Bridging traditional finance and the digital asset economy

Deloitte Luxembourg hosted its fourth Digital Assets Conference (DAC) on 5 March, bringing together leading professionals and innovators to examine the growing convergence between traditional finance and the digital asset economy. Against a backdrop of evolving regulation and increasing market participation, the conference provided a platform to discuss key developments and challenges shaping digital finance in Europe. 

“Convergence between traditional finance and the digital asset economy is now a defining feature of the European financial landscape, shaping market structures, infrastructure transformation and business priorities. This year’s edition highlighted how traditional financial institutions and digital asset players are becoming increasingly intertwined, with tangible results now evident across the industry as collaboration deepens and the market matures,” said Thibault Chollet, Partner at Deloitte Luxembourg.

Navigating the convergence of regulation, technology and institutional demand

The conference highlighted how regulatory clarity, institutional?grade infrastructure and evolving client expectations are accelerating the shift from experimentation to scalable, compliant adoption. Discussions explored the strategic implications of this transition, including shifting roles across the financial services value chain, evolving business models and enhanced risk management practices as digital assets move further into mainstream financial activity.

Looking at market evolution since the 2025 edition, speakers reflected on key developments shaping the digital asset landscape and shared perspectives on the road ahead. They emphasised the importance of well-defined operating models, resilient operating frameworks, and strong cross-industry collaboration to enable sustainable, scalable growth over the next phase of market development.

A panel discussion shared practical experiences of integrating digital assets into existing financial ecosystems, examining both the opportunities and challenges from a strategic, operational and regulatory perspective. Discussions addressed market expectations and the importance of building trust with clients, partners and regulatory authorities. The conference concluded with the Digital Assets Awards 2026, recognising contributions to the digital asset ecosystem.

“The discussions at DAC 2026 underscored Luxembourg’s role as a trusted European hub for the development of digital assets,” said Laurent Collet, Partner at Deloitte Luxembourg. “With regulatory clarity, institutional-grade infrastructure and a strong culture of collaboration, the ecosystem is well positioned to support the next phase of scalable and compliant digital finance.”

Award winners

The jury comprising industry leaders from ALFI, ABBL, the Ministry of Finance, Luxembourg for Finance, LHoFT, LPEA and Deloitte selected three winners based on their innovation, visionary leadership, and significant contributions to the growth of Luxembourg's digital assets ecosystem.

Initiative of the Year

This award honours the most innovative and impactful project in digital assets. The winner has demonstrated exceptional creativity and forward-thinking capacities, significantly contributing to the sector’s advancement.

Winner: Franklin Templeton’s On-Chain Money-Market Fund (MMF)

Franklin Templeton developed the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund, a blockchain-based money market fund and sub-fund of Franklin Templeton OnChain Funds domiciled in Luxembourg. Authorised by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) under the EU Money Market Fund Regulation, it operates as a constant NAV UCITS MMF investing in short-term public debt securities. Fund shares are recorded on public blockchains, enabling real-time ownership transparency, continuous yield calculation with daily distribution, and peer-to-peer transfers within permitted jurisdictions, illustrating how tokenised fund structures can operate within established European regulatory frameworks.

Entity of the Year

This award recognises an entity that has played a key role in driving the growth of the digital assets industry in Luxembourg and beyond, offering exceptional support and tools for success.

Winner: Zodia Custody

Zodia Custody operates in Europe through Zodia Custody (Europe) S.A., headquartered in Luxembourg and supervised by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) within the EU’s MiCAR framework. From this base, it provides custody, settlement and on-chain services for regulated financial institutions seeking exposure to digital assets within established governance and risk standards, combining segregated, institution-grade custody with off-exchange settlement and staking capabilities, and contributing to the development of compliant digital asset market infrastructure across Europe.

Personality of the Year

The award celebrates an individual who has made a notable impact in the digital assets space, demonstrating leadership, innovation and influence, and fostering growth in this sector.

Winner: Georges Bock

Georges Bock is Founder and CEO of Investre S.A., a Luxembourg-based platform developing distributed ledger infrastructure for regulated fund issuance and lifecycle management. Established in 2020, Investre supports tokenised UCITS and AIF structures and operates the Moniflo investment platform for MiFID-compliant fund tokens. In 2025, Investre became the first entity authorised by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) as a Controlling Agent under Blockchain Law IV. Georges is active in industry and policy dialogue, including through ALFI and EFAMA, and hosts “The Final Block” podcast, contributing to the advancement of regulated tokenised fund infrastructure in Luxembourg and Europe.