Blockstream Institute has assembled world-class educators, industry leaders, and cutting-edge technologists to provide deep insights into Bitcoin and its surrounding innovations.
Co-founder and CEO of Blockstream, Dr. Adam Back, invented Hashcash, the proof-of-work algorithm cited by Satoshi Nakamoto in the Bitcoin whitepaper, as the future basis for its mining function. Throughout his two-decade-long vocation as an applied cryptographer and security architect, he has held senior roles with a number of technology companies, including Microsoft, EMC, PI, VMware, and Zero-Knowledge Systems, as well as advised many more companies on cryptography and peer-to-peer finance. Dr. Adam Back holds a computer science Ph.D. in distributed systems from the University of Exeter.
Co-founder and CEO of Blockstream, Dr. Adam Back, invented Hashcash, the proof-of-work algorithm cited by Satoshi Nakamoto in the Bitcoin whitepaper, as the future basis for its mining function. Throughout his two-decade-long vocation as an applied cryptographer and security architect, he has held senior roles with a number of technology companies, including Microsoft, EMC, PI, VMware, and Zero-Knowledge Systems, as well as advised many more companies on cryptography and peer-to-peer finance. Dr. Adam Back holds a computer science Ph.D. in distributed systems from the University of Exeter.
Oleg is an angel investor since 2008 and hands-on entrepreneur with a successful exit and a profitable growing business in the background. His focus is product management and business development for early-stage markets and emerging technologies. He also holds an MBA in Strategic management and has spent 15 years bringing new products to the market and managing fast-growing business.
Oleg is an angel investor since 2008 and hands-on entrepreneur with a successful exit and a profitable growing business in the background. His focus is product management and business development for early-stage markets and emerging technologies. He also holds an MBA in Strategic management and has spent 15 years bringing new products to the market and managing fast-growing business.
PeterPaul has 30+ years of global financial and investment management experience in strategic and executive management roles. 2018-2019: Fidante Partners, Europe & North America CEO, was responsible for investments in seven alternative investment boutiques. 2016-2018: Floreat Group, Partner & Strategic Advisor and investment team origination, incubation & product distribution. 2012-2016: BNY Mellon Investment Management, CEO EMEA & Global Head of Distribution – also Co-Chairman for BNY Mellon Bank, Middle East & Africa. 2008-2012: Arcapita, Partner – developed and led institutional business and SWF relationships. 1997-2008: Senior institutional distribution leadership roles at Lehman Brothers Investment Management, PIMCO and Barclays Global Investors (now BlackRock).
PeterPaul has 30+ years of global financial and investment management experience in strategic and executive management roles. 2018-2019: Fidante Partners, Europe & North America CEO, was responsible for investments in seven alternative investment boutiques. 2016-2018: Floreat Group, Partner & Strategic Advisor and investment team origination, incubation & product distribution. 2012-2016: BNY Mellon Investment Management, CEO EMEA & Global Head of Distribution – also Co-Chairman for BNY Mellon Bank, Middle East & Africa. 2008-2012: Arcapita, Partner – developed and led institutional business and SWF relationships. 1997-2008: Senior institutional distribution leadership roles at Lehman Brothers Investment Management, PIMCO and Barclays Global Investors (now BlackRock).
John Herlihy is a partner at Blockstream Capital Partners and the Co-Founder of the Blockstream Institute. John, has held senior roles in Investment Management and Investment Servicing at both BNY and State Street. At BNY Mellon Investment Management he was a member of the Executive Committee and held roles as: Global Head of Institutional Distribution, Chief Operating Officer of Distribution, & Global Head of Broker Dealer Relations. More recently John was a senior member of State Street’s Operating Group forming strategic relationships with the global investment banks, investment managers, and insurers to provide solutions for their investment and operational needs. John has a degree in economics from St. Lawrence University and is a Senior Fellow of the University of Massachusetts Emerging Leaders Program.
John Herlihy is a partner at Blockstream Capital Partners and the Co-Founder of the Blockstream Institute. John, has held senior roles in Investment Management and Investment Servicing at both BNY and State Street. At BNY Mellon Investment Management he was a member of the Executive Committee and held roles as: Global Head of Institutional Distribution, Chief Operating Officer of Distribution, & Global Head of Broker Dealer Relations. More recently John was a senior member of State Street’s Operating Group forming strategic relationships with the global investment banks, investment managers, and insurers to provide solutions for their investment and operational needs. John has a degree in economics from St. Lawrence University and is a Senior Fellow of the University of Massachusetts Emerging Leaders Program.
