{"text":[[{"start":8.5,"text":"Crypto exchange OKX is reconsidering its sponsorship of one of the industry’s largest conferences after the event’s official after-party was held at a nightclub featuring pole and lap dancing."}],[{"start":20.4,"text":"The Consensus Miami crypto conference, organised by media group CoinDesk, brought together some of the industry’s biggest names this month, alongside Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr."}],[{"start":31.7,"text":"Its after-party was held at nightclub E11even, which bills itself as a “high-energy social playground” and featured lap dancers, pole dancers and servers dressed in lingerie."}],[{"start":43.2,"text":"OKX was one of the conference’s main sponsors, while the after-party had separate partners. Elliott Suthers, global head of corporate affairs at OKX, told the FT the company “will think carefully about future sponsorship participation”."}],[{"start":58.550000000000004,"text":"CoinDesk, which is owned by crypto exchange Bullish, did not reply to a request for comment and has not made a public statement about the event. "}],[{"start":66.35000000000001,"text":"Many crypto executives criticised the after-party as inappropriate and unprofessional, warning that it risked undermining the industry’s efforts to align itself more closely with mainstream financial institutions and is especially damaging for women who work in crypto. "}],[{"start":82.60000000000001,"text":"“These kinds of immature and frankly borderline discriminatory events risk alienating exactly the communities the industry needs in order to continue growing,” Suthers said. "}],[{"start":93.10000000000001,"text":"“We believe the industry should be moving towards greater professionalism, inclusivity and credibility, not away from it,” he said, adding that it was a “significant mis-step”."}],[{"start":103.30000000000001,"text":"The industry is trying to shake off its “crypto bro” reputation at a time when major new crypto legislation is advancing in Washington."}],[{"start":111.15,"text":"“I nearly fell off my chair . . . I was appalled,” said one person who attended the conference, upon learning about the after-party. "}],[{"start":118.75,"text":"“It’s unbelievable that they thought this was OK,” said another person who was at the conference. "}],[{"start":124.35,"text":"“We will constantly be needing to fight for women to have a place in this industry,” said Amanda Wick, founder of The Association for Women In Cryptocurrency. “People are actively walking the halls of Congress saying ‘trust us, we’re mature’. I don’t think they realise the damage this does.”"}],[{"start":143,"text":"Corporate partners for the after-party included law firm Dentons, crypto wallet MetaMask and crypto infrastructure companies Trustswap and Bridgeport, some of which have distanced themselves from the party."}],[{"start":155.6,"text":"“We had no involvement in the selection of the venue, which we have since learned was not consistent with our commitment to a culture grounded in respect, dignity and professionalism. We regret our participation in the event,” Dentons told the FT. "}],[{"start":169.9,"text":"Consensys, which owns MetaMask, said it did not choose the venue or entertainment. “We are reviewing our partner selection and brand usage processes to ensure that any association with our name is fully consistent with what we stand for,” it said in a statement. "}],[{"start":184.25,"text":"Trustswap and Bridgeport did not respond to requests for comment. "}],[{"start":189.05,"text":"Other top sponsors of the Consensus conference alongside OKX were crypto bank Anchorage Digital, app GoMining, investor Grayscale and blockchain group Solana. Other sponsors included Alvarez & Marsal, Google Cloud and PwC, as well as crypto groups including Coinbase, Ripple and Bridge. They did not respond to requests for comment. "}],[{"start":210.9,"text":"Some companies were unrepentant about the party. “We are deeply sorry for having a great time,” decentralised finance investor Velvet Capital, a partner for the after-party, said in a statement. “Clearly we missed the memo that real networking only counts at polo clubs or hotel lobby bars.”"}],[{"start":227.20000000000002,"text":"Crypto exchange ChangeNOW, which also partnered on the E11even event, told the FT it was “open to more fun venues” for industry events. "}],[{"start":236.55,"text":"“We see no need to excessively moralise about the situation,” the company said."}],[{"start":248.85000000000002,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1778941770_7219.mp3"}