bank.run: Bank of Elon
ISBN: 9798230926085 (e-book) · 9798230996071 (print) ·
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.30228358
Selected Publications
Books/Papers (12+ Published)
Following the Money: Shadow Banking & Power Games
ISBN: 979-8345524121 · ASIN: B0DM9NL54Y ·
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.30228340
Revolut & SumUp 'Mafias': Harnessing the Power of Startup Ecosystems
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.30228037 · HAL ID: hal-05287266
Empirical analysis of alumni-founded startups from Revolut and SumUp. Quantifies network effects in venture formation.
The First Fintech Bank's Arrival
ISBN: 978-9811149627 · ASIN: B075J8BPP8 ·
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.30227914
Recommended by: Wharton & INSEAD
Comprehensive framework for challenger banking architecture and Banking-as-a-Service infrastructure. 11,000+ readers. Cited in regulatory and industry analyses.
Navalny Card
ISBN: 979-8230623144 · E-Book ISBN: 979-8227890337 · ASIN B0DWD2ZK45
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.30228271
Digital banking, AML, OSINT, sanctions. The Navalny Card project generated significant media coverage across Russian and international outlets in May–June 2012.
Annual Fintech & Blockchain Reports
Money Of The Future: 2012–2017
DOIs: 10.5281/zenodo.17218722 · 10.5281/zenodo.17218826 · 10.5281/zenodo.17218861 · 10.5281/zenodo.17218865 · 10.5281/zenodo.17218867
Comprehensive annual tracking of global fintech evolution. Cited as primary industry reference by institutional investors, regulators, and policymakers worldwide.
Working Papers & Chapters
GIG Economy Is On The Rise
SSRN ID: 5540098
BaaS & APIs
The RegTech Book (Chapter)
doi.org/10.1002/9781119362197.ch35
Correspondent banking & CBDC
The FinTech Book (Intro)
ISBN: 9781119218876
First Order Logic & FOL-languages
Sovereign AI & 'Uncensored' LM Models
Media Contributions
Regular contributor to Forbes, The Next Web, European Financial Review, VentureBeat, CoinDesk, CoinTelegraph, The Asian Banker, TechInAsia, e27, and DealStreetAsia. Full publication list with DOI links available on Figshare, Academia.edu, and SSRN.
Research Interests & Expertise
My research examines how digital banking and compliance infrastructure, financial technology, and institutional design interact to create new forms of governance and trust. Drawing from my entrepreneurial work in finance — the study of how institutions build innovative products — and extensive field experience building regulated financial institutions across 3 jurisdictions, I investigate the mechanisms by which programmable money, identity and decentralized systems transform money administration, compliance, and cross-border coordination.
Primary Research Domains
Fintech Infrastructure & Banking Innovation
Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) architectures, embedded finance, open banking APIs, challenger/neobank models, correspondent banking networks, and de novo licensing frameworks.
RegTech, Compliance & AML
Regulatory technology systems, anti-money laundering (AML) automation, KYC/KYB/KYCC processes, sanctions screening, enhanced due diligence, and OSINT applications in compliance.
CBDC, Stablecoins & Digital Currencies
Central bank digital currency design, stablecoin regulation, programmable money, and the implications of digital currencies for monetary sovereignty and financial inclusion.
Digital Identity & Self-Sovereign Systems
Government digital ID architectures (Aadhaar, e-Estonia, PhilID), identity aggregation protocols, verifiable credentials, decentralized identifiers (DIDs), and the relationship between identity infrastructure and democratic participation.
GovTech & Government-as-a-Service
Digital transformation of public services, algorithmic governance, e-government maturity models, and how technology reshapes citizen-state relationships and administrative efficiency.
AI Governance & Infrastructure
Decentralized AI compute networks, edge computing, data sovereignty, AI workstation markets, and the intersection of artificial intelligence with identity verification systems.
Dual-Use DefenceTech & Sovereignty
AI applications in defence, critical infrastructure protection, technological sovereignty, and the relationship between decentralized systems and national security.
Blockchain & Distributed Ledger Technology
Cryptographic infrastructure, smart contracts, decentralized finance (DeFi), tokenization, and blockchain applications in identity and financial services.
