Martin C. Grant
As the question of crypto regulation gathers momentum, digital assets specialist JST Capital has confirmed the appointment of Martin C. Grant as its new global head of regulatory affairs and integrity, responsible for navigating the evolving digital asset regulatory environment to ensure best practices and hold discussions with global regulators as they work to adopt new policies to regulate this unique marketplace.
Additionally, he will act as a resource for JST’s global client base to help them understand the intricate nature of regulations in order to make informed investment decisions.
Grant joins JST from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he held the role of senior vice president and chief compliance and ethics officer for over 15 years, responsible for building and leading the bank’s internal compliance efforts. Grant has also worked with other state and federal regulators as well as government agencies to harmonise compliance policies within Federal Reserve Banks and financial institutions around the globe, and has provided technical assistance and guidance to central banks around the globe on compliance policies and practices.
Formerly a lawyer in the New York Fed’s enforcement and litigation division, Grant is also the chair of the Conference Board’s Global Business Conduct Council and a member of the Compliance Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
“Throughout 2021, JST has continued to expand in order to meet growing institutional demand. We increased our headcount, tripled the number of clients and saw a 10-fold increase in gross revenue,” commented Scott Freeman, co-founder and partner at JST Capital. “By bringing in Martin, who has over 30 years of experience operating in the regulatory and compliance space, JST is doubling down on its mission to not only offer clients unmatched financial services in the crypto sector, but to also assist in navigating the regulatory environment. We are excited to welcome Martin to the team and work alongside him to engage with regulators around the globe.”
Grant is the latest senior executive to move into the digital assets arena, a trend that has been notable on both the industry and regulatory sides of the fence. In January this year, Digital Asset appointed former chairman of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), J. Christopher Giancarlo, to its board of directors, while in August 2021 former US Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) chairman Jay Clayton joined crypto platform Fireblocks as an advisor.
“Regulators around the world have begun to realize the full scope of digital assets and the role they play in the global economy and as a result are rushing to establish fulsome policies that protect market participants at all levels,” commented Grant. “I am looking forward to working with regulators and establish an open dialog in order to advance regulation that benefits both the investors that use our services and the wider crypto industry.”