Board Member
GBBC Digital Finance
He is a Board Member of the GBBC Digital Finance policy initiative and leads its regulatory engagement globally, including the GDF Regulator Forum, a quarterly regulator-only roundtable.
He teaches law, policy and regulation of blockchain and cryptoassets at the University of Nicosia’s Institute for the Future (IFF). As Lecturer in Global Affairs at Yale, he taught blockchain, cryptoassets and public policy in the Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs.
Jeff Bandman leads Bandman Advisors, an advisory practice helping clients ranging from governments to global firms to start-ups meet strategic innovation and regulatory challenges. He regularly advises clients on matters relating to FinTech, RegTech, derivatives, cryptoassets, blockchain, NFTs, Web3 and metaverse initiatives, financial markets and the US and international regulatory framework. He conducts advanced training seminars for regulators on digital assets and maintains a strong network of relationships with regulators in the U.S., Europe and around the world.
He is a member of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) Consultative Working Group of experts for ESMA’s Financial Innovation Standing Committee. He is also a designated Expert to the Expert Panel of the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum established by the European Parliament and European Commission.
He is the designated international legal expert advising the government of the Republic of Cyprus on new DLT legislation, which was submitted for public consultation in September 2021. He has performed a national risk assessment for the Cyprus AML Advisory Authority, an interdepartmental government body, under new international FATF requirements and methodologies with respect to money laundering risks for virtual assets and virtual asset service providers. Bandman Advisors was commended by the Cyprus Advisory Authority for “their excellent collaboration, insight and meticulous work.” He also advised the Cyprus Securities Commission on a new AML Directive for cryptoassets and on the application for registered virtual asset service providers.
Jeff is also COO and Chief Legal Officer of the 6529 group of companies and 6529 Capital. The 6529 mission is to accelerate the development of an open metaverse in Web3. 6529 earlier this year launched the alpha version of the OM Open Metaverse initiative commencing with the 6529 Museum District. 6529 Capital manages the 6529 NFT Fund, which invests primarily in collectible NFTs.
Jeff Bandman is also an IFF Fellow at University of Nicosia (UNIC)’s Institute for the Future, which is training the current and next generation – undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals in and out of government – in digital currencies. His focus there includes his flagship course on law, policy and regulation of blockchain and cryptoassets, which was adapted from a seminar he taught on blockchain and global affairs at Yale Jackson Institute of Global Affairs. He also co-designed and co-led a new UNIC IFF course launched in 2021 on AML/CFT and cryptoassets for law enforcement and financial intelligent unit professionals. He will also co- lead training starting in September 2022 for European law enforcement and financial intelligence units in financial investigations in virtual currencies under designation from CEPOL (European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training).
He leads Regulatory Strategy for Kalshi, an innovative new U.S. exchange recently licensed by the CFTC and dedicated to establishing event contract derivatives as a new asset class.
Previously, Jeff was a senior official at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, serving under two chairmen. Jeff led the CFTC’s Division of Clearing and Risk, which oversees many of the world’s largest clearinghouses. He also led the CFTC’s Office of International Affairs.
He is a six-time Jeopardy! Champion and spent his winnings backpacking around Africa, Asia and Europe.