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Cyndi Rodriguez

Founder & Principal, CNR Advisory

Built for Fintech

Strategic advisor and operator for fintech leaders. From the SEC to the startup trenches to global companies.

With over two decades of experience at the intersection of regulation, capital markets, and financial innovation, Cyndi Rodriguez founded CNR Advisory to deliver the kind of regulatory and compliance strategy that fintech leaders actually need: fast, informed, and grounded in real-world execution.

She has served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, senior counsel to SEC Commissioners, and as general counsel and Chief Legal Officer for multiple high-growth fintech platforms operating across private markets, blockchain, payments, lending and trading infrastructure.

Cyndi has led legal strategy for:

  • IPO preparation and S-1 filings (including for the first SEC-registered stablecoin)
  • M&A transactions exceeding $250 million
  • Launch of broker-dealers, ATS platforms, and crypto exchanges
  • Multi-jurisdictional fund formation across the U.S., Cayman, BVI, and Panama
  • Platform-level restructurings, spinouts, and post-acquisition integrations

Cyndi’s not just a lawyer—she’s an operator. A trusted partner in the room when strategy, regulation, and execution collide.

Career Highlights

  • Deputy Chief of Staff to the SEC Chairman, Senior Counsel to SEC Commissioners, Special Counsel in the Division of Trading & Markets, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Deputy General Counsel, Nasdaq, Inc.
  • Chief Legal Officer, Nasdaq Private Market and SharesPost (acquired by Forge Global)
  • Cofounder and founding Chief Legal Officer, Collective Liquidity
  • Board Advisor to fintech companies including Astrella, Vested, and WFFConnect
  • Led legal strategy for platforms transacting in public and private securities, digital assets (including cryptocurrencies) payments and lending

Areas of Expertise

  • Securities law, SEC/FINRA/state securities regulation
  • Broker-dealer, ATS, investment fund, and investment advisor formation, launch and compliance frameworks
  • Blockchain technology and infrastructure
  • Cryptocurrencies and other digital assets
  • Capital markets transactions and compliance
  • Product-aligned legal and compliance architecture and client onboarding
  • Client and commercial contracts
  • Corporate governance, board support, and strategic advisory
  • Law firm management

Education & Bar Affiliation

  • J.D., The University of Texas School of Law
  • B.A., Plan II Honors Program, The University of Texas at Austin
  • Member, State Bar of Texas
  • Registered In-House Counsel, State of California