European Blockchain Convention 2026: Institutions Converge on Barcelona for Post-MiCA Era
The European Blockchain Convention 2026 is set to take place in Barcelona this September, bringing together over 5,000 attendees from more than 90 countries. The event marks a significant shift in the digital asset industry, as it converges on regulatory compliance rather than debating whether Europe will regulate crypto.
With MiCA regulation now fully in force across Europe, institutional players are preparing to operate within this new framework. Sessions at EBC12 will cover key topics such as CASP licensing, stablecoin issuance frameworks, and the role of central bank digital currencies in cross-border settlement.
The confirmed speaker list includes senior figures from top financial institutions, including J.P. Morgan, BNY, Invesco, Hamilton Lane, Fidelity, and the UK's Financial Conduct Authority. The presence of Colin Payne, Head of Innovation at the FCA, is particularly notable as it highlights regulatory interoperability between London and Brussels.
The event has seen a significant surge in attendance growth, with over 80 of Europe's top 100 banks expected to attend, up from 50 last year. Deutsche Börse has invested $200 million in Kraken, while Santander's digital banking arm Openbank has expanded crypto trading services for customers across Germany and Spain.