Announcing Our 2017 Blockchain Summit on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island
Dear Friends,
Sir Richard Branson is a trailblazer, a visionary — the ultimate innovator. Not surprisingly, his Necker Island bursts with possibility — it is the kind of place that propels anyone who visits to think more expansively, aim more nobly and work more purposefully.
These are the essential ingredients for our Third Annual Blockchain Summit on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island. In an effort established in 2015 by Bitfury — the world’s leading full-service Blockchain technology company — and Bill Tai, Bitfury Board Member, with special support from Credit China Fintech, we bring together some of the world’s greatest minds to focus on the incredible potential of Blockchain technology.
Our goal: To turn ideas into action. Ideas that make the world a better, more livable place — for all.
Last year’s Blockchain Summit produced two critical initiatives — The Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) and the Blockchain Trust Accelerator (BTA). In January of 2017, the GBBC launched during the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Since then, the GBBC has established chapters and hosted events from Shanghai to Omaha and established founding members from more than 30 countries — and we are just getting started. The BTA has launched and embarked on more than 10 different pilot projects including the world-renowned Georgia Land Titling effort, we have presented at conferences around the world from SxSW to the Oslo Freedom Forum to the World Bank, and it too is just getting started.
The GBBC and BTA represent what can happen when dedicated leaders join forces beyond the conference room — and think outside of the box about how to solve ever-pressing global challenges.
This year, the Blockchain Summit will focus on moving even further from potential to practice in our efforts to deploy this critical technology. We are turning ideas into action on everything from conservation and ocean protection to music, economic empowerment, data integrity, identity, e-governance and business.
Among the great minds joining us this year, we are thrilled to welcome former Estonian President and celebrated e-governance expert Toomas Ilves; President of the Institute of Liberty and Democracy, Hernando de Soto; CEO and Time 100 member, Roya Mahboob; European Parliament Member, Eva Kaili; Senior Lecturers at MIT, Brian Forde and Michael Casey; President of Conservation International, Jennifer Morris; Managing Director at the Rockefeller Foundation, Saadia Madsbjerg; Founder and CEO of DRW, Don Wilson; Board member for the National Democratic Institute, Robin Carnahan; Musician Imogen Heap; Renowned cellist Zoe Keating — and so many more.
Over the last few years, the Blockchain ecosystem has both grown and grown up, but it is still early — early enough to think big and ask ourselves what more we can do to bring real solutions to real people. Now, more than ever, we must harness Blockchain technology to make the world a more functional place and we are determined to do just that.
With gratitude for your time and dedication,
Valery Vavilov, Bill Tai and Jamie Smith

