European Blockchain Convention EBC12

European Blockchain Convention EBC12 - Barcelona, September 2026

The European Blockchain Convention enters its 12th edition with a two-day programme at Fira Barcelona Montjuïc on September 16 and 17, 2026. Now in its ninth year running, EBC has built a record of convening the people who move capital and set policy in the digital asset space rather than those who merely comment on it. The 2026 event is expected to draw 6,000 attendees from over 70 countries and feature more than 300 speakers across three parallel conference stages.

What the Event Covers

EBC12 organises its programme around the questions that institutional participants are actively working through in 2026: how to execute real-world asset tokenisation at scale, how MiCA reshapes compliance obligations for European operators, and how AI-driven analytics are changing trading and risk workflows. Sessions address DeFi infrastructure, cross-border stablecoin and CBDC interoperability, Web3 enterprise adoption, and crypto custody frameworks that satisfy fiduciary standards.

Three named tracks run concurrently: one focused on institutional capital allocation and ETF mechanics, one on builders and protocol-level infrastructure, and one on regulatory and policy developments. The format includes keynotes, panels, fireside chats, a Startup Battle competition, LP Breakfasts, private roundtables, and more than 10,000 scheduled one-to-one meetings coordinated through the event app.

Confirmed Speakers

EBC12 has confirmed speakers from major financial institutions, central banks, and established blockchain projects. The roster as of mid-2026 includes:

• Jean-Jacques Barbéris - Deputy CEO, Amundi, Europe's largest asset manager
• Tom Zschach - Chief Innovation Officer, Swift, speaking on cross-border settlement infrastructure
• Stani Kulechov - Founder & CEO, Aave Labs
• Hatice Karahan - Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Turkey
• Olena Clayton - Strategic Programs Lead, Google
• Martha Reyes - Senior Digital Research Analyst, Fidelity Digital Assets
• Robby Yung - CEO Investments, Animoca Brands
• Julian Sawyer - CEO, Zodia Custody
• Kim Hochfeld - Global Head of Digital Assets, State Street Investment
• Marius Smith - Enterprise Lead, Ethereum Foundation

The full speaker list, which the organisers put at over 300 confirmed participants, is published on the official agenda page at eblockchainconvention.com.

Tickets

Three pass tiers are available. The General Pass starts at €500 plus VAT and covers both days, all stage sessions, and the Startup Battle. The VIP Pass at €800 plus VAT adds access to speaker lunches, the Opening Night Party, and the Speaker Lounge. The Tiger Pass at €2,499 plus VAT includes everything in the VIP tier plus a guaranteed quota of one-to-one meetings, full attendee list access, and a dedicated meeting table on the Deal Floor. A press pass is available separately for accredited journalists via Tickettailor. Tickets are sold in euros through the official event site and TicketTailor; crypto payment options are accepted.

Venue

EBC12 takes place at Fira Barcelona Montjuïc, a major convention campus on the Carrer de Lleida in central Barcelona. The venue is accessible by metro (Espanya station, Lines 1 and 3) and has hosted major international trade shows continuously since the 1929 International Exposition. The 2026 event will use the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya spaces for breakout roundtables and registration, with main stage programming in the Gran Via pavilion halls. The organisers have partnered with Torre Melina Gran Meliá for discounted delegate accommodation.

Why It Matters in 2026

The regulatory picture in Europe changed materially between 2023 and 2026. MiCA's full application from late 2024 created a uniform licensing framework across EU member states, and several large asset managers have since launched tokenised fund products under MiCA-compliant structures. Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs approved in the US in 2024 moved institutional debate from whether to allocate to how much and through which vehicles. EBC12 convenes at the moment these decisions are being operationalised - which counterparties to custody with, which chains to build settlement on, and how to satisfy investor-level compliance requirements. The presence of speakers from Swift, Amundi, State Street, and Fidelity reflects where the institutional conversation is now happening.