James Wester is Research Director for IDC Financial Insights responsible for the global payments practice. Wester’s core research coverage includes the evolution of payment networks and technology, developing fraud and security risks, and legal and regulatory issues. His research also includes an emphasis on mobile and alternative payment methods and the threats and opportunities now facing the entire payment ecosystem from evolving mobile technologies. Previously, Wester was founding editor of Mobile Payments Today. He also served as an affiliate analyst with Yankee Group covering mobile and emerging payments. Prior to launching Mobile Payments Today, Wester was Director of Corporate Communications for Chase Paymentech. Before joining Chase Paymentech, Wester worked for AOL LLC managing the company’s $60 million payment budget and serving as the internal subject matter expert on payments, data security and best practices.

Anthony Gallippi, co-founder and executive chairman, saw a need for bitcoin payment processing and founded BitPay in 2011. As a start-up, Gallippi is involved in all of the day-to-day operations including new business development, marketing, and customer service. Gallippi has 15 years of experience in sales and marketing working in the Robotics industry. Bitcoin is a new financial technology, invented in 2009 as the first peer-to-peer digital currency. Using bitcoin, it is possible to send money like an email - to anyone, anytime, anywhere- without going through a bank or government or corporation. Before founding BitPay, Gallippi was District Sales Manager at Aerotech and Regional Sales Manager at Industrial Devices Corporation. Gallippi has a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.