Kia ora BlockchainNZ whānau,
It’s been a strong month for our community — with momentum building across policy, events, and our next phase as an organisation.
First, Wellington delivered a productive round of ministerial meetings, with constructive conversations across National, ACT, and Labour. There’s growing recognition that New Zealand needs clearer direction on digital assets — and we’ll keep showing up with practical, solutions-focused input.
Second, our events pipeline is taking shape nicely, with a full programme now running through to August, including key conversations across mainstream adoption, tokenised real estate, export opportunities, and CryptoWinter.
And finally, in case you missed it, we’ve got a fresh new look and name, Blockchain Forum New Zealand. This change better reflects our role as a central forum for collaboration across the digital assets ecosystem — while our purpose remains the same: connecting people, supporting responsible adoption, and backing real-world innovation in Aotearoa.
Check out our refreshed website here →
Policy & advocacy update
Wellington meetings
Trevor and our chair, Jeremy Muir, met with representatives across National, ACT, and Labour, including Hon Scott Simpson (Minister of Commerce), alongside additional stakeholders and media contacts.
Across the board, conversations were constructive and positive, with broad alignment that New Zealand risks falling behind in digital assets without clear policy direction.
Discussions focused on three practical areas:
- Fit-for-purpose legislation (including stablecoins)
- Improved access to banking for crypto/blockchain businesses
- A licensed, regulated digital asset exchange framework in New Zealand
A strong theme was the value of a simple, non-technical narrative. Policymakers are looking for clear, compelling framing that communicates opportunity without amplifying risk — and we’ll continue supporting solutions-focused policy dialogue.
Policy Week (Australia), 9–13 March
Trevor attended Policy Week alongside a group of New Zealand regulatory and policy stakeholders, joining closed-door discussions on digital assets, payments, tokenisation, and market infrastructure.
This was a valuable opportunity to strengthen regional coordination as policy work accelerates through 2026.
Upcoming BlockchainNZ Events
Check out what’s coming up in the lead-in to our main event, CryptoWinter in August — we’d love to see you at one (or a few) along the way.
16 April 2026 — Digital Assets are Going Mainstream
Digital assets are moving quickly from niche to mainstream — and this joint event with FinTech New Zealand is designed for financial planners who want a practical, current view of what’s changing. Hosted at KPMG, with plenty of time for questions and connection.
4 June 2026 — Texport: Tech for Export (The Official NZCryptoCon side event)
Texport: Tech for Export is on 4 June 2026 alongside NZCryptoCon — a focused half-day showcase connecting export-ready NZ blockchain companies with government and international delegates.
As part of Texport, we’re calling for companies to submit a short video pitch (under 2 minutes) to earn a showcase spot. Pitch deadline: 5.00pm, 23 April.
Learn more and submit your entry here →
7 July 2026 — Digital Assets, Tax, and CARF
Save the date for an in-person evening session exploring the evolving relationship between digital assets, tax, and cross-border reporting, with a focus on what CARF could mean for the New Zealand market. The event will be a panel discussion followed by Q&A, with time for open discussion and networking with industry participants, tax specialists, and key stakeholders.
25–26 August 2026 — CryptoWinter
Join the blockchain and digital assets community for two days of insights, debate, and connection, bringing together industry, government, and the wider ecosystem. If CryptoWinter is the one event you make time for this year, this is it.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available for organisations that want to support the sector’s growth and be part of the programme.
Community Happenings
ATLER Conference (15–17 April)
Featuring our very own Trevor as a panellist on the closing panel, AI, Humanity & Creativity, this conference is a great opportunity to connect with researchers and practitioners exploring how emerging tech is shaping society, policy, and innovation. If you’re interested in practical insights and informed debate, this is one to have on your radar.
Learn more →
NZCryptoCon offer
NZCryptoCon is New Zealand’s flagship crypto and digital assets conference, bringing together builders, investors, operators, and the wider ecosystem. We’ve teamed up with them to make it easier for our community to get involved: members receive 20% off NZCryptoCon sponsorship, and NZCryptoCon sponsors receive 20% off Blockchain Forum membership.
Enquire now →
Mastering the Markets (18 April)
A live event for anyone wanting a clearer, more practical understanding of markets and investing. Expect real-world takeaways, timely perspectives, and plenty of learning, whether you’re new to the space or refining your approach.
Register now →
Token Affairs Podcast
Join us for episode 12 of the Token Affairs Podcast with Jake Denny (Pier Two), Tuesday 14 April, 12:00pm–1:00pm. We’ll unpack how Pier Two started, what staking actually is (and why it matters), and how institutional interest in staking and digital assets is changing the market. Jake will share what “maturity” looks like from the front line, how staking compares with traditional yield in TradFi, where New Zealand sits on awareness and participation, and get all the juice on what’s next for Pier Two post their recent acquisition.
Tune in here →
Join our Member Hub
We’ve launched a new Member Hub — an exclusive online community designed to help members stay connected and build capability across Aotearoa’s blockchain ecosystem. Hosted on Circle (browser or mobile), it’s an always-on space for peer learning and collaboration, and the easiest way to access member-only events, resources, and updates — all in one place.
Learn more about the member hub →
Thanks for being part of the community — we look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event and continuing the conversation in the Member Hub.
Ngā mihi,
Trevor Topfer
Executive Director
BlockchainNZ