The Latvian Blockchain Association (LBAA)

On April 23, our team joined 1,000+ crypto professionals at UN:BLOCK 2025 in Riga, Latvia to showcase Zekret: Unlocking Compliant Finance for the Decentralized World. A huge thank-you to UN:BLOCK & co-organizers Sorainen and Gravity Team, and sponsor The Latvian Blockchain Association (LBAA), for assembling such an outstanding conference—every session, networking break, and showcase area was top-notch. It was fantastic to meet so many amazing builders and innovators, including John Kojiro Moriwaka (Founder & CEO, Silicon Valley Ventures & Forbes JAPAN columnist) and Reinis Znotins (Founder & Chief Evangelist, UN:BLOCK & Exec. Dir., LBAA)—your insights into compliance-first DeFi and local regulatory landscape were invaluable. The presentation sparked enthusiastic feedback—many attendees requested follow-up discussions and potential partnerships—and left us energized to keep driving compliant DeFi forward! 📸 Photo credits: Olga Primakova (1 shot) and John Kojiro Moriwaka (2 shots) Thank you to everyone who made UN:BLOCK 2025 an incredible experience! #crypto #compliantDeFi #compliance #innovation #regulations #cryptonews

EU:UN:BLOCK 2025 summary: What a pleasure it was to meet the crypto community and so many great professionals in the UN:BLOCK crypto conference in Riga last week! Discussing Web3 with moderator ‏Davis Dargelis‏ and honorable panelists: ‏Janina Vinklere‏, ‏Oskars Jepsis‏ and ‏Kristaps Grinbergs‏. Another great panel was moderated by amazing ‏Ethan Pierse‏ and knowledgeable panelists: ‏Marius Jurgilas‏, ‏Edgars Laimite‏ and of course ‏Jasmin Mülhaupt‏. Also feeling blessed and grateful for meeting ‏Kapil Dhiman‏, ‏Armin Konjalić‏ and of course ‏Francesco Gavanna‏. Clearly, nothing would have happened without the work of the very well respected: ‏Reinis Znotins‏ (he was front end, and of course the back end - the person who actually took care of everything: ‏Julija Kane‏ ;-) ) And last, but not least: my partner for that journey: ‏Ido Greenberg Wald‏. Thank you for a wonderful week! If I have forgotten someone (like ‏Magnus Jones‏ ) - please forgive me. I'm still overwhelmed... apologies. Thank you all for this opportunity :-) Looking forward for next year! Niv

Still buzzing from UN:BLOCK in Riga last week! Second time in this amazing city just this year—and trust me, I’ll be back. The blockchain and crypto scene here is on fire, and it’s incredible to witness such a vibrant, forward-thinking community coming together. Riga absolutely delivered 🦍 I had the honor of hitting the stage again, sharing my thoughts on DORA and why it’s a total game-changer for crypto VASPs. Spoiler alert: security is leveling up, big time. Also yes—the pink glasses (they look black in photos, but trust me, they’re pink) are now officially part of my look and CyberUpgrade’s vibe. They’re fun, but they also carry a message 🩷 The energy? Electric🔌 Brilliant minds, bold ideas, deep conversations about the future of crypto—and someone even remembered it was my birthday. Got a year older, sure… but I left with something better than only gifts: pure inspiration 🎁

UN:BLOCK is Live in Riga and Nordic Blockchain Association is here! You can meet our Board Member Magnus Jones and also listen in to his presentation today at 1600 where we will present our brand new findings on Crypto Adoption in Latvia in a survey carried out by K33, Nordic Blockchain Association and The Latvian Blockchain Association (LBAA) 🇱🇻 This survey is an extension towards the Nordic Crypto Adoption Week that recently was carried out together with media partner Kaupr where you can read all the reports and also see reply of live streams from all Nordic countries. The Un:Block conference started with a great presentation by Ethan Pierse on the history of money which connected the dots towards how Blockchain now is an integrated infrastructure in finance and business. This is a topic we also will cover indepth at the The Nordic Blockchain Conference in Stockholm 17.-19. June. Feel free to reach out to Magnus for further synergies if you are in Riga!

