The inaugural Community Day of the Digital Finance Forum launched today at Pier 6 with resounding success, attracting more than 250 attendees to a full day of innovation, education, and hands-on engagement in the digital finance space. The sold-out event, supported by international and local sponsors, featured keynote presentations, interactive sessions, and a lively Vendor Village where attendees were able to experience digital finance in action.
Over 150 complimentary tickets were distributed by the Government of Bermuda to ensure broad community access. Each attendee received $100 in USDC digital dollars, which they used to make purchases from local vendors, gaining first-hand exposure to digital payment technology.
The Premier the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, opened the day in a fireside chat moderated by Heath Tarbert, President of Circle Inc. In his remarks, Premier Burt spoke to Bermuda’s strategic advancement in financial innovation.
“Bermuda may be a small island, but we have built a global reputation for excellence in financial services, insurance, and, more recently, digital finance. It wasn't an overnight success, but our journey in this sector is rooted in what has always made Bermuda successful: a commitment to sound regulation, responsible innovation, and close collaboration between government and industry,” said Premier Burt.
Addressing the country’s evolving digital infrastructure and grassroots accessibility, he continued, “The current state of digital finance in Bermuda is growing and blossoming, and we have a huge opportunity in this sector. Through events like this, the partnerships have onboarded our residents and local businesses into digital wallets so that they can accept and transact in digital dollars.”
He also shared that the Government is actively working to adopt this technology within public systems.
The Premier said, “In Government, we are updating our infrastructure to accept these digital dollars as payments for government dues and taxes.”
Education and workforce readiness were also central themes. Premier Burt noted that the Government’s Economic Development Department, in partnership with the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), has been running annual fintech training programmes to build local capacity.
“These programmes ensure that not only our students but also our working professionals in the industry are equipped with what they need to evolve and take on new digital finance opportunities coming to Bermuda,” the Premier continued.
The Vendor Village featured a diverse range of local businesses already accepting digital payments, including Bacardi, Bermuda Roads, Ashley’s Lemonade, NovelTea, Mystic Hub, and Pan Bakery. All transactions were facilitated using the Coinbase Commerce platform, showcasing the efficiency and practicality of digital currency in everyday commerce.
Community Day was made possible through the generous support of the event’s sponsors, including: Coinbase, Circle, Near Foundation, XBTO, OnRe, Zero Hash, STS Digital, CCS Group Limited, SELF, City of Hamilton, Kraken, Hedera, Apex, Meanwhile, Howden, Hitch, Stillman Digital, and Stand With Crypto.
Together, these organisations are helping to build an inclusive digital finance ecosystem that positions Bermuda as a global leader in the digital finance space.
The Digital Finance Forum continues through 9 May, with a programme of expert panels, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to deepen Bermuda’s leadership in financial technology and innovation.
For more information, visit www.digitalfinanceforum.com.