Crypto, Stablecoins, and the Future of Digital Money
In this episode of the Citi Institute podcast, host Alex Miller is joined by Hon. Caroline Pham, Acting Chairman, CFTC and Ronit Ghose, Global Head, Future of Finance, Citi Institute to discuss digital money, crypto assets, and blockchain-based financial services, addressing the rapidly evolving policy and regulatory landscape.
Hon. Caroline Pham, Acting Chairman, CFTC highlights the crypto value propositions and the importance of regulatory clarity to enable crypto innovation.
Ronit Ghose, Global Head, Future of Finance, Citi Institute shares insights on programmable money and smart contracts, and how digital money is evolving from account-based to token-based systems.
Our guests reflect on a future where digital money, crypto assets, and blockchain-based financial services become more integrated into the broader financial ecosystem, enabled by regulatory clarity and institutional adoption.
Citigroup, (Citi), and Commodity Futures Trading Commission, (CFTC), are not affiliated and are independent from each other. The speakers views are their own and may not necessarily reflect the views of Citi or any of its affiliates. All opinions are subject to change without notice. Neither the information provided nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. The expressions of opinion are not intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results.
Hon. Caroline Pham, Acting Chairman, CFTC
The Honorable Caroline D. Pham is the Acting Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and has been a CFTC Commissioner since her nomination by the President and unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate in 2022. Pham is an internationally recognized leader in strategy and innovation, with deep expertise in capital markets and regulatory policy. Her commissionership has focused on promoting access to markets, competition, and market liquidity and efficiency. Pham has worked in law and finance for 24 years, including over 10 years of experience in crypto and digital assets. She is the sponsor of the CFTC’s Global Markets Advisory Committee.
Pham’s experience spans prudential regulation, financial markets, fintech, and emerging issues. Her international engagement is across all regions, both multilateral and with senior policymakers and business leaders. Previously, Pham was a Managing Director at Citi with group-level senior executive roles in the chief administrative office, institutional clients group (banking and markets), legal, and compliance. As head of market structure for strategic initiatives, she worked on investments and new opportunities.
Ronit Ghose, Global Head, Future of Finance, Citi Institute
Ronit runs the Future of Finance team in Citi Institute, Citi’s thought leadership unit. The team is focused on the intersection of the future of money, finance and emerging tech. It provides analysis and advice to Citi’s clients and the bank’s leadership.
Prior to his current role, Ronit was Citi’s Global head of Banks and FinTech Research. Alongside his Citi role, Ronit is an Advisory Board member of the Financial Technology Centre at Imperial College Business School in London and at several technology firms and early-stage VC investors based in the U.K., Asia, Middle East & Africa. Before joining Citi in 1997, Ronit worked in the policy world, including as a Research Assistant for a former UK Prime Minister. Ronit's new book “Future Money” was published in 2024.
