Kia ora BlockchainNZ whānau,
October has been an exciting month, with plenty going on. If I could use one word, it would be momentum.
Here’s the October highlights:
- Cross‑party Wellington engagements: Blockchain 101 for Policymakers + Inaugural Digital Asset Working Group meeting
- Joint FinTechNZ x BCNZ roundtable on FMA’s tokenisation consultation
- FMA Innovation Roundtable: industry input on enabling innovation
- Token Affairs podcast: David Menz (Coinbase) live; Binu Paul (SavvyKiwi) up next
- Media: REX podcast on blockchain’s economic opportunity for NZ
With even more collaborations and celebrations on the way, November is shaping up to be just as exciting.
October Wrap-up
Wellington engagements (14–15 Oct)
Across two evenings, we hosted two events: Blockchain 101 for Policymakers in the National Caucus Room, and the launch of the Digital Asset Working Group at the Bolton Hotel in Wellington. Fifteen MPs attended across both sessions, including two Ministers, with representation from National, ACT, NZ First, and Green. MPs from nearly all select committees were present, and the Finance & Expenditure Committee was strongly represented, including by its chair. Chairs of three other committees also attended. The FMA and RBNZ were present at both sessions, and discussions were constructive and solution‑focused.
These events marked the first formal cross‑party, cross‑sector dialogue in Parliament focused specifically on blockchain and digital assets. The Digital Assets Education Working Group (DAEWG) prepared a Parliamentary briefing, which was well received by MPs and will be published on the BlockchainNZ website.
Joint FMA Consultation Roundtable with FinTechNZ (13 Oct)This session focused on responding to the FMA’s consultation paper on tokenisation in financial markets, with attendees from BlockchainNZ and FinTechNZ alongside major industry players, academics, and legal advisors. The group agreed to prepare a joint submission that represents shared sector priorities and reflects the wider industry view. If you would like to be a part of the joint submission, please get in touch with Trevor.
Submissions close 30 October. Find out more here.
FMA Innovation Roundtable (22 Oct)Hosted by the FMA to gather industry feedback on how it can better support an innovation culture across financial services, the roundtable brought together fintechs, incumbents, and innovation leads. Coordinated with Jason Roberts, Executive Director of FinTechNZ, as a cross-community project; further collaboration is planned for next month. We contributed a blockchain/digital‑asset perspective.
BlockchainNZ on the REX Podcast (15 Oct)Trevor joined the REX podcast to discuss why a lack of policy on emerging tech could cost NZ billions in potential GDP, how blockchain improves traceability in agri/hort exports, and insights from meetings with MPs and industry leaders at Parliament.
The Token Affairs Podcast
David Menz, Coinbase (29 October)Trevor and Bryan will sit down with David Menz, APAC Policy Lead at Coinbase and Stand With Crypto Australia campaign lead, unpacking the evolving digital‑asset policy landscape across APAC. They dive into regional regulatory trends, how advocacy shapes legislation, and fresh public‑sentiment insights from recent Stand With Crypto research—plus what this means for New Zealand’s ambitions.
Binu Paul, SavvyKiwi (7 November)
Binu Paul joins the podcast to explore New Zealand’s new Digital Asset Working Group, what it represents for policy momentum, how international models like Australia’s Parliamentary Friends of Blockchain and the UK’s APPG operate, and the practical mechanics of collaboration between industry, regulators, and government. Expect clear lessons from other jurisdictions and tangible next steps for NZ.
Listen live on 7 November here.
Events and Announcements
Crypto Winter 2026 (August 2026, Queenstown)
Planning is underway to expand the scale and format from 2025, with a bigger program, broader topics, and more opportunities for industry collaboration. Sponsorship packages are now live, and we’re inviting expressions of interest from potential sponsors and speakers who want to help shape the agenda and reach a highly engaged audience.
Get in contact with Trevor if you want to learn more about sponsoring.
And if you want to attend, register your interest here!
TradFi Meets DeFi: The Great Merge (21 November, Auckland)This joint FinTechNZ x BlockchainNZ event brings together senior leaders across banking, investment, and digital assets, alongside regulators and academics at GridAKL. The focus is a practical, candid conversation on what needs to change—policy, process, standards, and risk frameworks—to unlock meaningful collaboration between traditional finance and DeFi.
BlockchainNZ Awards (5 December, Auckland) The BlockchainNZ Awards celebrate outstanding contributions across industry, research, and community—recognising innovation, leadership, and impact across Aotearoa’s digital‑asset ecosystem.
Nominations are open now and close this Thursday, 30 October
P.S. We’d love for you to join us at the awards evening. Get your tickets here.
Thank you for being part of the BlockchainNZ community. I hope to catch you at one of the many engagements throughout November
Ngā mihi,
Trevor Topfer
Executive Director
BlockchainNZ
Read full news here: NZ’s crypto moment
