After the Bell: February 13, 2020- Is now changed to June 24, 2020.

A conversation with Stacey Mankoff in preparation or our After the Bell event

On Friday, February 7, 2020, I spoke with Stacey Mankoff from The Mankoff Company. As Stacey is a friend of Athena and we have hosted her After the Bell series two times prior, with our third in just under a week, February 13. I was curious what motivated Ms. Mankoff to create this road show series of thought leaders. More than a meet up, but less encompassing than a conference, how does she see this series fitting into the networking schema? Below is a short summary of our discussion, or you can watch or listen by following the links below.

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After the Bell Education & High Touch Networking

After 11 years of traveling throughout the US, UK, & Canada, how has After the Bell evolved? Ms. Mankoff animatedly describes herself as someone with,

“An innate curiosity for all things Fintech”

Creatively branded, After the Bell, is the phrase known after the market closes for the day. Her series is akin to a road show that explores the many facets of trading from ticket trading to algorithmic and high frequency trading, including bitcoin and Blockchain.

Given her experience, I was curious what sector she feels will be the first mover in the industry. Aside from the financial industry of payments, Ms. Mankoff sees incredible potential in the supply chain space. I fully agree especially with the NIST, the Trade Lens Report and initiatives from companies such as Walmart. [1][2][3][4]

Regulations & Education

As we spoke further, Ms. Mankoff shared many stories. I was quite surprised to learn that the creator of the BitLicense, the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYSDFS) was inspired by one of the panels that Ms. Mankoff hosted. [5][6]Now that is quite an impact!

As she further explains, the banks are both the most heavily regulated and the most scared, it is necessary for them to understand this emerging technology in order to harness the promise it purports. To further illustrate this, a diagram of all of the financial regulations is found below.

It is Always Perplexing When Technology Has Exceeded the Regulation

At times, it seems that regardless of the amazing innovations that digital assets promise, the image per se, is just as volatile as the prices thereof.

Ms. Mankoff mentions that part of her motivation came from the need for regulators to understand the technology, just like the many iterations of trading. What is the single best cure for those misunderstandings? Education, of course! However, bitcoin was such a nascent and controversial technology that she chose to begin with Blockchain to educate thereon in hopes of fueling adoption.

Ms. Mankoff highlights that adoption will occur when blockchain user interfaces are as seamless as our mobile banking applications. Further noting,

“That is the key, if its invisible and its easy, it will be adopted.”

Surely one topic of Chicago’s After the Bell will be the new ‘Safe Harbor’ proposed by Commissioner Hester Peirce. [8]

Where Does Privacy Fit v. Convenience?

We then foray into my favorite topic, PRIVACY! Ms. Mankoff has pragmatic views, and cites,

“It is very hard right now to really retain your privacy.”

With the recent rise in hacking and cyber exploits, and the aggregation of data that is cited as ‘anonymous,’ but is anything but, where does that leave us? From Martech to Adtech, and Siri always listening, to the mechanisms necessary to prove identity while traveling e.g., Global Entry/Clear , the line is frustratingly difficult to navigate and advocate cogently. Perhaps this will be a topic for a future After the Bell. [9] In closing, Ms. Mankoff notes that all of her topics are community driven. Therefore, if you have a potential topic, please do not hesitate to contact her:

Email: info@themankoffcompany.com Follow MankoffCompany on Twitter

After the Bell: Chicago

Chiberia [10]

July [11]

Resources Consulted:

[1]https://www.tradelens.com/post/tradelens-ready-to-transform-your-supply-chain;

[2] https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2018/NIST.IR.8202.pdf;

[3] https://mlaus.org/wp-content/uploads/bp-attachments/7225/May-3-MLA-Blockchain-Presentation.pdf

[4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV0KXBxSoio

[5]https://www.dfs.ny.gov/apps_and_licensing/virtual_currency_businesses/bitlicense_faqs

[6]https://ciphertrace.com/new-york-bitlicense/

[7]https://www.sec.gov/news/speech/2015/financial-services-holding-companies-rules-2.pdf;

[8]https://twitter.com/propelforward/status/1225781246795624449?s=12; see also https://twitter.com/lulaeducate/status/1225979841222238208?s=12

[9]https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/19/opinion/location-tracking-cell-phone.html; see also https://twitter.com/lulaeducate/status/1225561839200849921?s=12

[10]https://twitter.com/Athena_Trade/status/1151271495311745027

[11] https://twitter.com/Athena_Trade/status/1151271495311745027