Barcelona hosts from this Wednesday until Thursday the twelfth edition of the European Blockchain Convention (EBC12), which will bring together more than 6,000 participants from over 70 countries. The convention arrives at a time of transformation for the digital assets sector, with increasing participation from financial entities and institutional investors, and with regulation gaining weight in the debate.
The EBC has Barcelona as one of its main meeting points, but its program also extends to other international markets, with different editions and activities in other cities around the world. This international dimension is part of the convention's objective to connect the different actors in the blockchain and digital assets ecosystem.
The approval of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in the United States and the deployment of the European MiCA regulation have contributed to modifying the environment in which companies in this sector operate. Now, part of the debate focuses on how financial institutions can incorporate digital assets and on which platforms and infrastructures will allow this integration.
This is precisely one of the main themes of the current edition of the European Blockchain Convention. The program includes more than 100 sessions, including conferences, round tables, conversations with experts, and practical workshops, addressing issues such as institutional adoption, the tokenization of real-world assets, stablecoins and payments, market infrastructures, regulation, security, and on-chain finance.
The convention will also address decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, enterprise blockchain, and Web3 solutions, as well as the intersection between blockchain and artificial intelligence, decentralized autonomous organizations, and digital privacy. Expected participants include representatives from companies and institutions linked to financial markets and digital assets, including BlackRock, Cardano, Bitwise, Baillie Gifford, WisdomTree, Hilbert Capital, Zodia Custody, Midchains, and Caisse des Dépôts.
Beyond the presentations, EBC12 will feature an exhibition area and a space dedicated to startups, as well as meetings between investors and entrepreneurs. The convention also includes a parallel agenda with events and meetings organized by companies in the sector.
EBC week has started before the official opening of the doors with a paddle tournament organized by Fireblocks and a VIP reception for selected participants. Wednesday and Thursday concentrate the main sessions of the convention, while the program will be completed with various parallel events.
The European Blockchain Convention was born with the aim of connecting the local and European blockchain ecosystem and fostering debate on the possibilities and limitations of this technology. In this twelfth edition, the program reflects the evolution of the sector towards issues increasingly linked to traditional finance: regulation, tokenization, payments, custody, and market infrastructure.
For two days, Barcelona will thus become a meeting point for technology companies, financial entities, investors, regulators, and professionals involved in the development of digital assets.