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

Conference, held April 29 in Boston, will explore the growing trend of consumers using bitcoin and other virtual currencies as a method of payment.

January 15, 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 (VCTS) will explore this trend and how businesses can benefit from it. The conference takes place on 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's Director of Communications, will be at VCTS to speak about his company's adoption of bitcoin and how their 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 & CEO of the Electronic Funds Transfer Association (EFTA)
• David Long, Principal & Senior Consultant for Northern California Fraud Prevention Solutions
• George Peabody, Sr. Director at Glenbrook Partners
• Byrne Reese, VP 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, organizer of VCTS. "Our attendees will certainly be impressed with the high level of virtual-currency experience and expertise these individuals bring to the podium."

Networld expects VCTS attendees to 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 are also expected to be in attendance.

Registration for the event is open at virtualcurrencytoday.com/summit. Early Bird pricing, originally set to expire on January 16, has been extended through January 31.