DeFi Retreat
North America
by the Financial Club
February 3-4, 2025
Golden Gate Club, San Francisco
DeFi Retreat is a curated, intimate Digital Assets gathering designed to facilitate meaningful, high-value connections and business opportunities among tech providers, financial institutions, and government entities

About DeFi Retreat
DeFi Retreat redefines the essence of intimate gatherings, curating an exquisite experience for a limited audience of only 150 participants.
Top Regulators and Executives, including Managing Directors, VPs, CxOs from fintechs, venture capitalists, representatives from financial organizations, and legal luminaries spanning APAC, US, and Europe, are actively delving into business opportunities, establishing strategic partnerships, and dissecting solutions to the most complex Technology and Regulatory Challenges.
During the retreat, participants are immersed in off-the-record panel discussions offering a rare glimpse into the unfiltered opinions and perspectives of the industry leaders.
This is not just another conference, it's an all-encompassing experience where the boundaries between the stage and the audience blur, creating an environment where relationships flourish. Participants gain exclusive access to heads of Regulatory Agencies and Private Sector leaders over breakfast, engage in meaningful discussions during lunch, and foster connections at the evening reception.
The DeFi Retreat gatherings rethink the traditional conference setting. You will exit the confines of large conference halls and impersonal hotel rooms, and enter secluded, informal locations that offer an ambiance that encourages genuine connections to thrive.
DeFi Retreat is organized by the Financial Club. Learn more about The Financial Club here..
Alex Pelin
Founder, The Financial Club
Top Regulators and Executives, including Managing Directors, VPs, CxOs from fintechs, venture capitalists, representatives from financial organizations, and legal luminaries spanning APAC, US, and Europe, are actively delving into business opportunities, establishing strategic partnerships, and dissecting solutions to the most complex Technology and Regulatory Challenges.
During the retreat, participants are immersed in off-the-record panel discussions offering a rare glimpse into the unfiltered opinions and perspectives of the industry leaders.
This is not just another conference, it's an all-encompassing experience where the boundaries between the stage and the audience blur, creating an environment where relationships flourish. Participants gain exclusive access to heads of Regulatory Agencies and Private Sector leaders over breakfast, engage in meaningful discussions during lunch, and foster connections at the evening reception.
The DeFi Retreat gatherings rethink the traditional conference setting. You will exit the confines of large conference halls and impersonal hotel rooms, and enter secluded, informal locations that offer an ambiance that encourages genuine connections to thrive.
DeFi Retreat is organized by the Financial Club. Learn more about The Financial Club here..
Alex Pelin
Founder, The Financial Club

Unique format

Quality over Quantity
Up to 300 participants:
- Founders: Seed to Series A+
- Fintechs: Series B+ (Roles: VPs to CxOs)
- VC Firms: (Roles: Partners)
- Banks: (Roles: MDs to VPs and CxOs)
- Legal Professionals: (Roles: Partners)
- Non-Bank Financial Institutions (FIs): (Roles: MDs, VPs and CxOs)
- Government Agencies: Policy Makers, Regulators, Law Enforcement

Curated Experience
- Interactive Content: Engaging panels and fireside chats, followed by in-depth breakout sessions
- Premier and General Admission Areas: Maximizing impactful interactions with potential clients and partners
- Curated Networking: Curated networking sessions over lunch, evening drinks, and appetizers in an intimate, in-person setting
- Curated Dinners: leading industry organizations will be hosting curated dinners, all part of the Fintech Retreat program

Why Join
- Intimate Networking Opportunities: Connect with regulators, digital assets andfinancial services leaders, along with VCs
- Business and Investment Opportunities: Meet key decision-makers and potential clients
- Brand Positioning: Establish your brand as a responsible innovator in fintech
- Impactful Conversations: Participate in discussions with actionable outcomes to drive the industry forward
2025 Retreat Host
Kristen Hecht
Kristen has 20 years of public and private sector experience.
She has served in a number of executive roles in the digital asset space to develop compliance programs and lead regulatory engagements. During her career, she was the CCO at Meta’s Novi digital asset wallet for the Diem blockchain and Paxos’s Global Head of Compliance Programs. Most recently, she served as the Deputy CCO at Binance in support of the U.S. resolution. Earlier in her career, she worked at HSBC in Asia, including as the Head of Financial Crime Compliance for HSBC in China. Kristen began her career in the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, working closely with FinCEN and OFAC.
Currently, Kristen is the Chief Compliance Officer of a digital asset company in stealth mode.
She has served in a number of executive roles in the digital asset space to develop compliance programs and lead regulatory engagements. During her career, she was the CCO at Meta’s Novi digital asset wallet for the Diem blockchain and Paxos’s Global Head of Compliance Programs. Most recently, she served as the Deputy CCO at Binance in support of the U.S. resolution. Earlier in her career, she worked at HSBC in Asia, including as the Head of Financial Crime Compliance for HSBC in China. Kristen began her career in the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, working closely with FinCEN and OFAC.
Currently, Kristen is the Chief Compliance Officer of a digital asset company in stealth mode.
2025 Speakers
DeFi Retreat 25 ended. See you next year!
Location
Join 300 investors, founders, regulators and finance professionals at the Golden Gate Club in the Presidio forest in San Francisco.
Built in 1949, it features views of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.
Built in 1949, it features views of the San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.



