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Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2026 - Since its launch in Davos, Switzerland in 2017, Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) has hosted its annual Blockchain Central flagship conference to convene global leaders from industry, academia, and government for a week of curated programming and high-level engagement. Now in its ninth year, GBBC returned to Davos at a pivotal moment for the ecosystem: one defined by real-world scalability, accelerating adoption, and the establishment of global standards and regulatory frameworks for blockchain and digital assets.
While in Davos, GBBC was proud to announce several major milestones that underscore this moment of progress and leadership:
GBBC ushers in new era of board leadership
GBBC announced the appointment of Jeff Bandman, Chief Operating Officer at 6529 Holdings, as Chair of the 2026 Board of Directors. Jeff brings deep expertise across government, regulation, and global finance. He previously served as a senior official at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, where he led oversight of global market infrastructure, fintech innovation (as the founding Director of LabCFTC), and international regulatory negotiations, alongside prior experience as a financial executive in New York and London. Learn more about Jeff’s experience here.
Composed of distinguished leaders across blockchain, digital assets, law and regulation, education, and artificial intelligence, GBBC’s Board of Directors is uniquely positioned to guide the organization through the next phase of technological convergence and standards-driven adoption. View the full announcement here.
GBBC Appreciation Awards
GBBC Appreciation Awards honor leaders whose service and commitment have helped shape the global blockchain and digital assets community. During Blockchain Central Davos, GBBC was honored to present 14 awards across three categories (Public Service, Distinguished Community Impact, and Distinguished Leadership), recognizing individuals whose contributions continue to move the industry forward. View the list of recipients here.
Introducing the 2026 GBBC Ambassador cohort
GBBC is proud to introduce its 2026 Ambassador cohort, comprising 251 Ambassadors who bolster our global presence across 119 jurisdictions and disciplines. This year’s cohort welcomes 65 new Ambassadors and 18 new jurisdictions and disciplines, including: Albania, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Crypto Mining, Curacao, Digital Markets and Trading, Digital Payments and Infrastructure, Fiji, Finland, Saint Lucia, Slovenia, Thailand, The Philippines, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, and Zambia. View the list of GBBC Ambassadors here.
Release of the 2025 Annual Report
2025 represented an inflection point for blockchain and digital assets, as the industry moved decisively from convergence to integration.
GBBC’s 2025 Annual Report, “The Integration Era: Frameworks, Standards, and Real-World Impact,” captures the milestones that defined this watershed year, from participation in 102 global events across 33 cities, to the production of 26 fact cards covering 83 jurisdictions, 21 reports, and 17 policy consultations and responses, among many other achievements. Access the report here.
Release of IWA’s dMRV Framework – Version 3.0
InterWork Alliance (IWA), an initiative of GBBC, released Version 3.0 of the Digital Measurement, Reporting & Verification (dMRV) Framework, progressing how environmental data and claims can be digitized with integrity. Version 3.0 introduces MRV Extension Sets, which are reusable digital modules that reduce duplication, promote consistency, and support interoperability across both nature-based and technology-based projects. Learn more and explore the framework here.
Learn more at gbbc.io.
About Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC)
GBBC is the largest leading non-profit association for the blockchain, digital assets, and emerging technologies community. Founded in 2017 in Davos, Switzerland, GBBC comprises more than 500 institutional members and 251 Ambassadors across 119 jurisdictions and disciplines.
GBBC furthers adoption of digital technologies by engaging regulators, business leaders, and global changemakers to harness these transformative tools for more secure and functional societies.
GBBC industry verticals: Financial Services, Global Commerce/Supply Chains, and Commodities, underpinned by AI, digital identity, governance, hardware, infrastructure, policy, regulation, and security.
GBBC initiatives: BITA Standards Council (BITA), GBBC Digital Media, Global Standards Mapping Initiative (GSMI), International Journal of Blockchain Law (IJBL), InterWork Alliance (IWA), and U.S. Blockchain Coalition (USBC).
