The Agora by Kaiko
Kristen Mierzwa

Kristen Mierzwa

Head of Digital Assets, FTSE Russell

Bio

Kristen joined FTSE Russell in March 2008 to focus on the relationships with Exchange Traded Product providers. She has been involved in business development and the design of complex bespoke indices for asset managers throughout her tenure. She began working on FTSE Russell's Digital Asset initiative in 2019 by leading the partnership with Digital Asset Research. In early 2022 she moved into her current role as Head of Digital Assets for FTSE Russell. She led the product initiative to create and launch FTSE's flagship digital asset index series. Kristen continues to be focused on expanding FTSE Russell's digital asset data and index product roadmap. In 2026 Kristen will expand her role to lead FTSE Russell's strategy on tokenization. With more than 25 years of experience in the financial industry, Kristen started her career at Barclays Global Investors (now BlackRock). She held various roles at the firm ranging from Portfolio Accounting to direct Business Development roles with Institutional clients and then moving to the iShares team focusing on Registered Investment Advisors. She holds a BS in Economics from the University of California, Davis.

Talks

Distributing IP Products on Public Blockchains: The Distribution Challenge

Panel
Tuesday, March 31st 2026
16:15 - 16:55
tholos
Description

Tokenization is opening remarkable new opportunities for the world's leading index providers, bringing financial IP on-chain, reaching new markets, and enabling product innovation that was simply not possible before. The question is no longer whether to participate, but how to do it well. As on-chain markets mature, the convergence of institutional-grade standards and decentralized infrastructure is creating a compelling new landscape. Licensing frameworks are evolving, new product categories are emerging, and the demand for trusted, governed financial data on public blockchains has never been stronger. This panel brings together senior leaders from Bloomberg, FTSE Russell, MSCI, and S&P Dow Jones Indices to explore how the industry's most respected brands are navigating this moment, and what it takes to bring the full value of trusted financial IP into the on-chain world in a way that drives growth for everyone.