The Case of Crypto

Dimitris Drakopoulos is a senior financial sector expert for the Global Markets Analysis Division in the Monetary and Capital Markets Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He contributes to the Global Financial Stability Report on issues relating to emerging markets, fixed income markets, and crypto assets, and he is a member of the IMF’s market surveillance team. Prior to joining the IMF, Mr. Drakopoulos worked at global financial services group Nomura in London as head of EMEA EM Research and senior Eurozone economist. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Birkbeck, University of London, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Social Policy from the London School of Economics. Mr. Drakopoulos began his career working at the interest rate derivatives desk for Lehman Brothers.

Gabriel Söderberg is a financial sector expert in the Monetary and Capital Markets Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), focused on the development and possible future use cases of central bank digital currency (CBDC). With a background at the Sveriges Riksbank, Sweden’s central bank, Professor Söderberg has researched and published extensively on the Swedish CBDC project, the e-krona, fintech, crypto assets, and broader issues within the payments sector, banking regulation, and financial stability. He also is an Associate Professor of Economic History at his alma mater, Uppsala University, Sweden.

Lourdes Casanova is the Gail and Roberto Cañizares Director of the Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets and a Senior Lecturer at Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management. Formerly of the strategy department at INSEAD, Dr. Casanova specializes in international business with a focus on Latin America and multinationals from emerging markets.

In 2014 and 2015, Dr. Casanova was named one of the 50 most influential Iberoamerican intellectuals by Esglobal. She is a member of the board of directors of Boyce Thompson Institute.

Dr. Casanova is a Fulbright Scholar who holds a Ph.D. from Universidad de Barcelona and an M.A. from the University of Southern California.

Mihika Badjate is a senior studying Economics in the Cornell College of Arts & Sciences. At the Emerging Markets Institute, she is involved in both research and marketing. Beyond emerging markets, Ms. Badjate’s interests include reading, hiking, and traveling.

Parma Bains is a finance sector specialist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He specializes in the regulation of fintech, a term used to describe the innovative technologies and startups redefining the financial services industry in the 21st century and beyond. Mr. Bains provides global technical assistance and contributes to policy development. He is the author of “Fintech Notes on BigTech” and “Blockchain Consensus Mechanisms.” Prior to joining the IMF, Mr. Bains helped launch the world’s first dedicated fintech regulatory unit at the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); there, he was a member of the UK Crypto Asset Taskforce and authored the FCA’s “Guidance on Crypto Assets.” Before his role with FCA, Mr. Bains worked for Deutsche Bank and the U.S. Department of Justice in New York. He holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Financial Regulation from Aston Business School (UK).

Ravin Nanda is a senior studying Economics in the College of Arts & Sciences. Mr. Nanda is interested in pursuing a career in financial services and will be joining Lazard’s TMT group as an analyst following graduation. At Cornell, he is involved in Cornell’s Investment Banking Club, the Johnson Museum Club, and the Emerging Markets Society. Mr. Nanda is originally from the greater Boston area and enjoys learning about art, playing golf and squash, and cooking.