Kunal Bhasin – India
Partner, Advisory & Co-Leader, Digital Assets CoE,
KPMG Canada
Kunal is the Partner and Co-Leader of KPMG Canada’s Cryptoassets and Blockchain CoE. He possesses over 10 years of experience conducting and leading compliance and risk assessments, and technology audits for crypto, fintech, TradFi and technology sectors. He has been involved in the crypto and blockchain space since 2015, and has been with KPMG since 2018 where he was tasked to build the Crypto & Blockchain Advisory practice.
He led the firm’s strategy for its products and services related to crypto assets, and recently led the firm’s crypto treasury, NFT and metaverse initiatives. Kunal continues to work with the community, regulators, as well as financial services and institutional investors in both traditional finance and crypto space globally for promoting and enabling institutionalization of crypto assets while managing the risks in the space.
He has supported organizations design and implement the operational and security framework for cryptoassets’ foundational capabilities such as custody, anti-money laundering (AML) and risk management programs. Kunal chairs for Canada Blockchain Consortium’s Virtual Asset Service & Technology Provider (VASTP) Committee and is also a member of the Standards Council of Canada committee responsible for rolling out ISO T/C307 – Standards for Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies.
Prior to entering the crypto space, Kunal has led various independent risk assessments on multi-year implementation projects, IT risk and maturity assessments, SOX-404 audits, internal audits and continuous monitoring, cloud security audits, SOC
Kunal Bhasin’s journey from New Delhi to Canada epitomizes the experiences of a first-generation immigrant seeking academic and professional advancement in a foreign land.
Since his move in 2013 for an MBA, he adeptly managed the challenges of cultural adaptation while capitalizing on the diverse academic milieu and supportive networks cultivated during his studies.
Transitioning from enterprise-focused blockchain exploration, an unexpected opportunity at a house party propelled him into developing a crypto advisory business at KPMG, underscoring the unpredictable nature of career trajectories and the importance of networking.
Beyond personal triumphs, Kunal is committed to mentoring fellow immigrants, advocating for empathy, networking, and self-assurance as vital components of successful integration and professional growth in Canada.