R. Scott Bushley is a partner at Blockstream Capital Partners and Co-Founder Blockstream Institute. Scott has held senior roles in Investment Management including Head of Business Operations at BNY Mellon Investment Management and Chief Operating Officer of the Global Institutional and North America Intermediary Distribution Channels also at BNY Mellon. Most recently, Scott was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Granite Point Capital Management, a Boston-based hedge fund firm. Scott has an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, and an MBA from Boston College.
R. Scott Bushley is a partner at Blockstream Capital Partners and Co-Founder Blockstream Institute. Scott has held senior roles in Investment Management including Head of Business Operations at BNY Mellon Investment Management and Chief Operating Officer of the Global Institutional and North America Intermediary Distribution Channels also at BNY Mellon. Most recently, Scott was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Granite Point Capital Management, a Boston-based hedge fund firm. Scott has an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, and an MBA from Boston College.
Keith Black is the Managing Director of Education for RIA Channel, where he builds online content on traditional and alternative investments for asset managers and investment advisors. He previously served as the Managing Director of Curriculum and Exams for the CAIA Association. At Ennis Knupp + Associates, Keith advised foundations, endowments, and pension funds on asset allocation and manager selection strategies in hedge funds, commodities, and managed futures. Prior experience includes commodities derivatives trading, stock options research, Cboe floor trading, and building quantitative stock selection models for mutual funds and hedge funds.
Keith Black is the Managing Director of Education for RIA Channel, where he builds online content on traditional and alternative investments for asset managers and investment advisors. He previously served as the Managing Director of Curriculum and Exams for the CAIA Association. At Ennis Knupp + Associates, Keith advised foundations, endowments, and pension funds on asset allocation and manager selection strategies in hedge funds, commodities, and managed futures. Prior experience includes commodities derivatives trading, stock options research, Cboe floor trading, and building quantitative stock selection models for mutual funds and hedge funds.
In his role at Komainu, Darren Jordan drives the implementation of the sales strategy and Komainu’s commercial objectives. Prior to joining in 2022, he spent 25 years working in traditional finance roles at HSBC, ABN Amro, and several hedge fund managers including F&C Asset management. Darren brings significant experience in the blockchain space, including leading the EMEA team at digital asset custodian BitGo.
In his role at Komainu, Darren Jordan drives the implementation of the sales strategy and Komainu’s commercial objectives. Prior to joining in 2022, he spent 25 years working in traditional finance roles at HSBC, ABN Amro, and several hedge fund managers including F&C Asset management. Darren brings significant experience in the blockchain space, including leading the EMEA team at digital asset custodian BitGo.
Alexander Ahari began his career in 1999 in the middle office of Old Mutual Asset Management, working on fund valuations. In 2001, he moved to Attica Asset Management as an Assistant Fund Manager, working on multistrat fund of hedge fund products. In 2003, Alex joined the FoHF Eddington Capital, being promoted to fund manager in 2007 running two products totalling $200m of peak AUM. He then went independent in 2010, advising a range of FoHF managers on manager research, ODD and portfolio construction. In 2014, he joined the institutional pension consultancy Redington as head of private debt and operational due diligence, advising some of the UK’s largest occupational pension schemes on their inaugural allocations to direct lending and specialty finance funds. Alex created Resilient Partners in 2017 to advise institutions on operational risks, focusing on digital assets from 2019. He has two children and spends most of his spare time driving them to sports clubs, picking up Lego and reading books on politics, science and philosophy.
Alexander Ahari began his career in 1999 in the middle office of Old Mutual Asset Management, working on fund valuations. In 2001, he moved to Attica Asset Management as an Assistant Fund Manager, working on multistrat fund of hedge fund products. In 2003, Alex joined the FoHF Eddington Capital, being promoted to fund manager in 2007 running two products totalling $200m of peak AUM. He then went independent in 2010, advising a range of FoHF managers on manager research, ODD and portfolio construction. In 2014, he joined the institutional pension consultancy Redington as head of private debt and operational due diligence, advising some of the UK’s largest occupational pension schemes on their inaugural allocations to direct lending and specialty finance funds. Alex created Resilient Partners in 2017 to advise institutions on operational risks, focusing on digital assets from 2019. He has two children and spends most of his spare time driving them to sports clubs, picking up Lego and reading books on politics, science and philosophy.