Markus Dunkel

Alexander Bechtel is Global Head of Digital Products at DWS Group, where his mandate covers product and business development focused on the digitalization of asset management, encompassing digital assets, digital distribution, and embedded finance. He has held this role since March 2025. He also serves as an Advisory Board Member at AllUnity, a Frankfurt-based entity developing a MiCAR-compliant EUR-denominated stablecoin, a position he has held since May 2024.

Prior to joining DWS, Bechtel served as Head of Digital Assets & Currencies Strategy at Deutsche Bank's Corporate Bank for over two years, where he worked on the bank's approach to blockchain, digital assets, and digital currencies. He holds a PhD in monetary economics from the University of St. Gallen, where he conducted research that included a stay at Stanford University. He also worked as an external consultant at the European Central Bank. He remains an external lecturer at the University of St. Gallen and the University of Neuchâtel, where he teaches financial technology and blockchain-related subjects. Since June 2019, he has co-hosted "Bitcoin, Fiat & Rock'n'Roll", a German-language podcast focused on digital assets and currencies. Since October 2023, he has written a monthly column on crypto and digital assets for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.