The 12th edition of the European Blockchain Convention (EBC12) returns to Barcelona on September 16-17, 2026, marking the region's first major institutional gathering since the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation took full effect. According to reports from European Blockchain Convention, the event brings together speakers from J.P. Morgan, the Financial Conduct Authority, Invesco, Coinbase, Fidelity International, and more than 300 leaders from banks, regulators, and asset managers shaping Europe's digital asset market. The convention takes place at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, representing a significant institutional evolution from previous editions and a new premium venue reflecting the event's growing importance.
MiCA is now fully in force, creating a clearer framework for compliant digital asset markets across Europe. As reported by European Blockchain Convention, the focus has shifted to CASP licensing, stablecoin issuance, and the role of CBDCs in cross-border settlement. Rather than chasing mandates across multiple cities including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, and Barcelona, EBC12 compresses the European digital asset market into a single two-day commercial arena. The event is positioned as a key venue for digital-asset deal flow and institutional collaboration in the post-regulatory environment, with Europe having set the pace for compliant digital asset markets by giving the industry a clearer framework for how crypto can scale within regulation rather than around it.
EBC expects 80 of Europe's top 100 banks in Barcelona, representing a significant increase from 50 banks last year. According to European Blockchain Convention, the event expects over 5,000 attendees from 90+ countries for two days of market intelligence and strategic networking. Recent institutional moves demonstrate the sector's acceleration, including Deutsche Börse's $200 million investment in Kraken and Santander's digital bank Openbank expanding crypto trading across Germany and Spain. Both institutions will participate in discussions about the next phase of digital asset development, with institutional interest in digital assets continuing to accelerate across the European market.
The conference features 10,000 pre-arranged one-to-one meetings alongside the main program, along with a Buy Side Breakfast for allocators and institutional investors. As reported by European Blockchain Convention, confirmed speakers include Emma Landriault, Head of Kinexys Labs at J.P. Morgan, Mohamad Zaraket, Head of Digital Assets Strategy EMEA at BNY, Kathleen Wrynn, Global Head of DA, Invesco, Victor Jung, Vice President, Digital Assets & Currencies, Hamilton Lane, Previn Singh from Fidelity, and Colin Payne, Head of Innovation at the Financial Conduct Authority. Sessions cover institutional capital allocation, real-world asset tokenization, regulatory market structure, and the future of stablecoins and CBDCs as global settlement infrastructure, with a dedicated press room providing direct access to speakers.
According to Victoria Gago, Co-CEO of European Blockchain Convention and Digital Assets Forum, 'Eight years ago, we built EBC because we believed Europe would be where this industry matured. A lot of people thought we were early. In 2026, European banks are deploying capital, institutional products are live across major markets, and the regulatory framework is in place. EBC is where the people driving that change meet once a year to do real business.' The event has grown from its 2018 founding into a key driver of European digital asset deal flow, drawing over 5,000 attendees annually across its editions. Alongside EBC, the Digital Assets Forum series extends reach across London, Abu Dhabi, and New York throughout the year, with the event taking place eleven weeks after MiCA's deadline and representing a significant milestone in the European digital asset ecosystem's maturation.
