Dr. Katharina Lasota Heller joins Africa Blockchain Research Conference 2026 as a Panelist in Windhoek, Namibia

💡 What can the EU and Switzerland teach us about building digital asset markets that are trusted, innovative and globally competitive?

As countries across Africa explore the opportunities of blockchain and digital finance, regulatory choices matter. Clear rules, enforceable customer protection and access to international markets can all influence how digital asset businesses develop and where investment flows.

At the Africa Blockchain Research Conference 2026 in Windhoek, Namibia, Dr. Katharina – Kasia Lasota Heller will examine these challenges through a comparison of the European Union and Switzerland — two jurisdictions with distinct approaches to digital asset regulation.
In her presentation, “Two Paths to Digital Asset Regulation: The EU and Switzerland — Balancing Innovation and Regulation: What Works and What to Avoid,” she will bring the regulatory frameworks to life through two practical business scenarios:
🔹 Stablecoins across borders: What happens when a stablecoin issued by one entity is redeemed through another? How can redemption rights remain enforceable when reserves and responsibilities span jurisdictions?
🔹 Tokenised investments and cross-border access:
Can a Swiss platform offer share-linked investment tokens to retail investors
in the EU simply because it is licensed in Switzerland? What additional rules
and permissions may apply?

From these examples, the discussion will explore broader questions about regulatory design, customer protection and the practical challenges of operating across borders. Dr. Katharina – Kasia Lasota Heller will also consider how the EU’s single-market framework, Switzerland’s financial-market approach and the US regulatory framework for payment stablecoins may shape global competition for digital asset businesses and investment.
For African policymakers, regulators and entrepreneurs, these experiences offer useful points of comparison when considering how to develop regulatory frameworks that reflect local market needs while enabling businesses to connect with the global digital economy.

In addition to her presentation, Dr. Katharina – Kasia Lasota Heller will lead a workshop titled “Policy Lab, Drafting Guiding Principles”, focused on developing guiding principles for blockchain policy and engaging with the regulatory questions shaping the future of digital assets.

The broader challenge is universal: how can regulation protect customers and provide legal certainty while allowing responsible innovation to flourish?

We look forward to the exchange of perspectives at the conference in Windhoek.

📍 Africa Blockchain Research Conference 2026, Windhoek, Namibia, 3 November 2026