WisdomTree Expands Global Digital Assets Team

Rhea-AI Summary

WisdomTree Investments, a major asset manager, announced an expansion of its global digital assets team with the addition of twelve professionals, including John Davidson as the new Global Head of Financial Crimes. The team aims to enhance compliance and develop innovative crypto asset products and strategies across markets. The firm's focus on 'responsible DeFi' aligns with ongoing initiatives, including its Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund and successful Bitcoin and Ether ETPs in Europe. WisdomTree manages around $78.1 billion in assets globally.

Positive

• Expansion of global digital assets team with twelve new hires.
• Appointment of anti-money laundering expert John Davidson enhances compliance.
• Focus on innovative product development in crypto assets and DeFi.
• Continued success of Bitcoin and Ether ETPs in Europe.
• WisdomTree's Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund is the first ETF with crypto asset exposure.

Negative

• None.

New hires include anti-money laundering veteran John Davidson as Global Head of Financial Crimes

NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WisdomTree Investments, Inc. (NASDAQ: WETF), an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) and exchange-traded product (“ETP”) sponsor and asset manager, announced today the expansion of its global digital assets team.

The team focuses on existing and new investment products, indexes and strategies that provide exposure to crypto assets, along with new blockchain-enabled products and services across global markets. With the recent additions, WisdomTree now has a dedicated team of twelve professionals across the U.S., U.K., and Ireland focused exclusively on technology, compliance, legal, product, marketing, research and education, related to digital assets, blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi).

“WisdomTree is focused on digital assets on a number of levels, including our ETPs in Europe and new product development globally. We are embracing ‘responsible DeFi’ that upholds the foundational principles of regulation in this innovative and quickly evolving space,” said Jonathan Steinberg, WisdomTree Founder and CEO. “We’re a company rooted in innovation and transparency, and we see 'responsible DeFi’ as the next chapter for us and the broader financial services industry as a whole.”

Included in the recent new hires is John Davidson, joining as WisdomTree’s new Global Head of Financial Crimes, focused on anti-money laundering (AML) and regulatory compliance. Before joining WisdomTree, John held a similar title at E*TRADE and was a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley. Prior to that, he spent 19 years as an enforcement attorney and AML policy specialist at the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. John frequently serves as a speaker at global AML conferences and at examiner training schools.

“We are committed to building innovative products that aim to deliver a better and consumer-first user experience in this space,” said Will Peck, Head of Digital Assets at WisdomTree. “Expanding our team with hires like John, combined with continued investment in areas such as compliance infrastructure, allows us to pave the way for continued mainstream adoption of digital assets and DeFi.”

Ryan Louvar, Chief Legal Officer and Head of Business and Legal Affairs, Digital Assets, added: “Whether through ETFs, digital assets or DeFi, WisdomTree will continue to be a trusted provider of innovative products and services guided by proactive regulatory collaboration.”

The digital assets team expansion comes amid a variety of related WisdomTree initiatives including: WisdomTree’s Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund (GCC) becoming the first ETF to provide exposure to crypto assets through bitcoin futures; the continued success of Bitcoin and Ether ETPs in Europe; the firm’s collaboration with OnRamp and Gemini to support a new digital asset variable annuity product by Federal Life through the development of our +Crypto model portfolio; our investment in Securrency, Inc., the blockchain-based financial services infrastructure provider with respect to regulated funds and tokenized assets; and various digital asset and blockchain-related regulatory filings and applications pending in the U.S.

About WisdomTree
WisdomTree Investments, Inc., through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Europe (collectively, “WisdomTree”), is an ETF and ETP sponsor and asset manager headquartered in New York. WisdomTree offers products covering equity, commodity, fixed income, leveraged and inverse, currency, cryptocurrency and alternative strategies. WisdomTree currently has approximately $78.1 billion in assets under management globally.

WisdomTree^® is the marketing name for WisdomTree Investments, Inc. and its subsidiaries worldwide.

Contact Information:
Media Relations
WisdomTree Investments, Inc.
Jessica Zaloom
+1.917.267.3735
Jzaloom@wisdomtree.com / wisdomtree@fullyvested.com

FAQ

What recent changes have occurred at WisdomTree (WETF) regarding digital assets?

WisdomTree has expanded its global digital assets team and hired John Davidson as the Global Head of Financial Crimes.

Who is John Davidson and what is his role at WisdomTree (WETF)?

John Davidson is the new Global Head of Financial Crimes at WisdomTree, focusing on anti-money laundering and regulatory compliance.

What is WisdomTree's approach to digital assets and DeFi?

WisdomTree is committed to 'responsible DeFi' and aims to innovate within the regulatory framework while expanding its crypto asset offerings.

How much assets does WisdomTree (WETF) manage globally?

WisdomTree currently manages approximately $78.1 billion in assets worldwide.

What initiatives is WisdomTree (WETF) pursuing in the digital asset space?

WisdomTree is focused on developing products like the Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund and successful Bitcoin and Ether ETPs in Europe.