Alfonso Gómez: "Banks should play a critical role to guarantee liquidity in the blockchain environment"

The conference of the CVA, the world's leading cryptographic and blockchain technology association, where BBVA is a member, gathered more than 60 speakers who are leading this industry.

Alfonso Gómez, CEO of BBVA in Switzerland, has taken part in the panel 'Margin to Mainstream: Digital Asset Banking', focused on answering the question of how to accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology in the financial world. A discussion that underlined the key role that security, regulation and education play in achieving this goal and offering users the best possible access to this technology. He explained that "BBVA has been working for more than five years in the field of blockchain and, since 2021, has stepped forward by launching its cryptocurrency trading and custody service in Switzerland.

The bank is keen to explore the potential of this technology, which is having a transformative impact on capital markets and the exchange of any securities or data. "Cryptoassets are widely considered the biggest revolution since the advent of the Internet in the 90s, and much of the reason lies in the similarities of both technologies in terms of adoption and disruptive capabilities," added Gómez.

Alfonso Gómez also stressed that "our mission as banks should entail playing an absolutely critical role in facilitating liquidity with all the guarantees, and ensuring a clear system of convergence between both worlds in terms of  education, cybersecurity and regulation of this technology, placing it at the service of society and providing development for a world in constant change". BBVA in Switzerland shared this roundtable, moderated by Emi Lorinz, AVC board member, with blockchain experts and financial world insiders such as Dirk Klee, CEO of Bitcoin Suisse; Payal Shah, Head of Products at CME Group; Valery Nöel, Head of Trading at Syz Group; and Franz Bergmüller, from SEBA.

The Crypto Valley Conference is certified by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and supported by Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency, and brings together interested academics and multidisciplinary professionals studying and working in the blockchain technology space.

In its fifth edition, it has reunited more than 600 companies and more than 1,500 attendees from the business community, including the most influential leaders of the global blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystem and startups that are making their way in the market, to discuss a wide array of topics related to technology, economics, finance and regulation.

Additionally, the conference had a strong academic component, including a day of bespoke masterclasses focusing on topical issues such as Web3 risk management, crypto derivatives trading and cryptographic security. Prior to the event, more than 150 startups presented their projects to a jury of expert who selected the top 10 finalists who were given the opportunity to present their projects during the event and obtain recognition and funding.