Nanyang Blockchain Conference 2025: Building Trust, Driving Innovation, Shaping the Future
During 16–17 August 2025, the Nanyang Blockchain Conference 2025, organized by the Centre in Computational Technologies for Finance (NTU-CCTF) and co-organized by the Singapore Academy of Engineering (SAEng) and IEEE TEMS TC, was successfully held in Singapore.Building upon the academic reputation and societal impact established by the highly acclaimed NTU Blockchain Workshop and NTU Blockchain Symposium in 2023 and 2024, this year’s conference marked a comprehensive upgrade in scale, thematic breadth, and international engagement. It further underscored Nanyang Technological University’s enduring leadership and strategic foresight in the global fields of blockchain and digital finance research.
NBC 2025 launched its first global call for papers. Following a rigorous peer-review process, 12 papers from more than ten countries were selected for oral presentation. The conference further attracted over 70 distinguished scholars, industry experts, and technology leaders worldwide, who came together to explore the deep integration of blockchain, artificial intelligence, and Web3, as well as their future trajectories.
Welcome Remarks
On August 16, the Nanyang Blockchain Conference (NBC 2025) was formally opened with a welcome address delivered by Prof. Christian Wolfrum, Deputy President and Provost of Nanyang Technological University (NTU). In his speech, Prof. Wolfrum emphasized that blockchain and Web3 are rapidly reshaping the digital landscape. From decentralized finance to AI-integrated ecosystems, these technologies have already become critical components of the global digital infrastructure and the driving force of financial innovation.He expressed his gratitude for the active engagement and contributions of all participants and voiced his hope that the conference would inspire new ideas, foster global collaboration, and generate impactful outcomes.
Convergence of Academic and Industry Frontiers
Over the two-day conference, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on a wide range of topics, including NFTs, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP), Cross-Chain Payments, Web3 and its societal applications, as well as Blockchain Security and Compliance. Selected highlights included:
- Keynote Lecture: “The Bubble and Burst of NFTs as an Alternative Investment” — delivered by Prof. Tse-Chun Lin (The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China). The lecture offered a profound analysis of the rise and decline of NFTs as a novel investment instrument, examining the underlying financial mechanisms and their broader societal implications.
- Impact Award Talk: “NeuroSymbolic AI and Blockchain: The Path Forward” — presented by Dr. Ramesh Ramadoss (IEEE Blockchain Technical Community, USA). This talk provided a forward-looking, cross-disciplinary perspective on the integration of neuro-symbolic artificial intelligence and blockchain, offering new research directions and insights into potential applications.
- Prof. Raymond Choo (The University of Texas at San Antonio, USA) introduced the “IEEE Blockchain Technical Community: A Blockchain and DLT Collaboration“ Hub during the“Blockchain Initiatives” session.
- Asst. Prof. Bingyi Wu (California Polytechnic State University, USA) delivered his award-winning talk titled “The Reward of Being Authentic: How Generative AI Reshapes Contribution and Reward Dynamics on Blockchain-based Social Media.”
- Prof. Yang Liu (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) raised a forward-looking question during the Security and Compliance session: “LLM, Agent, Agentic AI for Blockchain Security?”, exploring the potential applications and challenges of large language models and intelligent agents in blockchain security.
- Assoc. Prof. Jiasun Li (George Mason University, USA) presented research on blockchain sustainability titled “Bitcoin Mining for Carbon Emission Reduction”, sparking a lively discussion on potential synergies between blockchain technologies and sustainable development.
- Among 12 selected paper presentation “Tracing Digital Trails: A General Blockchain Forensic Analysis Workflow and The Libra Memecoin Case Study” by Tao Yan, Sheng-Nan Li, and Claudio J. Tessone (University of Zurich, Switzerland) was awarded Best Paper, highlighting its rigorous exploration of blockchain forensic methodologies through a novel case study and underscoring its significant scholarly and practical contributions.
High-Level Dialogues and Industry Outlook
The two roundtable discussions also emerged as key highlights of the conference:
- Panel Discussion 1 focused on “The Future of Cryptoeconomics: Stability, Regulation, and Innovation.” Experts engaged in in-depth debates on the future trajectory of cryptoeconomics, the implementation of effective regulation across different countries and regions, and potential developments in the crypto market. Scholars and industry leaders at the discussion agreed that sustainable long-term growth in blockchain and cryptoeconomics can only be achieved by striking a balance between technological innovation and regulatory frameworks.
- Panel Discussion 2 centered on “Intelligent and Trustless: The Convergence of Web3 and AI,” bringing together leading voices from both academia and industry. The discussion addressed how generative AI can enhance Web3 user experiences, the application of smart contracts and autonomous agents in financial and social domains, and ways to improve trust in decentralized systems through technological innovation.
The discussions from both panels provided valuable insights into the future direction of the blockchain industry, reinforcing the close connection between academia and industry in advancing technological frontiers and real-world applications.
Student Participation
Student Participation
In addition to global experts and industry leaders, NBC 2025 also welcomed active participation from young students and early-career researchers. A dedicated Student Poster Session featuring contributions from the Master of Science in Blockchain Capstone projects alongside other student work showcased their latest work in blockchain, Web3, and DeFi, while offering valuable exchanges with senior academics and practitioners. To foster community spirit, the conference also introduced interactive elements such as a bubble tea giveaway, which was well-received and highlighted the event’s blend of academic rigor with vibrant engagement.
Closing Remarks
The conference concluded with closing remarks delivered by Prof. Yonggang Wen, Associate Provost (Graduate Education), Dean of the Graduate College, and Director of the Centre in Computational Technologies for Finance (CCTF) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Prof. Wen thanked all speakers, organizers, and partners for their contributions, and encouraged attendees to turn conference insights into collaborations, publications, and innovations that advance both academia and society.
Conclusion
The successful Nanyang Blockchain Conference 2025 not only highlighted cutting-edge research but also served as a global platform for scholars, industry leaders, and policymakers to exchange ideas and collaborate. The two-day event broadened international perspectives on blockchain and laid a strong foundation for future innovation and applications, marking NBC 2025 as a milestone in Singapore’s digital finance and blockchain research.
We sincerely thank all participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions. We also welcome everyone to stay connected with NTU-CCTF for the latest updates. Let us look forward to meeting again next year to continue writing a new chapter in blockchain research and innovation!
