Beyond fintech: On the front line of privacy, AI and cybersecurity

The fintech and blockchain ecosystem is moving faster than ever—and the stakes for getting privacy, cybersecurity and AI governance right have never been higher. In this episode, we explore the regulatory patchwork shaping U.S. privacy compliance, the escalating sophistication of cyber threats, and the real-world pressures facing digital asset platforms as they scale. From biometric data rules to ransomware’s resurgence, we unpack the risks, the regulatory direction of travel, and the practical steps market participants are taking now to stay both compliant and resilient. 

How should fintechs navigate fragmented state and federal privacy regimes while innovating with AI? What can the Bybit cyber-attack teach the market about today’s threat actors and the importance of incident readiness? And as ransomware rebounds in 2025, how do differing reporting obligations and supervisory expectations across jurisdictions reshape board-level governance and risk appetite? Tune in for grounded, front-line insights—and a roadmap for what to watch next. 

Our guests bring deep, complementary expertise from A&O Shearman’s global Fintech and Blockchain group: 

• Dario de Martino, M&A partner in New York and co-chair of the Fintech and Blockchain group, advises on cryptocurrency and digital assets transactions and the evolving regulatory perimeter.  
• Helen Christakos, partner in Silicon Valley and U.S. privacy lead, guides clients through the complex patchwork of federal and state privacy laws affecting fintech companies, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and emerging state privacy acts.  
• Anna Rudawski, partner in New York focused on cybersecurity and incident response, counsels clients on governance, breach reporting, and rapid response to sophisticated cyber intrusions 

Together, they examine AI’s role in critical decision-making, the regulation of biometric data under state law (including standalone regimes in Illinois, Texas and Washington), and how companies can fortify controls, reporting lines and incident playbooks amid intensifying regulatory scrutiny. 

Beyond fintech is your essential guide to the seismic shifts redefining digital finance, regulation, and innovation. Each episode brings together leading voices from A&O Shearman’s global practice and industry trailblazers to decode the fast-moving world of crypto enforcement, token incentives, stablecoins, digital bonds, privacy, and cybersecurity. Beyond fintech provides the sharp analysis and practical takeaways to turn complexity into clarity, arming founders, investors, and decision-makers with the signals they need for the road ahead.