VI3NNA Declaration 2026 Calls for European Digital Asset Infrastructure

VI3NNA Declaration 2026 Urges European Digital Asset Infrastructure – Industry and Academic Partners Outline 12 Measures

Key Takeaways

• The VI3NNA Congress has published the VI3NNA Declaration 2026, calling for a European digital asset infrastructure.
• Global stablecoins exceed USD 320 billion in market capitalization and processed USD 33 trillion in annual transaction volume, with the euro accounting for less than 1%.
• Employment in Europe’s digital asset sector declined from about 100,000 to around 10,000 jobs in three years, while venture capital investment fell 70%.
• The Declaration proposes 12 measures, including a European onboarding portal, a post-trade settlement sandbox, and international regulatory recognition agreements.

VI3NNA Declaration 2026 Calls for European Digital Asset Infrastructure

The VI3NNA Congress has released the VI3NNA Declaration 2026, a position paper urging Europe to develop its own digital asset infrastructure. The document was prepared after the inaugural VI3NNA Congress, which took place in Vienna in May. Representatives from digital assets, blockchain, artificial intelligence and regulatory fields contributed to the process.

An advisory board supported the initiative, including Vienna University of Economics and Business, Modul University, the University of Zurich, Bentley University and Boston Consulting Group. Industry partners listed in the process include Bluecode, BitMEX, TaxBit and Black Manta Capital Partners.

According to Oliver Schmitt, managing director of VI3NNA Congress, the global financial system is increasingly built on infrastructure that is not European. The Declaration argues that Europe has the necessary talent and capital but is not fully leveraging its existing assets.

Market Data Highlights Europe’s Limited Role in Stablecoins and Tokenization

The Declaration references current market figures to illustrate Europe’s position in the digital asset ecosystem. It states that global stablecoins have surpassed USD 320 billion in market capitalization and processed USD 33 trillion in transaction volume over the past year. Within that volume, the euro accounts for less than 1%.

The document also cites projections that tokenized real world assets could reach USD 16 trillion by 2030. Against this backdrop, the authors argue that European infrastructure plays a comparatively small role in a rapidly expanding global market.

Employment and investment figures are presented as additional indicators. Employment in Europe’s digital asset sector reportedly fell from about 100,000 to around 10,000 jobs within three years. Venture capital investment declined by 70% over the same period.

For market participants, including platforms and service providers that depend on digital asset liquidity and settlement options, these figures describe a structural shift in where infrastructure and capital are concentrated.

Four Core Conclusions on Liquidity, Regulation, AI and Fragmentation

The Declaration is structured around four central conclusions.

First, it states that tokenization alone does not create liquidity. According to the authors, capital efficiency is achieved primarily in the post trade layer, through mechanisms such as netting.

Second, the paper describes Europe’s regulatory framework as comprehensive but costly and fragmented. It notes that some firms allocate up to half of their compliance workforce to anti money laundering obligations.

Third, the document addresses the role of artificial intelligence in banking. It states that claims about AI adoption are often overstated, although measurable gains are reported in anti money laundering use cases.

Fourth, the Declaration highlights internal fragmentation within Europe. It points to 41 innovation hubs and 14 regulatory sandboxes across the European Union, suggesting that these initiatives have not yet resulted in a unified digital asset market structure.

Project manager Jana Faschinger stated that differing opinions were documented rather than reconciled, indicating that the paper reflects a range of views from participating stakeholders.

Twelve Measures Grouped by Short, Medium and Long Term Feasibility

The Declaration proposes 12 measures, categorized by timeline.

Short term measures include the creation of a European onboarding portal for compliance and tax reporting. Another short term proposal is the introduction of a clearer regulatory test for decentralized finance.

Medium term initiatives include a post trade settlement sandbox and the recognition of euro denominated settlement assets as eligible collateral.

Long term measures call for a Digital Asset Innovation Corridor and regulatory recognition agreements with the United States, the Gulf region and Singapore.

The authors cite the Draghi Report, the Letta Report and analyses by the International Monetary Fund in support of their economic estimates. They calculate that the proposed measures could unlock between EUR 300 billion and EUR 800 billion in cumulative gross domestic product by 2035. The paper also estimates that up to EUR 450 billion of value could be anchored on European infrastructure and that more than 100,000 jobs lost in the sector could be rebuilt.

Next Steps and Planned Annual Updates

The VI3NNA Congress states that the Declaration will be updated annually. Future editions will be developed through working groups, a policy dialogue aligned with European Union consultations, an academic research function and international outreach activities.

The next edition is scheduled for presentation at VI3NNA Congress 2027. According to the organizers, this ongoing process is intended to adapt the recommendations to market and regulatory developments.

Our Assessment

The VI3NNA Declaration 2026 consolidates industry, academic and regulatory perspectives into a structured set of proposals aimed at strengthening Europe’s digital asset infrastructure. By combining market data on stablecoins, tokenization, employment and investment with 12 prioritized measures, the document outlines a framework intended to address regulatory fragmentation, liquidity mechanisms and international positioning. For digital asset market participants, including platforms that rely on stablecoin settlement and cross border infrastructure, the proposals focus on structural conditions rather than individual products or services.