Nikhil Vadgama is a expert in web3 and emerging technologies specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain. He is a co-founder and director of the DLT Science Foundation and deputy director of the UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies. He is also an associate professor, programme director, and esteemed lecturer for several of University College London (UCL)’s world-class programmes, including financial technology, emerging digital technologies, and others. He also represents UCL on the Hedera Governing Council. He has pioneered many new emerging digital technology education initiatives, including executive education, online education, accredited education, and education standards. He also has extensive industry experience in financial services, having launched a challenger bank in multiple countries, and previously working for large global investment banks.
Roundtable Room 3 (Level 3)
Decoding Digital Assets and Payments
This roundtable reflects Elevandi’s commitment to developing the infrastructure to support the adoption of new technologies.
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is revolutionising the financial sector, with the potential to streamline processes, enhance security, and democratise access to financial services. However, as DLT-based solutions transition from traditional models towards algorithmic governance, a critical juncture has emerged.
Operating under the theme of Decoding Digital Assets and Payments, this roundtable brings together policymakers, academics, and financial experts to navigate the legal and regulatory complexities arising from the transition towards AI and algorithmic governance in DLT-based finance.
This discussion will delve into the specific challenges and opportunities that arise with this shift, including issues of sustainability, transparency, accountability, and potential biases within the algorithms themselves. By exploring these key areas and considering the potential integration with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and eventually Internet of Things (IoT), the roundtable seeks to contribute to the creation of a sustainable, robust and secure future for this transformative technology. For example, a DLT-based micro-loan platform could leverage on AI algorithms to automate document verification, creditworthiness assessment and loan approvals, potentially reducing processing times, fraud risks and increasing financial inclusion. However, ensuring that these algorithms are unbiased is crucial to prevent discrimination against certain borrowers.
Attendees who wish to familiarise themselves with the topic may refer to the reference materials here.