The Shard

Defi-ying gravity: The European Central Bank will be at the Gillmore Centre's conference on DeFi and digital currencies at WBS London at The Shard

Warwick Business School’s Gillmore Centre for Financial Technology will bring together leading global scholars to explore the future of decentralised finance, digital currencies, and blockchain innovation at a conference at WBS London at The Shard. 

The Centre’s Academic Conference on DeFi & Digital Currencies will see professors from the likes of Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the University of Basel, and the University of Cambridge reveal their new research. 

Researchers from the European Central Bank (ECB), the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and Banque de France will also be presenting their latest findings, with the conference tackling today’s big issues in decentralised exchanges, DeFi lending, the regulation of digital currencies and CBDCs.  

“This conference is a reflection of the Gillmore Centre’s mission to shape the future of financial technology through rigorous research and global collaboration,” said Ram Gopal, Professor of Information Systems and Management and Director of the Gillmore Centre for Financial Technology.  

“We are proud to host this event at our base at The Shard, a symbol of innovation and ambition, and invite researchers to join us in exploring the transformative potential of DeFi and digital currencies.” 

Highlights from the agenda include: 

  • On Bubbles in Cryptocurrency Prices – Maarten van Oordt (VU University Amsterdam) 
  • Defi-ying Gravity: An Empirical Analysis of Cross-Border Bitcoin, Ether and Stablecoin Flows – Jan Paulick (BIS)
  • Achieving Consensus on Blockchains – Maxi Guennewig (University of Bonn) 
  • Shock Propagation in Decentralized Lending Networks – Julien Prat (École Polytechnique) 
  • DeFi-ying the Fed? Monetary Policy Transmission to Stablecoin Rates – Andrea Barbon (University of St. Gallen) 

The conference will feature a keynote address by Christine Parlour, the Sylvan C. Coleman Chair of Finance and Accounting at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. She is a former member of the Nasdaq Economic Advisory Board and a leading authority on fintech, payments systems and market microstructure. 

“The calibre of scholars presenting at this year’s conference is truly world-class, representing institutions at the forefront of financial innovation,” said Professor Gopal. “Their work not only advances academic understanding but also shapes how businesses and regulators respond to the rapidly evolving digital finance landscape. 

“At WBS, our research doesn’t sit on a shelf; it influences policy, informs practice, and drives change. And that research will also be informing our new MSc Financial Technology programme - equipping students with the knowledge and tools to lead in a world where finance and technology are inseparable.” 

Further reading: 

What does the bitcoin inflation rate really mean?

Do digital currency projects have public buy-in?

How do we keep stablecoins stable?

 

Learn more about the new MSc Financial Technology developed by the Gillmore Centre.

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