis of who in the financial world is nailing crypto communications without affecting share price or alienating risk-averse stakeholders

Moderator: Chris Williams, Head Editor of CryptoBriefing

Speakers:

Elliott Suthers, Director of Communications, Coinbase. Elliott is a director of communications at Coinbase, the world’s most trusted cryptocurrency exchange. He has spent his time at Coinbase overseeing communications at a time of rapid growth for the company in Europe and beyond, including launching flagship products, engaging institutional audiences and expanding into new markets. Prior to joining Coinbase, Suthers was SVP at Grayling. He has also served as VP of enterprise and policy at Highwire PR and VP at Spector & Associates. Suthers also worked on Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) 2008 presidential run John Huntsman’s 2012 bid for the White House.

George Coxon, Director of the Nano Foundation, Director of Appia and Advisor to the Global Blockchain Initiative
George Coxon is Director of the Nano Foundation, Director of Appia and Advisor to the Global Blockchain Initiative. Nano is the world’s only truly global currency, designed to democratise the global economy and bring financial inclusion to the world over. 

A degree in Evolutionary Anthropology amplified George’s natural fascination in social behaviours and what makes people ‘tick’, giving her a wider understanding of how efficient, decentralised digital money can empower and elevate the underbanked, and begin to replace a world founded on credit with a sustainable and fairer solution based on instant settled-value anywhere on the planet. George is clear that an economy that is open to all and empowers those that are marginalised, not only financially but also socially and politically, will be more robust and resilient. To achieve this goal requires non-archetypal leadership to be at the forefront of the challenge which is the future of money.

Roopa Ramaiya, Communications & PR leader at Luno Exchange
Roopa is an award-winning Head of PR and Communications currently overseeing global PR at Luno, a leading cryptocurrency platform recently acquired by Digital Currency Group (DCG) who were listed as one of Time magazine’s most influential companies. She has more than 15 years of experience in PR, communications and public affairs with a focus on technology and financial services. Prior to Luno, she held roles at HSBC and Barclays and has spent the last few years helping to scale high-growth technology companies like Zendesk and King.com.

Samantha Yap, Founder & CEO of YAP Global
Samantha Yap is the Founder & CEO of YAP Global, a PR agency with a focus on helping meaningful blockchain, cryptocurrency and decentralised finance (DeFi) teams tell their stories on the global stage. With her expertise & leadership, she has built YAP Global to be the link between the complicated, unknown cryptocurrency technology and mainstream press. She has past experience working as a journalist in Jakarta, Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.

Event Host:

Martyna Borys, Account Director at YAP Global and Chair of the PRCA’s first Financial Services and Fintech Group 
Martyna is one of few UK PR & communications experts specialising in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector. She has extensive experience in B2B tech and fintech PR after running strategic, high-octane programmes for a range of challenger and blue-chip clients at leading tech PR agencies like Hotwire, CCgroup and, most recently, Edelman. During her career, she led several award-winning EMEA-wide campaigns and was crucial to winning Edelman UK its first cryptocurrency client. Earlier this year Martyna was named in PRWeek's 30 Under 30.
 

Zoom links will be sent out to all attendees 24 hours prior to the event start time. If you sign up after this time, please contact kyrie.abrahams@prca.org.uk for the link.

This event is worth 15 points in the PRCA CPD Programme.