Pier Six will be the central location for the opening of a high-powered gathering of leaders in the next generation of high tech.

The island is to host a new conference focused on blockchain adoption and decentralised artificial intelligence.

The inaugural Bermuda Digital Finance Forum is to be held from May 6 to 9 at the Pier Six Complex on Front Street in Hamilton and at Hamilton Princess & Beach Club.

Penrose Partners, Salt and The Decentralised AI Society have teamed up to present the conference.

Organisers said the event will convene key community leaders and stakeholders to empower local businesses and residents to leverage digital finance, along with expert discussions on institutional investing use cases for decentralised finance and artificial intelligence.

With support from the Government of Bermuda, organisers said conference week will feature diverse programming, including a hands-on digital finance showcase, focused dialogues, curated networking and leisure activities.

David Burt, the Premier, said: “The Government is pleased to host the first Bermuda Digital Finance Forum this year. I extend a special thanks to Salt and the Decentralised AI Society for their collaboration on this initiative, and we look forward to welcoming participants to our shores in May.

“Bermuda takes pride in its robust regulatory and legislative framework, designed to empower financial organisations to innovate and thrive on a global scale.

“The Bermuda Digital Finance Forum reflects our commitment to fostering collaboration among global leaders in this growing space, as well as in emerging technologies such as decentralised AI.

“As Bermuda continues to strengthen our digital finance sector, we are confident that this event will open new opportunities for local businesses and create more high-quality jobs for Bermudians.”

Organisers said day one of the conference proper on May 7 at Pier 6, aims to drive nation-state level adoption of digital finance.

A special USDC airdrop, powered by the island's first Digital Asset Business Act licensed company, Circle, will allow attendees to spend digital dollars on a variety of goods and services from Bermudian businesses at the conference.

Days two and three of the conference will take place at the Hamilton Princess.

Organisers said the conference will reflect on the island-wide USDC airdrop from the first day, and feature content focused on business opportunities within digital finance via networking among leading investors, protocols and entrepreneurs in the digital assets ecosystem.

Forum speakers and participants will discuss the financial applications of blockchain and AI, changes to global regulatory frameworks and the future of digital asset management.

“Salt and Dais are thrilled to team up with Penrose Partners to support their efforts in driving digital finance forward in Bermuda,” said John Darsie, chief executive of Salt, and Michael Casey, chief executive of Dais, in a joint statement.

“Bermuda has a proud history of driving responsible innovation in financial services. We look forward to providing our experience and perspectives on digital asset management and decentralised AI to help the island continue to be a leader in providing progressive policies and frameworks for these sectors.”

Penrose Partners is a Bermudian-based digital asset advisory firm.

New York-based Salt, founded in 2009, is a global thought leadership forum covering the intersection of finance, technology and public policy.

Dais said it brings together the leading players in the emergent decentralised AI ecosystem to collectively promote the development of an open AI economy that’s built by, and for, the benefit of human beings.