UN:BLOCK 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 | 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 – 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝘃𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗖𝗔 𝗲𝗿𝗮! 🚀 Today’s focus at UN:BLOCK was clear: regulation, innovation, and Latvia’s emerging role in Europe’s crypto ecosystem. With #MiCA coming into force, Latvia isn’t just offering licenses — it’s stepping forward as a genuine partner for #Web3 and #fintech founders looking to build with confidence. We heard some powerful messages from the stage today: 🗣️ Viktors Valainis | Ekonomikas ministrija/ Ministry of Economics emphasized that MiCA puts all EU member states on the same starting line — and Latvia sees that as a real chance to become a hub for crypto innovation. “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳, 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥.” 🗣️ Santa Purgaile | Latvijas Banka highlighted that MiCA opens a new chapter, where fiat and crypto can coexist. Latvia offers not just vision, but an actionable support model: low supervision fees, pre-licensing consultations, and a regulator open to engagement. “𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 — 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦.” 🗣️ Reinis Znotins | UN:BLOCK & The Latvian Blockchain Association (LBAA) reminded the audience that MiCA isn’t just a regulation — it’s an opportunity for Europe to step up. “𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘪𝘊𝘈, 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 — 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩.” 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁❗There’s more to highlight from the discussions: 👉 Regulation isn't easy, but it is necessary. It requires cooperation on both sides. 👉 Latvia’s licensing path is more straightforward than in many other jurisdictions. 👉 Transparency, quality documentation, and a mature approach matter. 👉 Ongoing support post-license is just as important as getting the license. Invest in Latvia and Latvijas Banka were named as trusted partners throughout the entire MiCa licensing process. So if Latvia’s on your radar, you know who to reach out to! 𝗪𝗢𝗪, what an event!!! 🔥🔥🔥 Gustavs Lapins | Aija Zitcere | Agita R. | Laima Letiņa | Gravity Team | Binance | KuCoin Exchange | xpate | paybis.com | Nexpay | GreenCoin Ltd. | Goldingen.Tech | Sorainen | Industra Bank | Elektrum | AS RĪGAS SILTUMS | airBaltic #InvestinLatvia #StartupLatvia #CryptoRegulation #Latvia

Congrats to Nexpay team! Sofian Berrahal

Latvia warmly welcomes the crypto industry!🇱🇻 It was a true honor and pleasure to welcome everyone who took part in UN:BLOCK 2025 — a vibrant gathering of innovators, entrepreneurs, experts, and enthusiasts committed to advancing cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies in Latvia and across the globe.🌟 We aspire to be a country that not only embraces innovation but drives it.🚀 The development of the crypto and blockchain sector is of vital importance. These forward-looking technologies have the potential to fuel significant economic growth, expand access to financial services, and ignite innovation across a wide range of industries.📊 Latvia is committed to fostering an open and supportive environment for the industry. We will do our utmost to build a thriving ecosystem where entrepreneurs and innovators can grow, collaborate, and lead the way in shaping the future of the digital economy.🤝

₿ 🪙 48 Hours at UN:BLOCK - and What a Ride It Was The last two days at UN:BLOCK felt like stepping into the fast lane of the future. From being on stage discussing crypto compliance and real-world adoption To bouncing ideas with fellow founders To meeting some insanely smart people who I know I’ll be collaborating with soon. ⚡️ Panels were sharp. 🤝 The hallway convos were even better. 🔥 And the energy? Absolutely wild in the best way. Grateful for the invite, the mic, and the minds I got to connect with. To everyone I met: you made it unforgettable. To those I didn’t: let’s fix that - my DMs are open. Let’s keep the momentum going 🚀 Andrey Golubinskiy John Kojiro Moriwaka Reinis Znotins Davis Dargelis Artjoms Asatrjans Alexey Alexanov Anda Asere Anastasia Zencika VanOnGo Latvian Business Angels Network Latvian Business Angels Network The Latvian Blockchain Association (LBAA) Latvijas Investīciju un attīstības aģentūra - LIAA xpate Sorainen WALLESS Gravity Team #UNBLOCK2025 #crypto #web3 #fintech #startuplife #LevBass #entrepreneurship #networking #foundermindset #b2bsales

