James Wester

Co-Head of Payments

James helps financial services clients understand the evolving crypto and digital currency space. Drawing on his more than two decades of experience in research, marketing and communications in payments, technology and financial services, James provides the insights and information financial institutions and their technology providers need to build successful products and services around digital assets, cryptocurrencies, and tokens.

Most recently, James managed strategic communications for PayPal supporting the company’s blockchain, crypto, and digital currencies business unit. Prior to PayPal, he served as research director of IDC Financial Insights’ worldwide blockchain and payment strategies practices.

James has been widely quoted in the media including The New York Times, Marketplace (NPR), The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Good Morning America. He has a master’s degree in management information technology from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in English and communications from Drury University.

Javelin’s cryptocurrency practice offers data and practical guidance to technology vendors and financial services providers on cryptocurrencies, digital currencies, tokens, and the technology behind them. The practice helps clients understand how to navigate the market as digital currencies, stablecoins, and digital assets become a more important part of the larger financial services world.

Latest Insights

September, 2024
Javelin Report
Have You Been on a Digital-Only Magic Carpet Ride?

The digital-only payer—one who has left behind the physical wallet and its tangible payment forms—is a popular creature in the media, one who fronts declarations that all-digital p...

September, 2024
Javelin Report
European MiCA Regulation: The Industry’s Benchmark

The Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation in the European Union sprang from existing rules governing securities but was tailored specifically for the fast-moving, ever-evolvin...

August, 2024
Javelin Report
Crypto Gets Political

The cryptocurrency and digital assets industry is having its political moment this year as one presidential candidate signals solidarity and another seems open to resetting what ha...

Events

September 11, 2023 | 08:00 AM to 05:35 PM (EST)
See 70+ cutting-edge technologies from startups to established firms. The most live fintech demos yo...
August, 2022
Join experts from CryptoFi, Finastra, Chainalysis, Javelin Strategy & Research, and Strategic Resour...
November, 2022
The payments ecosystem is evolving. The Javelin and Mercator analysts joined forces to bring their c...

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