Financial Services Technology Panel – The Digital Pound in the Universe of Digital Money

27th March 2025 from 5:30pm — 8:00pm • Information Technologists' Hall

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Join us on March 27th, 2025, for an insightful discussion with the Financial Services Technology Panel as we explore the dynamic world of digital money.

There has been much speculation and commentary on the possibility of the Bank of England issuing a Digital Pound (i.e., a central bank digital currency). This event will discuss what exactly a digital pound is, how it might be implemented, the impact it may have on the UK’s Banks, and what they are doing about it. We will also take a global perspective in terms of countries that have already implemented central bank digital currency, and the rapidly changing world of privately issued digital money, i.e., stablecoins.

Guest Speaker:

Keith Bear, Fellow, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge

Keith is a Fellow at the Centre for Alternative Finance, focused on research and industry collaboration in Digital Assets, AI and Fintech innovation. He chairs the Cambridge Digital Asset Research programme and teaches on CCAF’s Digital Assets course for Regulators.

Previously, Keith was responsible globally for the strategy, development and execution of IBM’s business in Financial Markets, working extensively with global clients.

Keith serves on the Advisory Board of 5 Fintechs, as an Independent Board Member at DFNS (a Web3 wallet as a Service provider), on the Advisory Board of Global Digital Finance, as a lead mentor at the Techstars/ABN accelerator, and on the Board Risk Committee at the London Metal Exchange.

He is also a member of WEF’s Expert Council, ESMA’s Investor Trends Consultative Working Group and the Bank of England’s CBDC Technology Forum. He also advises the Mission OG VC Fund and is a Freeman at the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists.