This conference explores fundamental questions related to emerging issues on innovation, risk, and regulation:
I. Innovation: Adapting to the Technological Landscape
The advent of new mediums of transactions, digital transformation, and changes in the regulatory environment have led banks to both compete and partner with fintech and crypto firms. This theme explores opportunities and challenges banks and fintechs face in adapting to the new technological landscape, focusing on partnerships, crypto-compatibility, and the evolving role of banks in the financial system.
II. Risk: Resilience in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Despite the tremendous potential of recent AI systems, their uninhibited development and deployment has raised concerns. This year’s program brings together different perspectives to map and debate the risks and considerations posed by AI as well as the steps required to safely unlock its potential for the financial system and beyond.
III. Regulation: Tokenization of Traditional Financial Assets
Investor demand for greater access has pushed tokenization of traditional financial assets to the forefront of discussions. Today, money-like instruments, such as stablecoins, Treasury securities, money-market funds are being tokenized and made available on blockchain systems, and tokenization platforms offer new way to access and use traditional financial claims. But what are the implications of this and how could access be broadened whilst retaining critical standards? How should these new products and systems be regulated? This theme will explore the various approaches to regulatory compliance and discuss the balance between safety and innovation.
April 4, 2025
8:30am – 5:30pm EDT
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10045
Attendance will be in person and by invitation only. For logistical inquiries, please contact ny.researchconference@ny.frb.org.
This event is open to media. All remarks will be on the record, with a recording made available afterward. Media who wish to attend must register by contacting Shelley Pitterson at Shelley.Pitterson@ny.frb.org.
8:30am–9:10am | Continental Breakfast |
9:10am–9:15am | Welcome Remarks
Michael Lee, Financial Research Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of New York Per von Zelowitz, Director of the New York Innovation Center, Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
9:15am–10:00am | Keynote Remarks Robert M. Townsend, Elizabeth & James Killian Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Innovation: Adapting to the Technological Landscape |
|
10:00am – 11:15am | Panel Discussion: Banks, Fintechs, and Crypto-Compatibility Moderator: Matt Plosser, Financial Research Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
11:15am – 11:30am | Break |
11:30am – 12:10pm | Presentations: Frontier Issues in Blockchain Moderator: Michael Lee, Financial Research Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of New York Presenters: |
12:10pm –1:40pm | Lunch 12:45pm – 1:30pm Moderated Discussion Christopher J. Waller, Governor, Federal Reserve Board Moderator: Sonja Danburg, Deputy Associate Director, Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems, Federal Reserve Board |
1:40pm – 2:20pm | Presentations: Frontier Issues in Artificial Intelligence Moderator: Elena Ferri, Director of Advanced Analytics & Data Science, Federal Reserve Bank of New York Presenters: |
Risk: Large-Scale Risks of AI |
|
2:20pm – 3:20pm | Panel Discussion: Mapping Opportunities and Risks of Generative AI Moderator: Morgan White, Strategist, New York Innovation Center at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
3:20pm – 3:30pm | Break |
Regulation: Tokenization of Traditional Financial Assets |
|
3:30pm – 4:30pm | Panel Discussion: Approaches to Regulatory Compliance and Challenges Moderator: Megan Lindgren, Attorney, Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
4:30pm – 5:30pm | Panel Discussion: Tokenization Platforms and the Future of Financial Infrastructure Moderator: Per von Zelowitz, Director of the New York Innovation Center, Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
5:30pm – 7:00pm | Reception |