Great pleasure to join the panel discussion #MiCAR Licence Process: Reality Check in UN:BLOCK #Crypto conference in #Riga ! We discussed the real challenges that CASPs face in becoming compliant; from preparing documentation and navigating the licensing process, to ensuring high-quality ICT documentation, clarity of business models, risk management, and what “life after licensing” looks like. We also touched on the growing competitive landscape in the crypto space. Thanks to our moderator Agneta Rumpa, Sorainen and Sofian Berrahal Nexpay, Svetlana Prussova, CoinsPaid, and Martijn Schoonewille Loyens & Loeff for the engaging and thoughtful discussion. Special thanks to the The Latvian Blockchain Association (LBAA), Reinis Znotins team for organising insightful event. Open dialogue between public and private institutions is important at this stage of industry development and such events play a key role in building mutual understanding and effective #regulation.

This week I attended UN:BLOCK 2025, a premier crypto and blockchain conference held in Riga, Latvia. The event brought together over 1,000 attendees—including industry leaders, regulators, and innovators—to discuss the future of decentralized technologies and the upcoming implementation of the MiCA regulations. I was honored to speak on the panel “MiCA License Process: Reality Check” alongside our excellent moderator Agneta Rumpa Senior Associate at Sorainen, regulatory representative Head of Fintech Supervision Division  Marine Krasovska from Latvijas Banka, Sofian Berrahal CEO at Nexpay, and Martijn Schoonewille Partner from Loyens & Loeff. We discussed the difficulties and challenges in preparing for the MiCA, as well as the future after the MiCA, the regulator shared expectations and what is missing for those who are already in the process of submitting an application. It was an engaging exchange of insights, and I’m grateful to have shared the stage with such knowledgeable and passionate professionals. Thank you all for the support and thought-provoking discussion! It was also great to see key regulatory figures in attendance, including Viktors Valainis, Minister of Economics of Latvia, and Santa Purgaile Deputy Governor at Latvijas Banka reaffirming the country’s commitment to fostering an open and supportive environment for the crypto industry. I especially enjoyed presentation by Ethan Pierse, who traced the evolution from gold to code, one of the best speakers in my opinion. Magnus Jones, representing the Nordic Blockchain Association, rocked the stage and shared the Nordic and Baltic Crypto Adoption Survey 2025. Raido Saar, highlighted the critical role of digital identity solutions like Matter-ID and noted the importance of innovation and collaboration in shaping the future of cybersecurity. Dejan Davidovic from Kriptomat shared his experience and valuable insights on the panel discussion about AML and sanctions in crypto. It was a pleasure to meet old friends and making new ones. I truly admire people who are passionate about what they do! Uldis Cerps Pascal Condamine Anastasia Zencika Dr Lisa Cameron Yasmina Boubnider Kazitani MBA. Olivia Karlsson Ksenia Drobyshevskaya Daniel Heinen Polina Brottier Elvis Galickis Evald Hannes Kree With some, we've already started planning future collaborations—exactly what these events are all about! Huge thanks to my amazing CoinsPaid colleagues Vladimirs Pankratovs ✅ and Misha Kaplin for your support and productive time together during the conference! Special thanks to Reinis Znotins, Arturs Garais, Davis Dargelis and Latvian Blockchain Association for organizing such a meaningful event. It’s a pleasure to work with partners like you. Events like UN:BLOCK remind me how strong, supportive, and forward-thinking our crypto community is. Looking forward to seeing many of you at future events!