Global Banking Innovator ING Joins Global Digital Finance
The international financial services provider has become a GDF Advisory Council Member and Custody Working Group Co-chair to speed the development of an industry-grade ecosystem and advance digital finance.
Hong Kong, London and New York – 9th July 2020: Global Digital Finance (GDF), a leading industry association advocating and accelerating the adoption of digital assets, has today announced that global banking giant and blockchain/DLT innovation leader ING has assumed a seat on the GDF Advisory Council and become Co-chair of its Custody Working Group.
“In GDF we have found a body that accelerates the adoption of digital assets via the development of conduct standards, digital finance best practices and the promotion of cutting edge technologies like DLT,” said Hervé Francois, Blockchain Initiative Lead on Digital Assets, ING. “As one of the most active banks in blockchain, we are pleased to contribute our extended knowledge on digital assets.”
ING joins Archax, Bandman Advisors, Bequant, Coinbase, Consensys, Crypto Compare, Diginex, DLA Piper, 11FS, Elipses, EY, Hogan Lovells, Huobi, Messari, Metaco, R3, Radix, Shapeshift, Solidus Labs, Steptoe & Johnson on the GDF Advisory Council. This group of industry experts, business leaders and technologists plays a key role in driving GDF activity. It is focused on the ongoing development of the GDF Code of Conduct and Code Self-Certification Programme, which enables GDF members to self-certify their compliance with the Code of Conduct.
As Custody Working Group Co-chair ING will steer the development of Code of Conduct principles for Custody and Custodians, in partnership with fellow Co-Chair Onchain Custodian and the working group members.
“I am excited to be personally involved in GDF as Co-chair of the Custody Working Group. We believe that delivering an industry network to support the safekeeping and transfers of digital assets is key to development of any institution grade ecosystem,” said Hervé Francois, Blockchain Initiative Lead of Digital Assets, ING.
GDF Exec. Co-chair & Board Member Lawrence Wintermeyer welcomed the new member, “the digital asset ecosystem is rapidly maturing driven by increased consumer and professional adoption. The involvement of ING, one of the world’s largest innovative banks, into the GDF community is indicative of the large opportunity the crypto and digital assets sector represents to traditional financial institutions and new entrants alike. We are delighted to add ING’s innovation and banking expertise to the GDF Advisory Council and Custody Working Group.”
GDF – Advancing Digital Finance
GDF is the leading global membership association advocating and accelerating the adoption of best practices for crypto and digital assets, through the development of conduct standards, in a shared engagement forum with market participants, policymakers and regulators.
Our members are industry experts, business leaders, and technologists, committed to championing the new era of digital commerce.
Global Digital Finance endeavours to drive efficient, fair and transparent crypto asset markets by building a knowledge base and best practice for “truly digital” finance and the benefits tokens can bring all market participants. We promote an inclusive vision in which crypto assets and token markets can evolve and grow to complement traditional financial services.
About ING
ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank’s more than 55,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 40 countries.
ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA AS, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).
Sustainability forms an integral part of ING’s strategy, evidenced by ING’s leading position in sector benchmarks by Sustainalytics and MSCI and our ‘A-list’ rating by CDP. ING Group shares are included in major sustainability and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) index products of leading providers STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell.
