Kia ora BlockchainNZ whānau,
There wasn’t much of a Christmas break, there was too much to do. With extra Wellington trips late last year and CryptoWinter26 ramping up, we’ve started 2026 at pace, carrying strong momentum from 2025.
This update is a snapshot of what we’re working on, what’s coming up next, and where you can get involved.
Submissions & Consultation
Action needed: NZTE export submissions (due COB today, 4 February)
We’re currently gathering information from our members on export activity. This will feed into upcoming submissions to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), and we need responses by the end of today!
The goal is to get a clearer picture of who is exporting (or planning to export), where members are operating internationally, and what support would be most useful. This helps us represent the sector accurately and ensure members are well placed to access export support and relevant programmes through NZTE and other agencies.
Complete the form here
IRD consultation: DeFi tax treatment (submissions close 12 March)
The IRD has reached out to BlockchainNZ seeking feedback on its issues paper covering the tax treatment of DeFi transactions. A public consultation is now open, with submissions due 12 March.
If you’re actively working in this area and would like to be involved in shaping a coordinated industry response, please get in touch with Trevor.
Upcoming Engagements
DECA Policy Forum (Australia) — 10–11 February
Trevor will be in Canberra next week, representing BlockchainNZ at the 2026 DECA Policy Forum.
He has also been invited to take part in a roundtable on Building a Cohesive Regulatory Framework for Australia’s Digital Economy. These discussions will inform a policy paper being delivered to the Australian Government in May, and will also help inform the policy work underway here at home.
Trevor will also attend Day two of the forum at Parliament House, focused on helping governments better understand the digital economy and align on policy priorities.
Learn more about the Policy Forum here.
Ministerial engagement (Wellington) — 4 March
On 4 March, Trevor will represent Blockchain New Zealand in Wellington, meeting with the Minister of Commerce, Hon Scott Simpson, to discuss the policy work currently underway and our priorities for the year ahead.
Policy Week (Australia) — 9–13 March
From 9–13 March, Trevor will be back in Australia with a key group of New Zealand regulatory and policy stakeholders attending Policy Week.
Policy Week brings together regulators, policymakers, financial institutions, and digital asset leaders for closed-door discussions on digital assets, payments, tokenisation, and market infrastructure. With significant policy work expected across the region in 2026 (including in New Zealand), this is a key opportunity for trans-Tasman alignment and engagement.
Learn more about Policy Week here.
FinTechNZ Hui Taumata 2026 (Wellington) — 11-12 March
On day two of the FinTechNZ Hui Taumata March, Executive Council member Paul Quickenden will represent BlockchainNZ alongside Swyftx New Zealand.
Paul will deliver the masterclass Rebuilding Finance: Why TradFi Needs Web3 and What Happens When They Converge, looking at how traditional finance and Web3 are coming together in practice.
As a BlockchainNZ Member, you can score 2-4-1 member pricing!
Early Bird Tickets close 11 February. Secure yours here.
Upcoming BlockchainNZ Events
Please keep an eye on the BlockchainNZ website for upcoming events, including:
- Digital Assets, Tax & CARF: Industry Panel and Roundtable — 17 February
Register your interest here - Everyday Crypto: How to Use Crypto Day-to-Day and Stay Tax Compliant — 23 March
Details coming soon! - Digital Assets Are Going Mainstream: How to Take Advantage of This New Investment Asset Class — 22–23 April
Details coming soon! - Crypto Winter is gearing up to be even bigger and better than 2025. To join us in Queenstown, register your interest here. Tickets go on sale very soon!
The Token Affairs Podcast
Darcy Ungaro (latest episode)
Trevor and Bryan were joined by Darcy Ungaro to discuss the growing convergence between TradFi and DeFi, how digital assets are being integrated into mainstream investment portfolios, and what this shift means for investors and New Zealand’s financial landscape.
Michael Bacina (5 Feb, 10am)
Trevor and Bryan will be joined by Michael Bacina to discuss the global forces shaping digital assets today. They’ll explore the convergence of traditional finance and crypto, the steady progression toward tokenisation, and how regulation is evolving across New Zealand, APAC, and globally. The conversation will also dive into Michael’s book, Law of Code.
Listen live this Thursday at 10am!
Have a guest suggestion? Feel free to email Trevor at trevortopfer@blockchain.org.nz
New Zealand’s Digital Assets Roadmap 2030
Late last year, the Digital Assets Education Working Group completed a policy roadmap outlining what New Zealand’s digital-asset sector needs, where we want to be by 2030, and the practical steps required to get there.
The roadmap provides a clear and credible starting point for policy development. It draws on international best practice and sets out a coordinated approach to legislation, regulation, and supervision — helping policymakers support safe innovation, protect consumers, and enable growth in New Zealand’s export economy.
It addresses key domains shaping New Zealand’s digital-asset trajectory, including stablecoins and payments, crypto-asset classification, digital-asset custody, exchanges, and debanking. Together, these chapters frame what’s required to support a credible, well-governed digital-asset sector. This will help position New Zealand to build confidently, scale safely, and lead responsibly in the global digital-asset economy.
The roadmap is already informing discussions with MPs and regulators and will guide policy drafting into 2026, with early policy work already underway.
Looking forward to what we’ll achieve together in the year ahead.
Ngā mihi,
Trevor Topfer
Executive Director
BlockchainNZ
Read full news here: Closing out 2025: Awards, policy progress, and what’s coming in 2026
