Ilja Geier is the Finance Yard Munich chapter leader. Together with the other chapter coordinators and our chapter partners, he is supporting the creation of a strong Web3 hub in Munich.

Ilja is a seasoned legal expert with over a decade of experience in the financial industry. Currently serving as Senior Counsel for International Regulatory Affairs at Coinbase, Ilja advises on all aspects of the company’s operations in Germany. His extensive background includes roles at key institutions such as the German financial regulator BaFin, PwC Legal, Fidelity International, and Deutsche Börse.

Ilja began his legal career after being admitted to the bar in Germany, starting in investment banking at Dero Bank. He then joined Fidor Bank, one of the world’s pioneering crypto banks, where he played a crucial role in managing the legal aspects of the bank’s crypto business, including handling legal disputes in court.

Ilja holds a law degree from the University of Münster in Germany and the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Chile. Additionally, he earned an Executive MBA from the University of Münster, where his master’s thesis focused on Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and corporate financing. His diverse experience and deep expertise in both traditional finance and the emerging crypto space make him a key figure in the industry.