Cardano Summit 2025: Day 1 Recap

Following a full Day Zero at the w3.hub, Day 1 carried the energy forward at the iconic Gasometer Schöneberg. Once an industrial landmark, the venue now represents innovation and renewal at the very heart of Berlin—core themes of this year’s event.

Hosted by Ben Thompson (Senior Editor and Presenter, GDS), the Main Stage welcomed hundreds of attendees for a dynamic series of keynotes and panels focused on enterprise adoption, digital trust, AI integration, and sustainability. The Cardano Foundation brought together leading enterprises, policy experts, and investors to discuss how blockchain is reshaping the foundations of digital business.

The day opened with a keynote from Frederik Gregaard, CEO of the Cardano Foundation, who outlined how blockchain is rapidly becoming the cornerstone of modern enterprise architecture.

"Now we're at a situation where you can do anything you want on Cardano."

Emphasizing resilience, scalability, and trust, he urged leaders to leverage decentralized infrastructure as the next critical step in digital transformation.

After the opening keynote, Douglas Heintzman of the Blockchain Research Institute shared key findings from the new Digital Trust Infrastructure (DTI) report, released the same day in partnership with the Cardano Foundation. The five-layer framework defines how verifiable identity, programmable payments, and trusted data networks strengthen digital security while lowering fraud and compliance costs.

The first panel of the day brought together senior leaders from global enterprises, including Checkpoint, Hamburger Volksbank, and Syngenta. Moderated by Dr. Inga Michler (Economics Reporter, WELT), panelists discussed what it takes to drive change in legacy systems.

Florian Krueger-Herbert (Head of Technology Innovation & Venture Building EMEA, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine), highlighted the challenge of building interoperable systems. He suggested that unlike tools such as ChatGPT that reach users directly, blockchain operates as foundational infrastructure and depends on coordinated adoption to realize its full value.

Policy and enterprise leaders took to the stage next to explore the regulatory landscape for blockchain and AI. With perspectives from the European Commission, BCG, Memberscap, and the European University Institute, the panel examined how cohesive regulatory frameworks can enable trust and interoperability across markets.

Reflecting on the discussion, Dr. Bernhard Kronfellner (Partner & Associate Director Digital Assets, Blockchain, FrontierTech) noted how quickly perceptions of stablecoins have shifted, observing that what once seemed a niche experiment now dominates conversations across major banking forums—a clear signal that traditional finance is catching up to blockchain’s potential.

Exploring the intersection of AI and blockchain, panelists from Griffin AI, utxo AG, Novo Nordisk, and Blockchain Bundesverband discussed how on-chain AI can unlock new efficiencies and compliance-driven use cases for enterprises.

Filippo Frangioni of Novo Nordisk observed that blockchain adoption often lags because organizations often focus on technology rather than clear use cases. He noted that pairing blockchain with AI creates tangible potential, as enterprises increasingly recognize the need to verify and trust AI-driven outcomes.

During a fireside chat, Tim Draper of Draper Associates shared his view on why decentralized systems represent the next frontier of enterprise innovation. Joined by Sven Wagenknecht from BTC ECHO, Draper emphasized that the true value of decentralization lies in confidence and accountability. He explained that freedom and reliability reinforce each other, creating a foundation where people can feel secure in their assets and data.

Next, leaders from MasterCard, Volvo Group, Orange, and Nuvola shared how their organizations are integrating blockchain solutions to streamline operations and accelerate innovation. Guillaume Brunet (Head of Innovation, Orange Business) underscored that meaningful blockchain adoption begins with purpose. He noted that organizations must first demonstrate real value before communicating the technology’s benefits to end users.

A standout session featured representatives from the UN World Food Programme, UNDP, UNHCR, and the Cardano Foundation, discussing how blockchain is redefining aid delivery and humanitarian finance. Diana Ruano (Head of Global Fundraising Innovation, UNHCR) emphasized the growing need for efficiency and transparency in humanitarian operations. She noted that as resources tighten and trust declines, technologies like blockchain can play a key role in improving accountability and impact.

As Day 1 drew to a close, Jack Briggs of Intersect MBO offered a forward-looking reflection on how community governance continues to shape enterprise blockchain evolution. He reminded attendees that there is no single blueprint for governance on Cardano. Instead, effective systems emerge through layers of collaboration, where many capable navigators share the same compass and work toward a common direction.

In the closing keynote, Giorgio Zinetti summarized a series of highlights from the day, including:

• A growing multi-chain ecosystem
• The Hydra vending machine showcasing real-world adoption on Cardano
• The release of the Blockchain Research Institute report
• Launch of DeltaDeFi
• The introduction of a new Cardano Academy course available on Coursera
• The newly launched Gyro crypto card enabling ADA spending
• Increased network liquidity initiatives
• Diverse Masterclasses, including a session on financial transparency platform Reeve
• New developments from Amaru
• Growing interest in the Veridian digital identity platform and wallet

The day concluded with a networking reception and live performance at the Gasometer, giving attendees the chance to connect with leaders and builders from across the ecosystem. Conversations continued late into the evening, with anticipation building for Day 2’s focus on governance, innovation, and scaling Cardano for enterprise impact.

Stay tuned for the Day 2 live streams on X (morning), X (afternoon), and YouTube.

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