As Crypto Lead, Bob brings vast experience and knowledge dealing with both financial innovations and traditional finance to a wide array of AIR projects. He lends expertise to regulators and other policymakers on the impact of cryptoassets and blockchain technology on financial markets, provides support for crypto-related TechSprints and other initiatives, and advises financial sector clients from Visa to the World Bank to fintech startups through the consulting firm that he founded, Chakra Advisors LLC.
Bob is a resource on key concepts, including tokenization, crypto miners’ impact on the environment and the potential of new entrants to improve financial inclusion. A former senior economist at the Chicago and Dallas Federal Reserve Banks, he has conducted years of research in emerging money and payments systems, including innovations seen as precursors to crypto, and authored work in 40 academic and industry publications.
Bob’s current research focuses on the impact of new financial system entrants on financial inclusion, improving efficiency and maintaining financial stability for the system as a whole. He has also applied machine-learning tools to evaluate public- and private-sector financial inclusion initiatives. At Chakra Advisors, Bob launched and manages the Incumbents and Disruptors Blog, which provides analysis on companies shaking up the financial industry and the response of traditional players.
Prior to his current roles, Bob was the Chief Economist at the Clearing House (TCH) where he oversaw all quantitative studies for TCH members—24 large banks operating in the United States—analyzing proposed regulations to strengthen the financial system after the 2008-11 crisis. He has advised the Bank of Mexico, Bank of England, De Nederlandsche Bank (the Dutch central bank) and the IMF about the effects of new products on financial markets. He received his PhD in economics from Brown University and his BA in economics and genetics from University of California, Berkeley.
In his spare time, Bob likes to travel and explore cuisine from various countries. He also enjoys playing tennis. He loves watching sports, as a spectator at his son’s professional volleyball matches in Italy, and attending college and professional football games with his daughter.
