QRFE Workshop on Blockchain-based markets and Fintech

The Centre for Quantitative Research in Financial Economics (QRFE) Workshop on Blockchain-Based Markets and FinTech brings together world-class academics, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore how blockchain technology and tokenization are reshaping capital markets. This one-day event will feature cutting-edge research presentations, a keynote speech, insightful discussions, and a high-profile panel debate on whether tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) is a passing trend or a transformative force redefining financial markets.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Agostino Capponi – Columbia University
• Daniel Liebau – ESSEC Business School
• Wenqian Huang – Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
• Daniel Ruf – University of Cambridge joint work with Valerie Laturnus - QRFE, Durham University Business School

Featured Panel Discussion: "Tokenization of Real-World Assets: Hype or Transformative Force?"

Moderator: Arzé Karam – QRFE, Durham University Business School

Panellists:

• Agostino Capponi (Academia)
  Professor at Columbia University, Agostino is a leading researcher on market microstructure, systemic risk, and the design of blockchain-based financial systems, with a focus on how technology reshapes trading, liquidity, and market stability.
• Wenqian Huang (BIS)
  Wenqian is a Senior Economist at the Bank for International Settlements, specializing in the interaction between financial innovation, regulation, and central bank policies in blockchain-based and tokenized markets.
• Daniel Liebau (Academia)
  Daniel is an academic and FinTech expert at ESSEC Business School, focused on tokenized markets, digital asset infrastructure, and the convergence of traditional and decentralized finance.
• Peter Grosskopf (Industry)
  Peter is a serial FinTech entrepreneur and currently the CTO of AllUnity, a fully licensed EUR stablecoin issuer, driving innovation in digital payments, tokenized settlements, and institutional blockchain adoption.
• Miguel Vaz (Industry)
  Miguel operates at the intersection of academia and practice and currently serves on the board of Hauck & Aufhäuser’s digital asset custody firm in Germany, bringing expertise in institutional crypto infrastructure and risk management.

This panel will bring together academic, regulatory, and industry perspectives to discuss:

• Infrastructure & market design for tokenized assets
• Compliance, regulation, and emerging risks
• Liquidity, stablecoins, and market stability
• Product innovation and token engineering
• The convergence of TradFi, DeFi, and policy frameworks in tokenized ecosystems

This workshop is designed for researchers, regulators, fintech innovators, and market participants interested in understanding how blockchain technologies are shaping the next generation of capital markets.

Registration

Please register for the event here: https://forms.office.com/e/czLyJm6rNS.