CV Summit 2025: The Global Convergence of Blockchain, Digital Assets, AI, and Beyond

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In September, Zürich became the center of innovation & discourse in the Web3 ecosystem, as CV Summit 2025 demonstrated that blockchain and AI are no longer buzzwords chasing headlines, they’re the backbone of real financial and technological systems in motion. 

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For two days at the Kongresshaus Zürich, global banks, asset managers, tech giants, and builders sat at the same tables, not to speculate but to map out how infrastructure for a new financial era is already taking shape. Co-presented by Franklin Templeton and Unblock, CV Summit 2025 featured conversations that stretched from programmable money to autonomous agents, signaling a clear shift from vision to execution.

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“Innovation has never been as fast as today, but will never be as slow ever again,” said Olaf Hannemann, Co-Founder of CV VC, in a keynote that really captured the Summit’s momentum.

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A Convergence of Worlds

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CV Summit went beyond being a blockchain or AI event. It was about the convergence of both disruptive technologies, proving how these innovations are reshaping the wealth management landscape, payment infrastructure, asset management, and governance.

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Traditional Institutions showed up in force, with the likes of Citi, Franklin Templeton, UBS, PostFinance, Luzerner Kantonalbank, and a wave of asset managers standing alongside crypto-native firms like Sygnum Bank, SCRYPT, The Kingdom Bank, and Bitcoin Suisse. For many, these conversations marked a turning point: the shift from “exploring digital assets” to actively integrating them into modern portfolios.

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Major blockchain technology platforms, such as Binance, Internet Computer, Canton Network, and VeChain, were joined by key drivers in the AI space, including Google, Microsoft, and Palantir.

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Finance Rewritten

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Across multiple keynotes, panels, and workshops on four different stages, the theme that stood out the most was that the financial system we know today is experiencing a major shift. 

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As Franklin Templeton’s Head of Innovation, Sandy Kaul puts it: “We are going to move away from today's account-based world to a world that is fully wallet-based.”

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And while Franklin Templeton’s Sandy Kaul and Roger Bayston described a world moving away from account-based systems and into wallet-native frameworks (with blockchain acting as the critical layer of trust and infrastructure), Unblock’s Oscar Flores expanded the lens, pointing to how global payment rails are already being rebuilt on blockchain, with the potential to make cross-border transactions seamless.

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More traditional players echoed the said shift. PostFinance’s Alexander Thoma underscored that digital assets are no longer optional in modern portfolios, while Luzerner Kantonal Bank’s Serge Kaulitz explained how banks are now weaving digital assets into everyday financial services. Their message: the future lies in convergence, not competition.

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The dialogue also pushed into the future of money itself. Panels on programmable currencies and tokenized deposits sketched out scenarios where AI-powered agents could handle financial tasks autonomously: investing, paying bills, and even reallocating assets. That possibility sparked a lively debate, not about whether this happens, but about who should set the rules once machines begin transacting on our behalf.

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Switzerland’s Role on the Global Stage

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Switzerland’s reputation as a blockchain hub has strengthened, but others are also catching up. Local leaders like Heinz Tännler (Canton Zug & Swiss Blockchain Federation) and Philipp Rickenbacher (Chairman of the Board, CV VC) stressed that to stay competitive, the country must move boldly on tokenization and stablecoin adoption.

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"Innovation does not happen incrementally. It only happens in big steps. I would hope for us to become the country that can celebrate wins but can also celebrate losses and learning, and then we will get greater," said Philipp Rickenbacher, Chairman of the Board at CV VC.

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The conversations during the Summit were far from Eurocentric. Dubai Multi Commodities Centre’s Executive Chairman & CEO, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, spoke about building ecosystems that allow blockchain to thrive. Other founders from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East also highlighted how decentralized technology is driving financial inclusion and growth in emerging markets.

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Collaboration as a Strong Catalyst

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CV Summit 2025 is the biggest, boldest CV Summit to date, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the people. 190+ speakers, 100+ partners, and thousands of attendees came together to shape the conversations that will define the future of AI, blockchain, digital assets, and beyond. With 1600+ meetings booked through the networking app powered by SCRYPT, there’s no doubt that collaboration was the thread running throughout the entire conference.

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Conclusion

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After two days of impactful conversations at CV Summit 2025, it is clearer than ever that we are no longer talking about possibilities or hypotheticals. We’re now living them. Blockchain, AI, and digital assets are now the scaffolding of a new financial era already rising around us.

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And with the 12th edition already set for 2026, one thing is certain: CV Summit has cemented itself as the stage where finance and frontier tech collide. And it’s only getting bigger.

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