Additional Research Interests
· Design thinking methodology · Ethical M&A frameworks ·
Education
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.30287125Academic Affiliations: Lectures, Public Talks, Internship for Students
INSEAD · Wharton School · SMU · NUS · UCL
Higher School of Economics (HSE) · Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO · Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)
[Applying for a] PhD by Publication/Experience
The Regulatory PhD
2026–2028
How Getting a Financial License is the Ultimate Dissertation Defense
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.30234808
[Almost] Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science
Moscow State University / MSU
2007–2009
Dissertation: "Marketing of Territory and its Potential in Public Administration" — Analysing how institutions and jurisdictions build credibility through strategic positioning
not graduated
[Almost] Executive MBA (Strategic Marketing)
Stockholm School of Economics / SSE, Group SM4
2007–2009
Research focus: Placemarketing, nation branding,international business and institutional frameworks
not graduated
Master of Arts in Political Science
Saint Petersburg State University / SPbSU
2005–2007
Specialisation: State Policy and Administration · Thesis: "Formatting Russia's Image as a Marketing Solution in Public Administration"
Grade: Excellent
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Saint Petersburg State University / SPbSU
2001–2005
Thesis: "Information and Communication Technologies and the Construction of Political Reality"
Grade: Excellent
Research Grants & Fellowships
British Petroleum -Sponsored Research Fellowship
MGIMO (Moscow State Institute of International Relations)
2007–2008
Project: "Russia in the International System" — Focus on territorial marketing frameworks
Teaching & Academic Appointments
Wharton School
Guest Lecturer · Fintech & Innovation
INSEAD
Guest Lecturer · Digital Banking
Higher School of Economics
Lecturer · Financial Innovation
NUS
Lecturer · International Finance
SMU
Guest Lecturer · Fintech & Innovation
UCL
Guest Lecturer · Fintech & Innovation
Conference Keynotes & Panel Participation
Money20/20 (Global)
Singapore Fintech Festival
Paris Fintech Forum
Rise/MoneyConf
European Fintech Awards
Global Payment Summit
Fintech CEO Summit (IFC)
FinnovAsia
Global Venture Summit
Dot Finance Africa
Fintech Award LatAm
Future of Finance Summit
Judging & Mentoring
Singapore Fintech Festival x SWITCH (2016, 2019) · India Fintech Awards 2019 · Future of Fintech Summit (Beijing, 2018) · Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2018) · FinnovAsia (Hong Kong, 2017) · Fintech Awards LatAm (Miami, 2017) · Paris Fintech Forum (2017) · European Fintech Awards (2016) · FINSPIRE (Jakarta, 2016)
Mentor&Advisor: Clos (AI) · Ursa.ai (Robotics/AI) · A.ID & BASIS ID (Compliance) · Exactly.AI · Maroo (Y Combinator) · TechNation UK · DigitalBoost UK · Help to Grow (Enterprise Nation UK)
Recognition & Honours
Extraordinary Talent Recognition
🇬🇧
Global Talent Visa
UK Tech Nation
🇫🇷
Passeport Talent
French Republic
🇺🇸
O-1 Extraordinary Ability
United States
Industry Recognition
Top 21 Fintech Influencers in Europe — Disruptive Finance Magazine
Fintech Finance 40 — Institutional Investor (2016, 2017)
#6 Fintech Influencer in Singapore — Social Media Ranking
#FintechAsia100 — Best Fintech Talents, Leaders and Community Builders (EY)
Finovate Best of Show — FinovateAsia 2018 (Arival Bank)
EFFIE Award / Brand of the Year — Russian Standard Bank
Network & Influence
20,000+ LinkedIn followers · 670,000+ YouTube views · Regular amplification from fintech thought leaders including Brett King, Chris Skinner, David GW Birch, Simon Taylor, and Marcel van Oost.
Professional Experience
2024 – Present
Researcher, R&D, Advisor & Mentor
identity.global / digital-identity.ai / nansen.id / nebius.space / nebius.run / defencete.ch
- Leading research on digital identity aggregation and governance frameworks
- Developing open-source identity infrastructure protocols
- Publishing research on AI governance and decentralized infrastructure (nebius.space, nebius.run, defencete.ch)
- Member, OpenID Foundation
2016 – 2022
Founder & ex-Chief Executive Officer
ArivalBank.com (US-licensed Digital Bank)
- Built and operated regulated digital banking infrastructure across 26 jurisdictions
- Managed $150M+ in assets under management
- Pioneered Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) architecture
- Developed cross-border compliance frameworks bridging US, Singapore, and EU regulations
- Multiple (incl Finovate Best of Show) awards recipient
2012 – 2018
Founder & Managing Director :: SREDA.Ventures
SREDA.Asia VC (Fintech Venture Capital licensed in Singapore)
- Established world's first fintech-only venture fund ($140M raised across two funds)
- Portfolio exits: Simple (→ BBVA), Fidor (→ Groupe BPCE), and 7 additional exits
- Early-stage investor in 5 digital banks globally
- Published annual "Money of the Future" research series
- Banking on Blockchain Fund (London)
2016 – 2018
Founder
InspirAsia Accelerator / BaaS.IS / A.ID
- Fintech&Blockchain accelerator programme in Singapore ecosystem
- Compliance-as-a-Service solution development
- Identity verification infrastructure
2012
Navalny Card
Product Owner
- AML-first digital banking product.
- Designed and developed with Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) by Alexey Navalny.
2007 – 2012
Strategy, Product Innovation & Marketing Leadership
Russian Financial Institutions
- Applied territorial marketing frameworks to institutional positioning
- Direct experience of 2008 global financial crisis — foundational for later fintech work
- EFFIE Award / Brand of the Year (Russian Standard Bank)
Academic & Professional Profiles
Scholarly Identifiers & Repositories
Professional Profiles
R&D Projects
Available for Collaboration
Open to advisor/mentor positions, and R&D partnerships.