Crypto at a Crossroads: Insights from the Wachsman x Bird & Bird Networking Breakfast

On Thursday, the 20th of November, Wachsman and international law firm, Bird & Bird hosted an exclusive breakfast briefing in London to explore the UK’s role in the global expansion of crypto. 

From legal experts and leading journalists to crypto innovators and TradFi heavyweights, the breakfast session brought together over 80 industry professionals for discussions across two panels. These panels focused on the critical collision point where UK regulation meets innovation, and how media narratives are influencing the entire ecosystem. 

​The first panel – “Evolving Role of Media in Crypto’s Future” – covered how narratives influence public sentiment and shape global perceptions of crypto, as well as how leading journalists see media in this space and beyond evolving. Izzy McCarthy, Associate Director at Wachsman moderated the discussion between panelists Robert Baggs of Cointelegraph, Tim Copeland of The Block and Giles Broom of Sandmark. Key takeaways included:

  • From podcasts to videos, there is now a marked shift towards multimedia formats, but current funding models are ill-equipped to support this move. The focus is shifting from chasing impressions to valuing engagement with actual users.  
  • Given the market’s volatility, audiences are and ought to be sceptical. The media must approach everything with scepticism, even when advocating for the technology, and strive for authenticity in all content.
  • Hot topics in 2025 include market movements, Bitcoin updates, US policy (and politics) and adoption case studies. More of the same is expected in 2026.

Titled “The Future of Crypto in the UK”, the second panel discussed how the UK can leverage its financial heritage and fintech leadership to establish a stronger role in the global crypto economy. Moderated by Gavin Punia, Partner at Bird & Bird, the panel featured Petr Kozyakov, CEO of Mercuryo, Joey Garcia, Executive Director, Chief Strategy, Policy and Legal at Xapo Bank, and Anoosh Arevshatian, Chief Product Officer at, Zodia Custody. They covered:

  • London is still seen as a global innovation hub, but the U.S. is surpassing in urgency by taking a more “open arms” approach to crypto regulation and growth. The GENIUS and Clarity acts in the U.S. currently present a more favourable environment than the BoE’s cautious position.
  • The UK must prevent the drain of talent and capital by making it easier for businesses to establish and grow. This requires a steady balance between innovation and consumer protection. 
  • Current trends driving optimism for the industry globally include stablecoins and payments, native on-chain assets, and the ongoing open vs. closed network debate. Transatlantic collaboration would be the optimal goal, but it requires much more work. 

The overriding message from the morning event was one of collaboration. Establishing the UK as a crypto powerhouse is not a task for private or public actors alone. It requires an integrated ecosystem where regulators act fast, innovators drive the adoption through utility, and the media continue to educate the public.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such a rich and critical discussion. The future of crypto in the UK is being written now, and the insights shared at our briefing will undoubtedly inform industry innovation in the months ahead.