Dubai International Finance Centre Launches First Blockchain Week

International financial hub, Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC), has launched a series of events dedicated to Blockchain, hosting events throughout the week till September 16th.

The DIFC Blockchain Week is the first of a series of themed weeks being held at the DIFC Innovation Hub, and aims to support a new generation of digital businesses by bringing together innovators and investors at the financial centre’s startup hub.

DIFC’s Blockchain Week will help accelerate the UAE’s digital economy and will feature a number of expert speakers, senior officials and Blockchain specialists to discuss the most important issues and areas of opportunity around the technology systems providing financial services to the expanding cryptocurrency market.

The week includes a series of interactive seminars, workshop sessions and roundtable discussions focussed around questions such as ‘How can Blockchain empower smart cities?’. Another headline panel asks how Blockchain may be democratising the internet.

In a statement about the initiative, CEO of DIFC Authority said: “Awareness and adoption of Blockchain is growing rapidly. DIFC Blockchain Week is a unique opportunity to meet the best minds in the sector and discuss ways to strengthen and expand Blockchain use cases.”

The DIFC Innovation Hub is the largest startup community in the MEASA region, with 350 early and growth stage startups, established innovation companies, digital labs, VC firms, regulators and educational entities from across multiple sectors. The Hub is now home to over 60% of FinTech and innovation companies in the GCC, with a large number of these companies developing Blockchain technologies.