Abhishek Vaidyanathan
Real world asset and cross border legal specialist
General Counsel of the NEAR Foundation, where he leads global legal, regulatory, compliance, and advocacy efforts, while driving the Foundation’s decentralization and governance strategy.Previously, he co-founded and served as General Counsel & VP Operations at DePIN startup Hexagon Wireless, scaling operations across the U.S. and securing $2M in seed funding. A former litigator with Shearman & Sterling (New York) and top Canadian firms, Abhishek has represented major clients in complex commercial and securities disputes.Admitted in New York and Ontario, he specializes in blockchain regulation, securities law, and cross-border litigation. He frequently advises Web3 founders, contributes to policy development, and speaks at industry forums. He holds a J.D., magna cum laude, from Osgoode Hall Law School and a B.A. (Hons) from the University of Toronto.