previous person
| Category | Law & Politics |
| Alma mater | St. John's University School of Law |
| Known for | NYSE, New York State Department of Financial Services |
Biography
When it comes to financial market regulation, few individuals compare to Anthony Albanese. The high-profile New York attorney served as the chief regulatory officer of the New York Stock Exchange between 2016 and 2020 where he oversaw regulatory compliance and enforced applicable securities laws. Before joining the NYSE, Albanese served in various leadership roles with the New York State Department of Financial Services, including serving as superintendent of financial services during the launch of its BitLicense regulatory framework in 2015. He holds a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and practiced as an attorney for 13 years.
Albanese’s 2020
Despite being a high-profile lawyer, Albanese wasn’t on crypto watchers’ radar until 2020 when he joined Andreessen Horowitz as an adviser for cryptocurrency regulation. Clearly, his decade of experience at NYSE and NYSDFS prepared him for the complex world of digital-asset regulation. Albanese is now a partner at Andreessen Horowitz, and his primary responsibilities include shaping the venture capital firm’s cryptocurrency strategy. In 2020, the firm raised $515 million for its second crypto-focused investment fund, a clear sign that it was expanding its digital-asset portfolio.
Albanese’s 2021
Andreessen Horowitz introduced Albanese as an eager participant of the nascent crypto industry: “Like us, he became excited at the idea of working with multiple different crypto portfolio companies, focusing on areas as diverse as gaming, digital storage, payment systems, social media, creative marketplaces, and more.” As the VC firm expands its footprint in crypto and blockchain, Albanese will likely play an important role. In the process, he could shed light on the evolving regulatory landscape governing crypto. After all, if Albanese gives the green light on a particular project, there’s a good chance it’s not afoul of the law.