Speakers

Michael Saylor is the Executive Chairman of Strategy (MSTR), a publicly traded business intelligence firm & holder of ₿499,096 that he founded in 1989. He is also the founder of Alarm.com (ALRM), named inventor on 48+ patents, & author of the book “The Mobile Wave”. He founded the Saylor Academy (saylor.org), a non-profit that has provided free education to over 2 million students. He is an advocate for the Bitcoin Standard (hope.com) with dual degrees from MIT in Aerospace Engineering & History of Science. He posts his views on X @saylor and his website Michael.com. His 4 hour interview with Lex Fridman summarizes his thoughts on Bitcoin, Inflation, and the Future of Money with ~11 million views on YouTube.

Founder of Binance

H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti is the Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government and leads the UAE Cyber Security Council. He oversees the national cybersecurity strategy, resilience programs, and major initiatives that positioned the UAE among the top-ranked countries in the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024. He also serves as Managing Director of the National Data Center and plays key international roles, including Co-Chair of the Counter Ransomware Initiative and Vice Chair of OIC-CERT. Dr. Al Kuwaiti has over 20 years of experience in national security and has spoken at more than 50 global events. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering and Network Security from George Washington University.

Paul Manafort is a seasoned political strategist and consultant with decades of experience in navigating complex geopolitical landscapes. As a former chairman of a major U.S. presidential campaign, he has a deep understanding of the intersection between politics, economics, and emerging technologies. In recent years, Paul has taken a keen interest in the potential of Bitcoin and blockchain technology to transform the global financial system. He brings a unique perspective on the role of cryptocurrency in fostering financial independence and decentralization. Paul’s insights offer a valuable blend of traditional financial expertise and a forward-looking view on the disruptive power of digital assets, making him a compelling voice at the forefront of the Bitcoin revolution.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC and has driven its growth from a start-up of 28 member companies in 2003 to the world’s leading international business district in 2025 with over 25,000 member companies from 180 countries, employing over 80,000 people.

Tasked with enhancing commodity trade flows through Dubai, DMCC has introduced to the market a number of value-added products and services under Mr Bin Sulayem’s leadership. In 2023, DMCC was named ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record ninth consecutive year.

Mr Bin Sulayem oversaw the exponential growth of the DMCC Free Zone master development in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), a 200-hectare business and residential community in Dubai of over 100,000 people living and working in 87 towers. Mr Bin Sulayem also oversees the development of DMCC’s latest real estate project, the Uptown Dubai district.

Mr Bin Sulayem currently serves as the Chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) and the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX).

The Kimberley Process officially appointed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the first and only Arab country to Chair the Kimberley Process (KP) in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy officially appointed Mr Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the KP for 2016. Mr Bin Sulayem was reappointed Chair of the KP for a historic second time in 2024 and has continued his leadership role with the position of Custodian Chair of the KP in 2025.

CV – DMCC
• 2001 – Joined DMCC
• 2002 – Appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO)
• 2007 – Appointed Executive Chairman
• 2019 – Appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

As the co-founder and chief executive officer of BTC Inc., David Bailey is an industry leader and evangelist for the decentralized future. Since 2013, BTC Inc has grown to offer critical intelligence, brand-building expertise and technical incubation specialized for the Bitcoin ecosystem, as well as industry-leading projects like Bitcoin Magazine, the Bitcoin 2022 conference, and Carrot. The company now operates in multiple countries and its brands are quickly becoming household names. Bailey sits on the board of advisors for the University of Alabama. He was managing partner at 402 Digital Partners, which is one of the earliest Bitcoin funds. He is currently general partner of UTXO Management; and is an active angel investor in the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Abdulla Al Dhaheri is the CEO of The Blockchain Center Abu Dhabi, leading the UAE’s flagship hub for digital asset innovation. He has played an instrumental role in bringing tier-1 global exchanges and market makers to Abu Dhabi, collaborating closely with regulators and sovereign stakeholders to build the UAE’s leadership in digital assets, AI, and tokenized finance. Abdulla previously advised multi-billion-dollar companies on public listings and digital asset adoption, and has been invited to speak at global conferences for his contributions to decentralized technologies. Today, he continues to invest strategically through The Blockchain Center Fund, scaling global digital asset ventures and sovereign-grade digital asset infrastructures from Abu Dhabi to the world.

Saifedean is an economist and the author of the best-selling book, The Bitcoin Standard. as well as The Fiat Standard, The Gold Standard, and Principles of Economics. He teaches economics on his online learning platform saifedean.com and hosts The Bitcoin Standard Podcast.

John Koudounis serves as the President and CEO of Calamos Investments, the third largest liquid alternatives asset manager in the US. Under his leadership, the firm’s AUM has surged to over $46 billion, nearly tripling since he took the helm in 2016. Notably, he has overseen the launch of innovative products, including the world's first suite of downside-protected Bitcoin ETFs.
With over 37 years of experience in the financial services sector, he previously held the position of President and CEO at Mizuho Securities in the Americas, where he significantly expanded the firm's capital markets teams and enhanced profitability, client base, and product diversity, elevating Mizuho to a top-tier global investment bank.
In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Koudounis is recognized for his thought leadership, frequently speaking at global conferences and platforms such as CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg TV. Koudounis is committed to philanthropy and is involved with several organizations including the Concordia Leadership Council, the SEAL Future Foundation, The Hellenic Initiative, and the Ecumenical Bartholomew Foundation.
He holds a degree in International Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs and Economics from Brown University.

Dr. Marwan Al Zarouni is a global Bitcoin and blockchain advocate driving Dubai’s digital innovation agenda. As CEO of the Dubai Blockchain Center, he has led regional efforts in Bitcoin education, adoption, and policy development. Recognized among CoinTelegraph’s Top 100 Most Influential Figures in Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies (2022), he also served on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Cryptocurrencies. Through his leadership, Dr. Al Zarouni continues to position Dubai as a global hub for blockchain and Bitcoin innovation.

Bilal Bin Saqib is the CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council, a government-backed advisory body accelerating crypto regulation and driving innovation across Pakistan’s digital asset landscape. He also serves as Chief Advisor to the Finance Minister of Pakistan.

Named in Forbes 30 Under 30 and honored as a Member of the British Empire by King Charles III, Bilal is a force where conviction meets code. With ventures across Web2 and Web3, and a social media following of over 700,000, he’s part builder, part crypto diplomat — using Bitcoin not just as a technology, but as a tool for economic independence and, financial inclusion. Additionally, Bilal is also an advisor to the Trump-family backed DeFi project, World Liberty Financial.

Simon is the President of Metaplanet Inc., a publicly traded company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Metaplanet is undergoing a strategic transformation, leveraging Bitcoin as its principal treasury reserve asset. Metaplanet utilizes excess cash flow and implements accretive corporate governance, including financial management strategies such as debt and equity financing, to further its Bitcoin accumulation.

Simon has been an active investor in the digital asset ecosystem since 2014. He started his career at Goldman Sachs in Tokyo as an equity derivatives trader. He was a co-founder and Chairman of Red Planet Hotels, a regional hotel company focused on Asia’s value hotel sector. Prior to founding Red Planet Hotels, Simon served as the Chief Executive Officer of Evolution Capital Public Company Limited, a real estate asset management company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. As President of Metaplanet, Simon is responsible for spearheading the company's new Bitcoin investment strategy, guiding its overall direction, raising capital, and managing investor relations. He graduated from Harvard University with an AB in Applied Mathematics. Simon is an active member of YPO, the premier global organization of chief executives.