Nicole Valentine is the director, FinTech at the Milken Institute with over a decade of financial services, international mergers and acquisitions, technology, and innovation experience. As the FinTech director, Valentine explores market innovation and developments, analyzes alternative regulatory approaches, and offers policy recommendations to facilitate FinTech’s responsible development. Her work engages and educates policymakers and stakeholders to improve access to capital, financial inclusion, transparency, and compliance. Valentine’s thought leadership on digital assets, Web3, FinTech, the metaverse, and the future of finance is also frequently featured in news publications, including CNBC, Forbes, USA Today, Worth, Fox Business, CQ Roll Call, E-Crypto News, Miami Herald, and Protocol Braintrust (Politico). She weighs in on topics that include digital assets legislation and regulation, financial inclusion and fluency, and crypto’s cultural relevance in society.

An attorney by background, Valentine practiced mergers and acquisitions and securities at Wall Street law firm Debevoise & Plimpton and then served as assistant general counsel and vice president at global financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald. Valentine founded Synergy Business Development, where she served as business strategist, advisor, and consultant to CEOs and innovation leads at Fortune 500 companies, innovative start-ups, nonprofits, and government agencies. Valentine earned her JD from the University of Virginia School of Law and her BA from American University in political science. She is a member of the New York Bar.