David Rutter dances stiffly onto the stage as the music plays at R3’s flagship conference in London. Introducing the chief executive, R3 co-founder Todd McDonald told the audience to expect high levels of energy, and the gregarious blockchain boss does not disappoint. When an attempt at a quip falls flat, Rutter asks the crowd where the laughter button is located.

The 57-year-old Pennsylvania native may not be speaking the comedic language of the tech enthusiasts in the audience — but then, the slick-suited Rutter would blend in better at a Wall Street bank than slouching on a sofa in a WeWork office.