Who’s Who In Crypto: Gabriella Kusz, Chief Executive Officer at Global Digital Asset and Cryptocurrency Association
Gabriella Kusz is the co-founder and CEO at the Global Digital Asset and Cryptocurrency Association, a global self-regulatory association for the digital asset & cryptocurrency industry. As the Australian government grapples with how the digital asset industry should be regulated, CryptoVista sat down with Gabriella to seek her insights on regulation of the industry from her experience working with US regulators and policy makers.
What are your priorities for the next 12 months?
As the head of an emerging self-regulatory association, my key focus will be on advancing standards development (here in the US and around the world), raising awareness and elaborating our Certified Digital Asset Professional (CDAP) certificate program, and continuing to share insight, information and understanding of the digital asset industry with US and global policymakers.
What does crypto mean to you and what drew you to it?
Crypto means transformation and evolution of the financial sector. As a professional who has spent a significant portion of her career ushering in financial sector transformation my ah-ha moment happened when I began to see the broader impacts of the industry as a first wave of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In my previous roles, I have supported countries in transitioning towards free-market economies or in diversifying their economies away from petrochemical industry reliance or in advancing transparency and accountability post-Arab Spring. Crypto is the tip of the iceberg and ensuring inclusive, participatory and representative engagement in our global financial future will require supporting broad financial sector transformation. What drew me to crypto was the opportunity to lend my global lessons learned, experience in capacity building and enhancing shared prosperity in an emerging and more impactful way.
What is your long-term view of crypto?
I believe that Crypto will continue to mainstream and in terms of the longer term, I believe we don’t really know where this is all headed. For me, having operated in highly VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) environments that represent a unique professional challenge and an opportunity to really extend myself and my abilities to help ensure that whatever the next wave of innovation will be – the foundation for responsible, equitable and inclusive participation will be laid.
What advice would you give people investing in crypto?
DYOR – “Do Your Own Research” and make sure you are reflecting on your risk profile when engaging in the asset class. There is a lot of hype out there – but if you are interested in participating in the space in a professional manner – then you need to apply the same level of research, discipline, and consideration to crypto that you would to anything else.
How do you feel about the way the world is regulating crypto?
I think all countries around the world are trying to grapple with the question of how and in what way to regulate crypto. Just as crypto itself is going through a period of evolution so are the legal and regulatory frameworks and agencies that oversee and advance market integrity and consumer protection. This is a natural stage of ‘adolescence’ of the industry and its accompanying regulatory environment. Overall, I am optimistic that the work of the Global DCA and industry associations that represent the space will be successful in raising awareness and helping to guide balanced regulation of the industry.
