Global Blockchain Business Council – the leading global industry association for the blockchain technology ecosystem – has today announced a major merger with the world’s leading market standards association for the adoption of cryptocurrencies and digital assets, Global Digital Finance (GDF).

The merger sees the two organizations join their respective resources, assets, and membership, becoming the world’s largest industry association for the blockchain technology and digital assets ecosystem. The combined association will have nearly 500 institutional members and 178 ambassadors, operating across 95 jurisdictions and disciplines. Global Digital Finance will be renamed GBBC Digital Finance, based in the United Kingdom, with teams predominantly across EMEA and APAC.

Sandra Ro, CEO of the GBBC, said: “I am so grateful to our GBBC and GDF communities of changemakers. They are why we exist and drive our mission on educating, advocating, and advancing partnerships to create new opportunities for the many, not the few. Our global collaboration, scale, and influence will be a game-changer for our members and for Web3 as a whole. I am incredibly excited about the forthcoming positive impact of this combined network across industries and sectors.”

Lawrence Wintermeyer, GDF Board Chair, has been appointed to the GBBC Board of Directors. He added: “The rapid growth and viability of blockchain, crypto, and digital assets means there is a clear need for effective, harmonized regulation built on a robust global framework. Leading global institutions and leaders need to work with each other, with governments and with regulators to deliver this framework, and there is a vital role for GBBC and GDF to play in facilitating and driving this crucial collaboration.”

David Treat, a Senior Managing Director and Global Metaverse Continuum Business Group & Blockchain Lead at Accenture, said: “The digital assets industry has seen unprecedented growth across both retail and institutional channels as businesses look to provide more transparent and secure infrastructures. The merger of GBBC and GDF represents a significant move that will further accelerate the use case and benefits of this transformational technology. At Accenture, we believe this technology underpins the next wave of innovation that will open up a whole new range of game-changing opportunities for our clients.”