Yesterday (May 15), on the second day of Consensus 2025, the world’s leading conference on blockchain, digital assets, and Web3, the Premier the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, participated in a featured Fireside Chat hosted by John Darsie of SkyBridge. 

The session focused on Bermuda’s progress as a leading digital finance jurisdiction and the results of the island’s innovation-first regulatory approach.

Momentum has continued to build in the industry since last year, with eight digital asset business licenses issued in 2024. This brings the total number of licensed entities on Bermuda’s register to 53, comprising 39 digital asset companies and 14 innovative insurer general businesses.

This year, during Consensus 2025, Premier Burt shared updates from last week’s Bermuda Digital Finance Forum and spoke about Bermuda’s focus on supporting innovative digital finance companies. He highlighted how the Forum delivered both public education and hands-on experience, including a compliant airdrop of USDC that allowed attendees to transact with local vendors.

Premier Burt said, “It is our hope that this growing momentum encourages other digital finance businesses to consider Bermuda as their jurisdiction of choice, where our advanced regulations provide a foundation for business growth.”

While at Consensus, Premier Burt was also interviewed at the CoinDesk Live Booth by Jenn Sanasie, Executive Producer and Senior Anchor at CoinDesk.

Reflecting on Bermuda’s long-standing relationship with the conference, the Premier noted that Bermuda first announced its Digital Asset Business Act (DABA) at Consensus 2018. Since then, the event has shifted from a focus on coins and tokens to more institutional and policy-based discussions. He remarked that Consensus has matured and that Bermuda has evolved alongside it.

Outside of the formal presentations and interviews, Premier Burt and Minister Hayward held a series of meetings with companies, including Meanwhile, Excellar, Coinbase and Franklin Templeton. Discussions focused on the island’s unique regulatory framework, opportunities for collaboration, and how Bermuda can continue to serve as a launchpad for innovation within global financial services.

Looking ahead, Premier Burt outlined Bermuda’s digital finance agenda, which includes enabling digital payments for government services, expanding digital ID frameworks, and supporting Artificial Intelligence use in financial services.

The Premier said, “We are scaling our success. By pairing strong legislation with industry collaboration and hands-on education, Bermuda is shaping the future of digital finance both locally and globally.”

The Premier was joined in Toronto by the Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP, as part of Bermuda’s delegation to the global forum.