Zachary Kelman joins Cointelegraph as general counsel

Published at: June 24, 2021

Cointelegraph, the world's foremost source of news and information on the future of finance, is pleased to announce the addition of Zachary Kelman as general counsel. Kelman is an early adopter of cryptocurrency and is the managing partner of crypto-native law firm Kelman PLLC. He is a New York-licensed attorney specializing in political, legal and regulatory issues surrounding Bitcoin, digital currencies and blockchain technology.

Kelman is a thought leader with frequent contributions to Cointelegraph and a popular guest on leading podcasts, especially On the Brink with Castle Island with Nic Carter of Castle Island Ventures. He provides a critical international perspective on how monetary policy and the legacy financial system continue to deal with the rise of crypto assets, commenting on subjects ranging from how stablecoins threaten the correspondent banking system to how United States government initiatives like "Operation Choke Point" affect financial inclusion and the efforts of crypto-asset companies to run their businesses.

"The future of finance is being heavily disrupted by blockchain technology, and I am excited to join Cointelegraph, which is at the very center of that conversation,” said Kelman. “Cointelegraph’s leadership and journalistic credibility in the space has made it a required destination, having gained the trust and readership of institutions and retail investors alike."

"Cointelegraph is growing alongside the mass adoption of cryptocurrency to give our readers access to important news, information, data and community-driven thought leadership to empower them to make smart decisions and formulate sound financial strategies," said Cointelegraph CEO Jay Cassano. "As we grow at pace with the rapidly evolving applications of distributed ledger technology, we welcome Zachary’s expertise to navigate this ever-changing landscape."

About Zachary Kelman

Kelman began his legal career working in-house for major financial institutions such as Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley in areas including Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC) and similar critical legal areas essential to legacy financial infrastructure. His intimate knowledge of international transaction monitoring mechanisms uniquely positions him to advise emerging fintech and venture capital crypto companies.

Kelman came to prominence in 2014 when he drafted H.R. 5892, the Online Market Protection Act of 2014 — designed to exempt on-chain transactions from most U.S. regulations — which was submitted to Congress that year. He also serves as a member of the Florida Blockchain Business Association's Legislative Committee, having contributed to the development of two bills (H.B. 1351 and S.B. 1758) designed to position Florida as a leading destination for blockchain and cryptocurrency ventures.

He formerly acted as chief legal officer and director of Caribbean crypto exchange Bitt, where he worked with Caribbean governments to design early legislation promoting the adoption of crypto assets in the region. He acted similarly for Southeast Asian digital-asset firm Coins.ph, working with the central bank of the Philippines to design legislation in 2017.

About Cointelegraph

Founded in 2013, Cointelegraph is the leading independent digital media resource covering a wide range of news on blockchain technology, crypto assets and emerging fintech trends. Each day, our team delivers the most accurate, up-to-date news from both the decentralized and centralized worlds.

In 2021, Cointelegraph launched Markets Pro, a subscription-based, members-only dashboard tracking key data and trends in the ever-evolving decentralized landscape. Markets Pro keeps crypto traders ahead of the news cycle while predicting future market moves based on historical data via its proprietary VORTECS™ algorithm. Cointelegraph also launched CT Studio, which helps advertisers authentically reach a passionate audience of blockchain enthusiasts, traders and professionals.

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