Crypto Executives at Consensus Miami Discuss Role of Diverse Input in Product, Policy, and Hiring

Senior leaders from Mastercard, the Crypto Council for Innovation and Clerisy stated at CoinDesk’s Consensus Miami conference on Tuesday that incorporating diverse voices into discussions on product development, policy and hiring can alter outcomes in the cryptocurrency sector.

The event, held on May 5, 2026, featured Mastercard SVP for Blockchain & Digital Assets Maja Lapcevic, Crypto Council for Innovation Chief Strategy Officer Alison Mangiero and Clerisy Co-Founder and Managing Partner Alexandra Wilkis Wilson as speakers.

CoinDesk reported these executives cited real-world examples where outside input reshaped internal strategies, from usability-focused crypto tools to refined policy positions on staking.

Lapcevic described how Mastercard’s crypto team initially prioritized infrastructure as the primary driver for crypto adoption. 'We probably all thought about infrastructure to be the winning formula for crypto,' she stated. An outside partner then assisted in shifting the focus toward making crypto more accessible and user-friendly, leading Mastercard to develop cards linked to stablecoins for users in markets with limited access to traditional financial services.

That partner 'actually really helped shed light on how we make crypto accessible, not complex, very simple to use,' Lapcevic added. This reframing moved the company beyond complex infrastructure to practical applications that address real-world financial exclusion.

CoinDesk reported this example illustrated how external perspectives can pivot a major firm's crypto strategy toward simplicity and broader adoption.

Mangiero explained that the Crypto Council for Innovation’s policy work on staking evolved after including builders of staking primitives in discussions. 'Sometimes we might think we understand, or we’ll put things into a bucket. We’ll take a shortcut and say, oh, that sounds like a fund.

Oh, that sounds like interest or yield, when in actuality what’s going on under the hood is different,' she stated. Following this input, the organization began describing staking as a technical service rather than a financialized product. Mangiero further noted the industry's current momentum in policy circles.

' she stated. She emphasized that effective policy requires reflecting diverse communities, including token holders and those building on blockchain networks, while protecting consumers and fostering innovation. Wilkis Wilson addressed diversity in hiring, pointing out a common bias where people tend to hire those who resemble themselves or evoke their younger selves.

'Many of us fall into a very comfortable bias of hiring people who not only might look like ourselves or remind you of your younger self,' she stated. She cited a 10-person startup where a Myers-Briggs analysis revealed eight extroverts on the team.

'It’s really important, when you’re growing teams, to not only bring in diversity on the outside, but also to think about diversity on the inside,' Wilkis Wilson added.

CoinDesk reported this example underscored the need for internal diversity to avoid echo chambers in expanding crypto teams. The panelists collectively highlighted how such inclusive approaches lead to more robust decisions across the sector. In related developments covered by CoinDesk at the conference, Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi stated that the cryptocurrency exchange is 80% ready for an initial public offering.

This announcement came amid discussions of industry growth and partnerships, including Kraken's collaboration with MoneyGram to facilitate crypto-to-cash conversions. Sethi's comment reflects ongoing preparations for public listing in the evolving crypto market.