The Blockchain for Europe Summit 2022 brought together representatives of European institutions, academia and the blockchain industry in a hybrid event held in Brussels and online. The two-day program focused on regulatory and technological developments shaping the future of the sector. Sessions addressed the impact of MiCA and the Transfer of Funds Regulation, as well as the tokenized economy, the Digital Euro, stablecoins, decentralized finance, smart contracts, data and artificial intelligence. The breadth of the agenda reflected the increasing connection between blockchain technology and wider questions concerning finance, digital infrastructure and European economic policy. The Summit provided a forum for specialists and decision-makers to discuss how regulation could develop alongside innovation. As blockchain adoption expanded, the relationship between technical development, consumer protection, financial stability and competitiveness became an increasingly important part of the European policy debate.

The European Blockchain Association published its takeaways from the fifth OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum, which returned as an in-person event after an extended period of virtual meetings. Policymakers, innovators and industry representatives discussed the challenges involved in developing blockchain technology within appropriate legal and governance frameworks. A central theme was the need to support responsible and trustworthy innovation. The forum also highlighted the OECD Recommendation on Blockchain and Other Distributed Ledger Technologies, described as an important government-endorsed policy standard for the sector. The discussions reflected the inherently international character of decentralized technologies. Because blockchain networks and digital markets frequently operate across national borders, cooperation between governments, industry participants and professional organizations is increasingly important when addressing regulation, governance, consumer protection and the development of new blockchain-based services.