Today, we’re thrilled to announce 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton as the keynote speaker for Swell – where the world’s leaders in policy, payments and technology connect.

At a time when groundbreaking technology and regulation were often on a collision course, President Clinton helped usher in a period of extreme growth and adoption of the Internet, shaping what it is today. He also established programs that bridged the “digital divide” and brought new technology to underserved communities around the world.

These learnings are perhaps more relevant now than ever before. Like the Internet boom of the 90’s, we are at an impasse: digital assets and blockchain technology offer a way for value to be exchanged as quickly as information – creating more financial inclusion and economic opportunity. However, with this new technology comes potential for concern, requiring thoughtful policy to protect consumers from risk without hampering innovation.

Gene Sperling, National Economic Council Director and Advisor under Presidents Clinton and Obama, will moderate a Q&A with President Clinton during the keynote address.

This year’s Swell program will also feature:

Financial services companies using blockchain technology in production

New market opportunity in remittances, e-commerce and corporate marketplaces

Frameworks for regulating digital assets across Europe, Asia and the Middle East

The Swell 2018 conference is located in our hometown of San Francisco, California from Monday, October 1 to Tuesday, October 2. For more information, we encourage you to visit the Swell website and stay tuned over the coming weeks for updates on this dynamic line-up.