Stephen Phillips

Stephen Phillips is a global advisor and thought leader at the intersection of digital assets, blockchain infrastructure, and public-sector policy. He is the Founder and Principal of IMHOTEP Consulting, advising central banks, financial regulators, and financial institutions on digital money, tokenization, stablecoins, and the modernization of financial market infrastructure.

He has worked extensively with central banks and regulatory authorities across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean, supporting initiatives spanning CBDC design and experimentation, virtual asset regulatory frameworks, cross-border payments, and market infrastructure reform. His work bridges policy, technology, and market structure, with a focus on financial stability, institutional adoption, and the role of public money as an anchor for digital financial ecosystems.

Stephen is a contributing author to publications developed in collaboration with multinational organizations on digital public infrastructure, data governance, and inclusive financial innovation. He regularly advises senior leadership, including governors, deputy governors, and executive committees, on strategic decision-making related to digital assets and distributed ledger technologies.

He is a frequent speaker at global forums and publishes on the future of finance, digital money, and tokenized markets, with an emphasis on pragmatic adoption, regulatory coherence, and aligning innovation with public-interest outcomes, particularly in emerging and fast-evolving markets.

Based in Saudi Arabia, Stephen’s perspective is shaped by cross-jurisdictional experience and a commitment to pragmatic, equitable advancement of blockchain and digital asset ecosystems.