Chris Hayes leads Capitol Asset Strategies (CAS) as President, a consulting firm focused on helping clients navigate complex regulatory, policy, and strategic issues at the intersection of financial services and emerging technology. Chris brings more than 15 years of experience bridging traditional finance and cutting-edge innovation. He has led global public policy efforts across the blockchain, private funds, and financial services sectors, shaping legislation and regulation in the U.S. and abroad. Most recently, he led global government affairs for the Celo Layer-1 blockchain, advancing the use of tokenized carbon credits, and U.S. policy for Sorare, a SoftBank-backed NFT gaming company. His work influenced key provisions in the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, including stablecoin and Layer-1 token frameworks. Previously, Chris built and led the global advocacy program at the Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA), representing over 650 institutional investors in private equity. There, he drove successful campaigns on legislation and SEC rules affecting private markets, including: -The ILPA Model LPA – the first free, public limited partnership agreement for private funds; -Legislative wins creating the SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation and Small Business Advisory Committee; -Advocacy around the Private Fund Adviser Rule, Investment Adviser Alignment Act, and 2017 tax reform. Earlier, Chris served as General Counsel and head of government affairs for the Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA), advocating for BDCs, SBICs, and U.S. middle-market private equity firms. Chris holds a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science and Legal Studies from UMass Amherst. He is admitted to the bar in California and the District of Columbia