In this episode of Blockchain Leaders Insights, host Paul Hearns speaks with Amor Sexton, COO of Blockdaemon, about her fascinating journey through the blockchain world—from the early days of Bitcoin to its current role in driving institutional adoption, tokenisation, and decentralization.

Amor’s blockchain journey began in 2013 when she worked as a lawyer in Australia. Back then, Bitcoin was worth just $100, and blockchain was a mystery to most. What intrigued her were the legal challenges it posed: could Bitcoin be recognized as property? How should it be taxed? These early encounters sparked her interest and set her on a path to becoming one of the most prominent voices in the blockchain space.

Today, as COO of Blockdaemon, Amor helps institutions integrate blockchain with tools like APIs, staking validators, and wallet infrastructure. Her work at Blockdaemon builds on her experience at Citibank, where she led blockchain strategy and spearheaded projects like connecting Citi’s banking system to NASDAQ’s private blockchain to enable instant settlements. These projects highlight blockchain’s potential to bridge the gap between traditional systems and cutting-edge technology.

Regulation, Amor explains, is not the barrier many perceive it to be. Instead, it’s the lack of clarity around regulation that creates challenges for adoption. With policymakers increasingly collaborating with industry leaders, businesses are beginning to gain the certainty they need to innovate. Some jurisdictions, like Switzerland, are setting an example by employing technologists to help shape informed and thoughtful regulatory frameworks.

Amor also dives into tokenisation, one of blockchain’s most exciting applications. Beyond digitising assets like real estate, she envisions a future where entirely new types of assets, such as tokenised legal agreements, become possible. This, combined with a renewed focus on decentralisation after events like FTX, could reshape industries in ways we’ve only begun to imagine.

Amor outlines the challenges of scaling Web3 and emphasises the need to adapt lessons from Web2, such as security and operational standards, to ensure its success.

Finally, Amor highlights Ireland’s emerging role as a hub for blockchain talent and innovation. With its strong mix of financial services expertise and engineering talent, Nurturing talent pipelines and fostering collaboration between industry and academia will be key to sustaining this momentum.

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Available on the Blockchain Ireland website: https://www.blockchainireland.ie/podcast

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Host:  Paul Hearns - Co-chair of the Events and Comms Working Group

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lory-kehoe/

Guest: Amor Sexton - COO, Blockdaemon

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amor-sexton/

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About Blockchain Ireland

Blockchain Ireland is an initiative aimed at promoting and enhancing Ireland's position as a global hub for blockchain technology. It was launched by the Irish Blockchain Expert Group (IBEG), led by IDA Ireland, and includes a collaboration of Irish-based organizations. The main goals of Blockchain Ireland are to serve as a central source of information on the growing blockchain, crypto and Web3 ecosystem, to support the development of blockchain technology in Ireland, and to create awareness of industry developments both nationally and internationally.

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