James Wester

Director, Cryptocurrency / Co-Head of Payments

James helps financial services clients understand the evolving crypto and digital currency space. Drawing on his more than two decades of experience in research, marketing and communications in payments, technology and financial services, James provides the insights and information financial institutions and their technology providers need to build successful products and services around digital assets, cryptocurrencies, and tokens.

Most recently, James managed strategic communications for PayPal supporting the company’s blockchain, crypto, and digital currencies business unit. Prior to PayPal, he served as research director of IDC Financial Insights’ worldwide blockchain and payment strategies practices.

James has been widely quoted in the media including The New York Times, Marketplace (NPR), The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Good Morning America. He has a master’s degree in management information technology from the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree in English and communications from Drury University.

Javelin’s cryptocurrency practice offers data and practical guidance to technology vendors and financial services providers on cryptocurrencies, digital currencies, tokens, and the technology behind them. The practice helps clients understand how to navigate the market as digital currencies, stablecoins, and digital assets become a more important part of the larger financial services world.

Latest Insights

June, 2026
Javelin Report
The Technology Product Owner: New Rules, New Roles at FIs

As banks decide to monetize data and deploy AI, a new kind of employee is becoming critical to turning technology into revenue. Product owners who blend finance, technology, and st...

July, 2026
Javelin Report
BIS Project Agorá: A Road Map to Tokenized Deposits for FIs

Project Agorá is more than a wholesale cross-border payments prototype. It signals that central banks, commercial banks, and financial infrastructure providers are preparing to abs...

June, 2026
Impact Note
How SoFiUSD Is Pointing Toward the Broader Stablecoin Future

SoFiUSD is not just another branded stablecoin competing for consumer attention. Its launch shows how stablecoins may enter banking through settlement, issuer processing, embedded ...

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