Wine & Talk With Henri Arslanian

2 min read

YEREVAN, Armenia — On June 15, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Office of Alumni Relations hosted the second of its new “Wine & Talk” speaker series.

The distinguished guest speaker of this Wine & Talk gathering was Henri Arslanian, the co-founder and managing partner of Nine Blocks Capital Management, a leading crypto specialized hedge fund based in Dubai. Henri, lawyer and banker by background, former PwC Global Crypto Leader, global speaker, advisor to numerous central banks and regulators, best-selling author, and influential authority in social media with over 500,000 LinkedIn followers, took center stage delving into the compelling topic, “The Future of Money: What You Need to Know.”

The AUA Faculty Lounge buzzed with excitement as alumni from different classes gathered to learn more about cryptocurrency, a topic of great interest to many, and to engage with a world-leading expert in the field. The informal setting encouraged attendees to interact freely with the guest speaker and fellow alumni in a positive and cheerful atmosphere. 

Prior to commencing his presentation, Arslanian generously gifted two signed copies of his books, “The Book of Crypto” and “The Future of Finance,” to AUA’s AGBU Papazian Library. He then started his presentation with the history of money, tracing the origins of trading and bartering, followed by the evolution of monetary systems across civilizations. He then discussed key trends like cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, central bank digital currencies, non-fungible tokens, and decentralized finance. With his trademark enthusiasm, he masterfully simplified complex concepts, ensuring maximal grasp by all attendees. Notably, Arslanian proudly acknowledged the involvement of AUA alumni in some crypto businesses he owns, including ACX International, the world’s leading compliance and customer support firm specialized in the crypto space, which has over 90 employees in Yerevan, with around half being AUA alumni.

Complementing the intellectual stimulation created by the talk, the attendees savored a delightful selection of wines generously gifted by Tushpa Wine Cellar, a boutique winery in Ararat Valley, owned and run by the family of AUA alumnus Karlen Manaseryan (MSCIS ’17), who serves as the company’s co-founder and development director.

With its core objective of facilitating meaningful connections, the “Wine & Talk” event series provides a fitting platform for AUA alumni to forge new connections with accomplished professionals across various domains, broadening their horizons and fostering lifelong learning.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.