Steven McWhirter is the Global Policy Lead at Binance, bringing over 25 years of extensive experience in regulation, policy, strategy, supervision and structural reform. Before joining Binance, Steven spent almost a decade at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). During his tenure at the FCA, Steven was a policy subject matter expert, contributing to UK and international policy development via the ESMA, EBA, EIOPA, BIS, FSB and IOSCO. His policy work included fintech, bigtech, professionalism, management body corporate governance and suitability, systems and controls, operational risk, internal governance, operational resilience, cloud outsourcing, cyber, digital markets and related technology policy.
Steven has previously advised on the creation of the UK Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision (OPBAS) and the creation of the UK Banking Standards Board. He was also a member of the policy team responsible for implementing the UK’s Senior Manager and Certification Regime (SMCR), as well as the FCA’s lead on managing the UK Privy Council, UK Royal Chartered professions and the Secretariat of the Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN), a network of over 80 financial regulators and observers globally.
Workshop Room, Level 1
Open
AI is driving progress across all sectors, including blockchain-powered financial services—accelerating efficiency and unlocking analytical capabilities that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. The same capabilities transforming financial services are equally critical in managing the risks that come with them—from financial crime and illicit flows to smart contract vulnerabilities, operational and custody failures, and emerging threats to market integrity.
In this interactive workshop, leaders from financial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and global regulation come together to share what AI-powered risk management looks like on the ground today—the wins, the lessons, and the open questions. Rather than debating frameworks, this session will allow for honest exchange: what's being built, how it's landing, and what the path to responsible, explainable AI adoption might need from policymakers tomorrow.
This session aims to define the urgent, concrete steps needed to make AI-powered risk management a foundation — not an afterthought — of the digital economy.
Boardroom, Level 00, Ground Floor
Invite-Only
MiCA has established a harmonised framework for crypto-assets across the European Union, but the focus of policy discussion is now shifting from rulemaking to supervisory implementation. As digital asset markets become increasingly cross-border and interconnected, important questions are emerging around supervisory coordination, market oversight and the interaction between regional frameworks and global market activity.
If you would like to be part of the discussion, please register your interest here, subject to approval.