Board Member Spotlight: Mark Jewett

Occupation: Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation

Predominant Practice or Research Area: Financial regulation, managing the digital transformation of finance, money and payments

What are the principal challenges and opportunities faced in this area of international law?

"International law faces both challenges and opportunities in addressing the digital

transformation of finance, money, and payments. The rise of digital assets, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and global payment platforms has outpaced existing legal frameworks, creating gaps in regulation, enforcement, and cross-border coordination. Jurisdictional fragmentation complicates oversight, as divergent national rules risk regulatory arbitrage, instability, and uneven consumer protection. Cybersecurity, data governance, and anti-money-laundering (AML) compliance add further complexity.

At the same time, international law has opportunities to foster cooperation, harmonization, and innovation. Multilateral bodies (e.g., IMF, BIS, UNCITRAL, FATF) can set standards that

enhance interoperability, financial inclusion, and systemic resilience. Digitalization also

provides tools for transparency and efficiency in cross-border payments. Ultimately, the

challenge is to balance national sovereignty with global governance, ensuring that

international law evolves quickly enough to provide legitimacy, trust, and predictability in a

rapidly transforming financial ecosystem."