{"id":"salman-banaei","title":"Salman Banaei","content":"**Salman Banaei** is currently serving as the General Counsel for [Plume](https://iq.wiki/wiki/plume) Network, a blockchain initiative focused on the [tokenization](https://iq.wiki/wiki/tokenization) of [real-world assets ](https://iq.wiki/wiki/real-world-assets-rwas)(RWAs). His extensive career in both public service and the private sector has made him a key figure in navigating the complex intersection of traditional financial systems and emerging [digital assets](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets). [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-hdpRiPRzWJreLo2o)  [\\[7\\]](#cite-id-OOEIolCLNoy7Pi6t)  [\\[9\\]](#cite-id-EoVMwTuy1YCATE4K) \n\n[YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=TEo7PvbCCXw)\n\n### Education\n\nSalman Banaei started his academic journey with a focus on philosophy, earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia in 2002. He then pursued a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, graduating in 2007 on a merit scholarship. Complementing his legal education, Banaei obtained a Master of Science in Mineral and Energy Economics from the Colorado School of Mines and a postgraduate diploma in Petroleum Economics and Management from the École Nationale Supérieure du Pétrole et des Moteurs (IFP School) in 2008. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-hdpRiPRzWJreLo2o)  [\\[9\\]](#cite-id-EoVMwTuy1YCATE4K) \n\n## Career\n\n### **Early Career**\n\nIn 2005, Salman Banaei worked as a Summer Associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP in the Denver metropolitan area, which served as a basis for later work with [digital assets](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets).\n\n### **Public Sector Contributions**\n\nBanaei began his public sector career at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where he worked between 2009 and 2013 in several legal and regulatory positions. His roles included Economist/Attorney-Advisor in the Division of Market Oversight and later Senior Counsel and Policy Advisor to Commissioner Bart Chilton. During this period, he participated in matters related to derivatives market regulation following the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act after the Global Financial Crisis. In 2010, he received the Chairman Gary Gensler Staff Excellence Award.\n\nFrom January 2013 to January 2019, Banaei also served as Commodities and Derivatives Law Subject Matter Expert and Lecturer at the University of Colorado Denver Business School.\n\nFrom September 2013 to April 2014, Banaei served as Senior Counsel at Norton Rose Fulbright.\n\n### **Private Sector and Blockchain Industry**\n\nIn 2014, Banaei joined IHS Markit as Executive Director. During his tenure at the company, he held positions including Co-Head of Regulatory Affairs, Co-Head of Blockchain, and Head of Blockchain.\n\nBetween 2018 and 2021, Banaei served as a member of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Market Risk Advisory Committee.\n\nFrom 2019 to 2021, he was also a member of the Financial Services Regulatory Sandbox and Innovation Council for the Government of the District of Columbia.\n\nBetween October 2021 and May 2022, Banaei worked as Co-Head of Public Policy at [Chainalysis](https://iq.wiki/wiki/chainalysis). His work included policy-related matters connected to [digital assets](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets) and financial regulation.\n\nFrom May 2022 to January 2024, Banaei served as Assistant General Counsel and Head of Policy at [Uniswap](https://iq.wiki/wiki/uniswap) Labs. In this role, he advised on legal, regulatory, and policy matters related to digital assets and financial services, and participated in industry and policy discussions.\n\nIn 2024, Banaei joined the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as Senior Special Counsel. His responsibilities included oversight of national securities exchanges, securities-based swap execution facilities, and alternative trading systems. He also provided legal and policy guidance on matters involving equities, options, fixed income markets, securities-based swaps, and [digital assets](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets).\n\nSince April 2025, Banaei has served as General Counsel at Plume. His responsibilities have included legal and regulatory matters related to tokenized real-world assets and [digital asset](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets) licensing. During his tenure, the company obtained a Class M Digital Asset Business Licence from the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Plume has also entered partnerships with organizations including Apollo Global Management and [Paxos](https://iq.wiki/wiki/paxos) in connection with blockchain-based financial infrastructure initiatives.\n\nBanaei has participated in discussions related to [digital asset](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets) regulation and tokenized securities in the United States. He has testified before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee on matters involving blockchain-based financial systems, regulatory frameworks, and investor protection.  [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-hdpRiPRzWJreLo2o)  [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-F5FYL1yEBuroRziw)  [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-UALfDhtlM7SYwnEU)  [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-Dq6pCwnikMead3l6)  [\\[5\\]](#cite-id-aq0ZfH4UhB9Mwgrm)  [\\[6\\]](#cite-id-rQ7H3U5Fi8lhFGVN)  [\\[7\\]](#cite-id-OOEIolCLNoy7Pi6t)  [\\[8\\]](#cite-id-omFeUHIagG8Xn9U9)  [\\[9\\]](#cite-id-EoVMwTuy1YCATE4K) \n\n​","summary":"Salman Banaei serves as General Counsel at Plume Network, advocating for onchain financial systems. Previously a Senior Special Counsel at the SEC, Banaei advises on digital assets and regulatory compliance.","images":[{"id":"QmZUJ8fU7FDoew5j2y6buKqkij75jotySeE2Roz4Kg1745","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"categories":[{"id":"people","title":"people"}],"tags":[{"id":"Founder"},{"id":"Speaker"},{"id":"Researcher"}],"media":[{"id":"QmbuJY3ZQjNBgwBsq3D7TvEgGKtM9BY52cQLXNDc7UFzYR","type":"GALLERY","source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"QmQ63hCHBvYPCnyzPZw4ZdDDfb24D5BsV9v2zM5btKkGA6","type":"GALLERY","source":"IPFS_IMG"},{"id":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEo7PvbCCXw","name":"TEo7PvbCCXw","caption":"","thumbnail":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEo7PvbCCXw","source":"YOUTUBE"}],"metadata":[{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"hdpRiPRzWJreLo2o\",\"description\":\"B. SALMAN BANAEI\\nP R O F E S S I O N A L H I G H L I G H T S \",\"timestamp\":1779862258285,\"url\":\"https://www.congress.gov/119/meeting/house/119103/witnesses/HHRG-119-BA00-Bio-BanaeiS-20260325.pdf\"},{\"id\":\"F5FYL1yEBuroRziw\",\"description\":\"Welcome Salman Banaei as General Counsel\\n\",\"timestamp\":1779862987006,\"url\":\"https://plume.org/blog/welcome-salman\"},{\"id\":\"UALfDhtlM7SYwnEU\",\"description\":\"Plume Network Appoints Salman Banaei as Chief Legal Officer\\n\",\"timestamp\":1779862963641,\"url\":\"https://binance.com/en/square/post/04-24-2025-plume-network-appoints-salman-banaei-as-chief-legal-officer-23347924647650\"},{\"id\":\"Dq6pCwnikMead3l6\",\"description\":\"Ex-SEC Counsel Joins Blockchain Co. Plume Network As GC\\n\",\"timestamp\":1779863025286,\"url\":\"https://www.law360.com/articles/2327127/ex-sec-counsel-joins-blockchain-co-plume-network-as-gc\"},{\"id\":\"aq0ZfH4UhB9Mwgrm\",\"description\":\"Plume Secures Bermuda Digital Asset Licence Launching the World's First Regulated Vaults\\n\",\"timestamp\":1779863034669,\"url\":\"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/plume-secures-bermuda-digital-asset-licence-launching-the-worlds-first-regulated-vaults-302777465.html\"},{\"id\":\"rQ7H3U5Fi8lhFGVN\",\"description\":\"Plume legal chief to testify at U.S. House hearing on tokenization\\n\",\"timestamp\":1779863053371,\"url\":\"https://coinness.com/en/news/1152644\"},{\"id\":\"OOEIolCLNoy7Pi6t\",\"description\":\"WRITTEN TESTIMONY OF B. SALMAN BANAEI\",\"timestamp\":1779863106450,\"url\":\"https://docs.house.gov/meetings/BA/BA00/20260325/119103/HHRG-119-BA00-Wstate-BanaeiS-20260325.pdf\"},{\"id\":\"omFeUHIagG8Xn9U9\",\"description\":\"Plume Network appoints former SEC advisor Salman Banaei as Chief Counsel of the project\\n\",\"timestamp\":1779863119415,\"url\":\"https://binance.com/en/square/post/29861144964378\"},{\"id\":\"EoVMwTuy1YCATE4K\",\"description\":\"LinkedIn: B. Salman Banaei\",\"timestamp\":1779862928599,\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/banaei/\"}]"},{"id":"linkedin_profile","value":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/banaei/"},{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://x.com/banamlas"},{"id":"commit-message","value":"\"Added Salman Banaei biography to people category\""}],"events":[{"id":"a14550f5-90ad-422c-b311-0fb8834b4068","date":"2025-04-01","title":"Appointed General Counsel at Plume Network","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Joined Plume Network as General Counsel, focusing on digital assets and regulatory compliance.","link":null,"continent":"NORTH AMERICA","country":"United States"},{"id":"73aa5771-b8a9-476d-8ab8-6c1c43a619b3","date":"2026-03-01","title":"Testified in House Tokenization Hearing","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Presented at U.S. House Committee hearing on the future of tokenized securities.","link":null,"continent":"NORTH AMERICA","country":"United States"},{"id":"69623a25-0cd8-4811-806b-64df003fb1dd","date":"2024-01-01","title":"Appointed to SEC Special Counsel","type":"DEFAULT","description":"Served as Senior Special Counsel at the SEC, leading market supervision and digital asset guidance.","link":null,"continent":"NORTH AMERICA","country":"United States"}],"user":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"author":{"id":"0x8af7a19a26d8fbc48defb35aefb15ec8c407f889"},"operator":{"id":"0xd5893989b9952c6568a99F854795AcC5Ae480D56"},"language":"en","version":1,"linkedWikis":{"blockchains":[],"founders":[],"speakers":[]}}