This Dutch Blockchain Week 2026 recap takes us back to a week in which Amsterdam became a meeting point for the international digital asset, blockchain and Web3 industry. From June 22–28, professionals from exchanges, banks, payments, investment, regulation, infrastructure and technology came together for a program that extended far beyond a traditional conference. At the centre of the week was the two-day Main Summit at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on June 24 and 25, surrounded by the Litecoin Summit, VIP experiences, partner events and side events across Amsterdam.
Looking back several months later, DBW26 represented an important next step in the development of Dutch Blockchain Week. The event has evolved from its roots in the Dutch blockchain community into a broader B2B platform where crypto-native companies meet financial institutions, payment providers, professional service firms, regulators, investors and global technology companies. DBW26 brought those different parts of the ecosystem together not just to discuss where digital assets are heading, but to create the relationships and business opportunities that help move the industry forward.
Dutch Blockchain Week 2026 recap: a full week in Amsterdam
One of the defining characteristics of Dutch Blockchain Week is that the experience isn’t limited to the Main Summit. The official programme ran from June 22–28, giving companies, communities and attendees an entire week to meet across different formats and locations in Amsterdam.
The week started with the Litecoin Summit on Monday and Tuesday, followed by the VIP Night on Tuesday evening ahead of the Main Summit. On Wednesday and Thursday, attention moved to the Johan Cruijff ArenA for two full days of content, breakout sessions, meetings and networking. Around the official programme, side events and partner gatherings created additional opportunities to meet throughout the city. This combination is central to the DBW concept: rather than expecting every valuable conversation to happen inside one venue, the week creates multiple environments in which the same ecosystem can repeatedly connect.
For attendees, that meant being able to build their own experience. Someone could join a specialist event at the beginning of the week, meet a potential partner during the Main Summit, continue the conversation over dinner and reconnect later at another gathering. Over several days, those repeated interactions create a very different dynamic from attending a standalone conference.
A new chapter at the Johan Cruijff ArenA
The move of the Main Summit to the Johan Cruijff ArenA was one of the biggest steps forward for DBW26. On June 24 and 25, the stadium became the central meeting point of Dutch Blockchain Week, with the program designed specifically for institutions, founders, policymakers and professionals working across digital assets.
The venue allowed us to bring multiple elements of the Summit together under one roof. Alongside the Main Stage, attendees could join breakout sessions, visit partner areas, schedule meetings, use dedicated networking spaces and access the VIP experience. Instead of creating an event where visitors simply moved from one presentation to another, the goal was to make the venue work as a place to meet and do business throughout both days.
The Johan Cruijff ArenA also gave DBW26 a setting that reflected the scale and ambition of the event. As Dutch Blockchain Week continues to attract a broader professional audience, having a venue capable of accommodating content, networking, hospitality and partner activations in different environments became increasingly important.
Voices from across the ecosystem
The speaker program brought together people from a wide range of organisations and backgrounds. Among the speakers were representatives from companies and institutions including Visa, Ripple, Rabobank, Cointelegraph and many others, alongside crypto-native founders, infrastructure specialists, legal experts and academics.
One of the most recognisable names joining DBW26 was Litecoin creator Charlie Lee, who brought the perspective of someone who has been involved in the digital asset industry since its early years. The wider program combined those long-standing crypto perspectives with professionals working on today’s institutional, regulatory and technological infrastructure.
That diversity was important because the future of digital assets is unlikely to be shaped by one part of the ecosystem alone. Exchanges, banks, regulators, payment companies, technology providers and investors may approach the industry from different perspectives, but increasingly they are working on interconnected challenges.
Partners becoming part of the experience
Another important part of this Dutch Blockchain Week 2026 recap is the role our partners played throughout the event. DBW26 brought together a partner ecosystem representing exchanges, payments, banking, infrastructure, investment, professional services and technology. The partner programme was built around participation rather than traditional logo exposure alone.
Throughout the Main Summit, partners hosted breakout sessions, participated in the programme and created activations across the venue. Companies including Visa, Mastercard, Deloitte, PwC, Fireblocks, Bitvavo, OKX, Bybit, Ripple, zerohash Europe and Watsonlaw were among those hosting breakout sessions, allowing attendees to engage with their expertise in smaller and more focused settings.
For us, that is an important distinction. A partnership becomes more valuable when a company can use DBW to demonstrate expertise, meet relevant professionals and become part of the attendee experience. The strongest activations aren’t simply seen; they give people a reason to interact.
The VIP experience before and during the Summit
For VIP guests, the experience started before the Main Summit opened. The official VIP Night on June 23 brought together speakers, partners and VIP ticket holders for networking, drinks and a walking dinner in a more intimate environment. During the Main Summit, guests also had access to a dedicated VIP Lounge designed for meetings, hospitality and executive networking.
The idea behind the VIP experience was not simply to create a premium ticket category. It was designed to make it easier for senior professionals to spend meaningful time together during what can otherwise be a very busy week. By creating a smaller environment before the conference and a dedicated space during the Summit, conversations could begin early and continue throughout the event.
More than the Main Summit
Although the Johan Cruijff ArenA was the heart of DBW26, the wider week was an equally important part of the experience. The official events programme invited companies and organisations to organise side events and connect directly with professionals from exchanges, banks, regulators, funds, corporates and Web3 companies.
Those different settings give Dutch Blockchain Week its character. A panel can introduce an idea, a breakout session can explore it in greater depth and a meeting can turn it into a potential business opportunity. Later in the day, a dinner, side event or social gathering provides an entirely different environment in which to continue the relationship.
It is this combination that has helped DBW develop from a conference into a full industry week. The Main Summit provides a central meeting point, while everything surrounding it creates more time and more ways for people to connect.
Looking back at DBW26 and ahead to 2027
Looking back several months later, DBW26 stands out not because of one speaker, one stage or one activation, but because of the number of different parts of the ecosystem that came together throughout the week. From the Main Summit and breakout rooms to the VIP Night, Litecoin Summit and events across Amsterdam, every part contributed to the wider experience.
We are grateful to the partners, speakers, attendees, event hosts, volunteers and team members who contributed to Dutch Blockchain Week 2026. Their involvement helped DBW take another step in its development and provided the foundation on which we can continue building.
The next chapter is already underway. Dutch Blockchain Week 2027 takes place from May 17–23, with the Main Summit on May 19 & 20. Building on everything we learned in 2026, the goal remains to bring together the professionals and organisations shaping the future of digital assets and give them an entire week to meet, share knowledge and build new relationships.
We look forward to bringing the industry together in Amsterdam again.