Owl Explains Crypto Summit
Presented by Sidley
The Dorchester – UK, Thursday, May 22, 2025
The Owl Explains Hootenanny
Tune into our regular podcasts where we talk to blockchain experts, policymakers and Web3 innovators working to build a better internet.
Hootenannies
Hootenannies are informal gatherings where folk musicians would jam in front of a crowd. In the same spirit, we like to bring together blockchain innovators, lawyers, technologists and policymakers for laid-back conversations on the regulatory landscape of Web3.
Ep 44: The CFTC’s Balancing Act of Web3 Innovation & Regulation
CFTC Commissioner Summer Mersinger and Sidley Austin’s Kate Lashley discuss the evolving landscape of digital assets regulation in the US. Discover how the CFTC aims to bring crypto onshore through balanced, innovation-friendly policies.
Global Series Ep 2: VIETNAMESE - Blockchain Innovation and Policy in Vietnam
Owl Explains is going global! This episode is part of our Global Series, where we speak with regulators and innovators in their native language to bring local insights to a global audience. 🇻🇳 This episode is in Vietnamese, featuring Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung from Vietnam's National Innovation Center (NIC), diving into how Vietnam is embracing Web3 and blockchain technology. {And don't worry, we’ve provided an English transcription below so you can follow along.} Vietnam is stepping up its blockchain game with strong government support and forward-thinking policies! In this episode, we explore Vietnam’s Web3 strategy, including regulatory frameworks, innovation hubs, and startup growth. New policies, like regulatory sandboxes, are helping businesses test blockchain solutions while bridging the gap between innovation and compliance. Industries like banking, logistics, and healthcare are leading blockchain adoption, using it for identity verification, smart contracts, and data security. Vietnam is also learning from Singapore and the U.S., focusing on investment incentives and regulatory clarity to attract global blockchain companies. Plans for three financial hubs in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang signal the country’s push to facilitate digital asset transactions. With a growing developer ecosystem and increasing investor interest, Vietnam is on track to become a blockchain leader in Asia. Listen in Spotify and Apple Podcasts
AVALABS x CBER
Owl Explains by Ava Labs and the Crypto and Blockchain Economic Research (CBER) Forum are proud to announce the Crafting the Crypto Economy podcast series. Episodes feature deep dives into notable research subjects such as lending platform economics, DEX design, DAO governance, and much more. By highlighting major research efforts, the series aims to unveil useful learning, explain complex topics, and educate a wide range of listeners, from beginners to professionals. Most of all, the podcast will equip lawmakers and regulators with the additional tools and knowledge they need to effectively and sensibly shape workable blockchain policies that maximally benefit all parties.
Ava Labs x CBER Ep 7: Blockchain Privacy and Regulatory Compliance
This podcast discusses the ability for blockchain users to attain privacy in their transactions while also remaining compliant with regulations. Of note, prominent blockchains do not provide anonymity as commonly believed; rather, forensic methods can be used to reveal the transaction behavior of users. Mixers (e.g., Tornado Cash) combat forensic methods and offer further privacy. Nonetheless, mixers have come under regulatory pressure because they can be used for illegal activities such as money laundering. This podcast explains why blockchain identities are not anonymous and the details surrounding mixers. The podcast then explains a method whereby a user employing a mixer could prove that they have not participated in money laundering, potentially achieving both privacy and regulatory compliance. Regulatory implications are discussed. Guest: Professor Fabian Schär (University of Basel) Paper: Blockchain Privacy and Regulatory Compliance 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts (Recorded on Aug 16, 2024)
Ava Labs x CBER Ep 10: Tokenization of Real-world Assets in Avalanche
This podcast provides a deep-dive on the Avalanche blockchain. The podcast discusses how Avalanche's blockchain can be used for tokenization of real-world assets. The podcast also explains the Avalanche consensus protocol and how this protocol is an important differentiator between Avalanche and other blockchains. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
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