Tiedemann Advisors Speaker Series
The Future of the Metaverse Economy
A conversation on NFTs with Michael Bouhanna,
the head of NFT Auctions at Sotheby’s
The Metaverse, the next stage in the evolution of the internet, is revolutionizing how we interact with the digital world. The recent rise of one-of-a-kind digital collectibles called NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are an example of this historic milestone.
NFTs are transforming the art world with sales totaling approximately $774 million as of September 2021. Yet, just a couple of years ago, many people have either not heard of or largely dismissed this digital asset.
We sat down for a conversation with Michael Bouhanna, Sotheby’s NFT expert to understand what makes this digital asset so unique. We also discuss what to consider before acquiring an NFT and how can one actually purchase an NFT.
Speaker Biographies
Michael Bouhanna
Co-Head of Digital Art Sales, Sotheby's
Michael Bouhanna joined Sotheby’s London team as a Contemporary Art Specialist in 2017, following his time at the company’s Paris office where he headed up the Contemporary Art Sales. In his time at Sotheby’s, Michael has been involved in many of the most prestigious auctions, including the sale of the collections of David Bowie in London, as well as Daniel Cordier and Marianne and Pierre Nahon in Paris. In addition to his specialism in the young and emerging art market, Michael was recently appointed to Co-Head of Digital Art Sales, where he is driving the strategy and the curation of the NFT auctions at Sotheby’s.
Moderated by:
Michael Greenwald
Director and Head of Digital Assets Education Tiedemann Advisors
Michael is responsible for managing a number of Tiedemann’s client relationships and overseeing their advisors to provide solutions that address the challenges of stewardship of wealth over generations. As a member of the firm’s business development and strategy team, he is a referral resource for attorneys and accountants. Michael is also Director of Digital Assets Education, in which role he provides education across the firm on issues related to digital assets and blockchain technology.
Prior to joining Tiedemann in 2017, Michael worked in senior roles within the United States Treasury working with Africa and Europe. He served as a financial diplomat in the Middle East spanning the tenures of U.S. Treasury Secretaries Geithner, Lew, and Mnuchin. Greenwald initially served as the United States Treasury Policy Advisor for Europe. Between 2015-2017, he served as the first United States Treasury Attaché appointed to Qatar and Kuwait and opened the Treasury Department’s office in Doha, Qatar. He also served in a variety of counterterrorism roles in the U.S. Intelligence Community and in the Office of General Council at the U.S Treasury. Greenwald worked closely with the National Security Council at the White House tackling issues and crafting sanctions programs related to countering ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, Ukraine/Russia, Syria, and North Korea.
Michael is a frequent speaker, writer and commentator on international security, the Middle East and the global economy. He has been featured on CNBC; published in Barrons; and given lectures at The Council on Foreign Relations, Harvard, Yale Law School, Stanford, and Northwestern Business School, Doha.
Michael earned a Juris Doctor degree from Boston University School of Law, a Master of Arts from Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from George Washington University. Originally from Brookline, Massachusetts, Michael resides in Palm Beach, FL with his wife.
