Maria Akulenko is a Chief Compliance Officer with over 10 years of experience leading legal, compliance, risk and governance functions across payments, fintech and digital assets. She advises boards and executive teams on regulatory strategy, licensing, and enterprise risk, helping regulated businesses scale internationally without losing sight of regulatory expectations. Her focus spans AML/CFT, crypto asset regulation, and cross-border payments, with hands-on experience navigating frameworks like MiCA and evolving fintech legislation across multiple jurisdictions. Before moving into executive leadership, Maria practised at international law firms, building a strong foundation in corporate, financial and tax law. She has extensive experience working with regulators, leading licensing programmes, regulatory transformation and cross-border governance initiatives across Europe and international markets.