Attending Organizations
Government Agencies (or similar):
Federal Reserve
California DFPI
London & Partners(UK)
Financial Services Agency, Government of Japan
Private Sector:
The Financial Club
Binance
Winston & Strawn
Paxos
Aleo Network Foundation
Borderless.xyz
AlphaPoint
Solana
Stripe
Algorand Foundation
Portal
Meld
Bates Group
Bitwave
Sullivan & Cromwell
Federal Reserve
California DFPI
London & Partners(UK)
Financial Services Agency, Government of Japan
Private Sector:
The Financial Club
Binance
Winston & Strawn
Paxos
Aleo Network Foundation
Borderless.xyz
AlphaPoint
Solana
Stripe
Algorand Foundation
Portal
Meld
Bates Group
Bitwave
Sullivan & Cromwell
Visa
Stifel Bank
Tools for Humanity
Circle
Wired
Silicon Valley Bank
Select
BPM
Zero Hash
Merkle Science
Stellar Development Foundation
CipherOwl
Morrison & Foerster
Dfns
Project Liberty
Rimark
NYDIG
Allium
Ankura
Superstate
Mastercard
MetaMask
Stifel Bank
Tools for Humanity
Circle
Wired
Silicon Valley Bank
Select
BPM
Zero Hash
Merkle Science
Stellar Development Foundation
CipherOwl
Morrison & Foerster
Dfns
Project Liberty
Rimark
NYDIG
Allium
Ankura
Superstate
Mastercard
MetaMask
Keep Financial
UDHC
Tassat
Canaria Consulting
Mesh
Arca
Rezoomex
0x Labs
CAT Labs
Evita
Lemma
1Money
Blockchain Capital
BVNK
Coinbase
Mangusta Capita
Cooley LLP
SteelWave Digital
BakerHostetler
Signal
Demox Labs
Zoniqx Inc
UDHC
Tassat
Canaria Consulting
Mesh
Arca
Rezoomex
0x Labs
CAT Labs
Evita
Lemma
1Money
Blockchain Capital
BVNK
Coinbase
Mangusta Capita
Cooley LLP
SteelWave Digital
BakerHostetler
Signal
Demox Labs
Zoniqx Inc
DeFi Retreat Agenda
February 3, 2025
Official DeFi Retreat Reception
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Exclusive Book Signing: Tracers in the Dark

with Tigran Gambaryan
Head of Financial Crime Compliance, Binance

and Andy Greenberg
Senior Writer, Wired
February 4, 2025
09:00am - 10:00am
Breakfast*
*Reserved for:
Financial Club Premier Members
Speakers
Special Guests
10:00am - 11:00am
General Admission Registration: Refreshments and snacks
11:00am - 11:40am
Panel Discussion: DeFi Trends
Moderator

Adam J. Berg
CFO & CAO, Zero Hash
Panelist

Marc Vanlerberghe
CMO, Algorand Foundation
Panelist

Sheila Warren
CEO, Project Liberty Institute
Panelist

Candace Kelly
Chief Legal & Policy Officer, Stellar Development Foundation
11:40am - 12:20pm
Panel Discussion: Stablecoins
Moderator

Bam Azizi
CEO and Co-Founder, Mesh
Panelist

Kristen Hecht
Chief Compliance Office, Stealth (FMR US Treasury, HSBC, Meta, Binance)
Panelist

Nick Robnett
Head of Asset Growth, Paxos
Panelist

Lindsey Einhaus
Head of Strategy and Operations, Crypto, Stripe
12:20pm - 1:00pm
Main Stage Fireside Chat
(Fintech Retreat and DeFi Retreat access)
Moderator

Andy Greenberg
Senior Writer, Wired
Guest

Tigran Gambaryan
Head of Financial Crime Compliance, Binance
1:00pm - 02:00pm
Lunch. Curated Networking
02:00pm - 03:00pm
Interactive Session: Digital Identity
Moderator

Joshua Rivera
Operating Partner and General Counsel, Blockchain Capital
Panelist

Adrian Ludwig
Chief Architect, Tools for Humanity
Panelist

Paul Hemesath
Senior Counsel - Security, Coinbase
Panelist

Koh
CEO & Executive Director, Aleo Network Foundation
03:00pm - 04:00pm
Interactive Session: Real World Asset Tokenization

Tyler Sherwin
VP of Sales, BVNK

Glendy Kam
Chief Product Officer, Tassat

Jerald David
President, Arca

Patrick Hillman
Chief Strategy Officer, AI Stealth