Blockchain is Aotearoa New Zealand’s
home for blockchain, digital assets and Web3
Connecting the people, organisations, and ideas building New Zealand’s digital assets economy — and making the case for its value as a weightless export.
Blockchain Forum is New Zealand’s specialist community for blockchain, digital assets, cryptocurrency, and Web3 — technology that belongs squarely within New Zealand’s tech sector. Like the best software and digital products built in this country, blockchain can be developed in Aotearoa and exported globally as a weightless export: no shipping, no customs, just knowledge and code creating real economic value. We started life in 2016 as the Blockchain Association of New Zealand (BANZ). In 2018, our members voted to join what is now Tech New Zealand, and today, as Blockchain Forum, we carry the ambition of making New Zealand a global hub for blockchain innovation.
OUR ACTIVITY FRAMEWORK
Connect
We create the conditions for the blockchain community to find each other, share knowledge, and build the relationships that drive progress. From social meetups to cross-sector roundtables, we make it easier for New Zealand’s blockchain tech sector to work together.
Promote
We shine a light on the people and projects pushing blockchain forward in New Zealand. Through the Blockchain Awards, the Off the Chain Podcast, and CryptoWinter, we celebrate innovation, raise profiles, and connect New Zealand talent with international audiences.
Advance
We work alongside government, regulators, and policymakers to support an environment where blockchain technology and digital assets can develop responsibly and ambitiously. Part of that advocacy is making the case that blockchain is a legitimate, high-value technology sector — one that deserves the same recognition and investment settings as other parts of New Zealand’s tech economy. Our Digital Assets Working Group is a cross-party, cross-sector forum working through the hard questions on digital money, VASPs, regulatory frameworks, and more.
Growing a high value blockchain sector
for Aotearoa’s future
OUR IMPACT
We work alongside our members to shift the dial on our areas of impact.
Blockchain Forum exists to ensure blockchain, digital assets, and Web3 contribute positively to Aotearoa New Zealand’s future — economically, socially, and environmentally. Our work aligns with Tech New Zealand’s four impact areas
Growth
We help grow New Zealand’s digital asset economy by positioning blockchain as a legitimate, high‑value technology sector and a weightless export. By connecting industry, government, and global networks, we support innovation that can be built in Aotearoa and scaled to the world.
Good Tech
We champion the responsible development and use of blockchain technologies. By engaging across technology, regulation, law, and finance, we help shape frameworks that build trust, protect users, and ensure blockchain delivers real-world value for society.
People
We strengthen capability, confidence, and connection across the blockchain ecosystem. By bringing together diverse voices — from founders and developers to policymakers and researchers — we support a community that is informed, inclusive, and equipped to lead.
Planet
We encourage thoughtful conversations about sustainability and the role blockchain can play in enabling more transparent, efficient, and accountable systems. From supply chains to digital infrastructure, we support innovation that contributes to a more sustainable future.