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Execs from Overstock.com, Mass. Div. of Banks headline speaker lineup for Virtual Currency Today Summit

The Virtual Currency Today Summit takes place April 29 at the Hilton Boston Back Bay.

January 16, 2015

Virtual currencies such as bitcoin are gaining traction with consumers and merchants as a way to pay for a growing variety of goods and services. The Virtual Currency Today Summit will explore this trend and how businesses can benefit from it. The conference takes place April 29 at the Hilton Boston Back Bay.

Overstock.com is among a growing number of retailers who have begun accepting Bitcoin as payment for merchandise. Judd Bagley, Overstock.com director of communications, will be at VCTS to speak about his company's adoption of Bitcoin and how customers have responded.

David J. Cotney, commissioner of banks for the Massachusetts Division of Banks, will take part in a panel discussion at VCTS about virtual currency regulation. The session will address issues such as how much self-regulation is necessary to fend off government involvement or whether government involvement is needed to facilitate mainstream consumer and merchant adoption.

Additional speakers and panelists for VCTS will include: 

•     Sam Ditzion, CEO of Tremont Capital Group
•     Bruce Fenton, Managing Director at Atlantic Financial Inc.
•     Kurt Helwig, President and CEO of the Electronic Funds Transfer Association
•     Will Hernandez, Editor of Mobile Payments Today
•     David Long, Principal and Senior Consultant for Northern California Fraud Prevention Solutions
•     George Peabody, Senior Director at Glenbrook Partners
•     Byrne Reese, Vice President of Product at Bitreserve
•     David Wilford, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Wave Crest Group Ltd.

"We're really excited about the speakers we've lined up for this event so far," said Kathy Doyle, EVP and publisher of Networld Media Group, the organizer of the Virtual Currency Today Summit. "Our attendees will certainly be impressed with the high level of virtual currency experience and expertise these individuals bring to the podium."

Networld expects that VCTS attendees will come from a variety of industries, including retail, hospitality and financial services. Virtual currency solutions providers, cash networks and exchanges, industry analysts and regulatory authorities also are expected to be in attendance.

Registration for VCTS is open at virtualcurrencytoday.com/summit. Doyle said that early bird pricing, which was originally set to expire on Jan. 16, will be extended through Jan. 31.