2025 YouHodler’s Crypto Valley Conference Review: Crypto's Maturing Landscape

At YouHodler, we love traditions. The annual Crypto Valley Conference (CVC) in Switzerland is one of our favorites. It’s always a key event in the crypto calendar. Once again, we were honored to be there and support it. We're excited to share our yearly conference recap.
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First off, a big thank you to the fantastic team behind the CVC – especially Niki Csanyi, the CVA Executive Director, Saskia Verbeek, Event Coordinator at CVA, Giovanni Zaccaria, CVA SM manager, and of course, a shout-out to the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) for hosting. Unlike many conferences that are just about profit, the CVA truly focuses on bringing value to the entire industry, which is now way beyond just crypto enthusiasts.
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YouHodler is proud to be an active member of the Crypto Valley Association. This conference truly feels like our "home" event.  Joining us this year were big names from Kraken, Binance, Franklin Templeton, Google, Bitcoin Suisse, G-20, Cardano Foundation, and many more.
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This year’s theme was all about maturity. We’ve been speaking about the industry getting mature over the last 3-4 years. Finally, it’s here. The conference highlighted crypto’s growth and sparked vital conversations about preserving its revolutionary spirit amidst extremely increasing institutional involvement. It also showcased how key players and we are building bridges in this evolving global financial system. We’ll explore these significant shifts and more, starting with how the industry has evolved. 

No More "Kids in the Room": Crypto Grows Up

If there’s one clear message from the 2025 Crypto Valley Conference, it’s that the crypto kids have grown up or been replaced by serious institutions. The days of simply wild ideas and small-time speculation are largely behind us. This year's event showcased solid, established businesses, showing how much the blockchain world has matured on a global scale.
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We saw clear signs of this maturity everywhere. For example, big news just arrived at the time of the conference. Circle's successful IPO was a huge step, proving that public markets are ready for crypto companies. The SEC chairman's announcements about new USA regulations also point to more clarity and legitimacy for the industry in a major global market.
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Beyond regulations, the presence of tech giants like Google, now deeply involved in blockchain, and traditional finance players like Franklin Templeton with their big digital asset funds, big banks like Postfinance, and many others highlights this shift. CVC 2025 wasn't just a conference; it was a strong statement that crypto is now a permanent and important part of the global economy. At YouHodler, we've always believed in this journey towards wider acceptance, seeing the real value blockchain adds to finance.

Web3 Freedom vs. Institutionalization: Finding the Right Balance

Caption: CEO of Cardano Frederik Gregaard‍

Even with all this growth, a big question hung over CVC 2025: What about freedom?

Crypto started with a hopeful, almost romantic idea of full decentralization and breaking free from old systems. But now, with big tech and big finance stepping in, those core ideas are being tested. Can crypto truly keep its revolutionary spirit? What happens to our freedom when large, centralized groups get involved?
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It's not about choosing sides. The discussions at the conference showed the need for a smart balance. How do we keep the best parts of blockchain – like decentralization and self-custody – while benefiting from the stability and reach that larger institutions provide? This balance is incredibly important.
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Behind the scenes, there were deep discussions about where the industry is heading. And some big questions were raised publicly from the stage. For instance, the CEO of Cardano, Frederik Gregaard, highlighted concerns about the USA Cloud Act, which allows the U.S. government to access data without even a court order. There were also talks about the US government potentially pushing some blockchains to change their core principles by "rewriting" past blocks.
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At YouHodler, we've always taken a realistic, rather than idealistic, view. Over the years, we've consistently worked to find this balance, creating a perfect blend of traditional finance's strengths and crypto's innovation. 
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Our goal is to take the best from both worlds, giving our users strong financial tools that are reliable and secure, yet also offer the efficiency and new opportunities of digital assets.

Crypto-Native Companies Now Serving Institutions: YouHodler Led the Way

Another clear trend at CVC 2025 was how crypto-native companies are building services specifically for institutions. Big names like Binance and Kraken were actively showcasing their infrastructure solutions, showing a clear strategic shift towards catering to the needs of traditional financial players.
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It's a point of pride for us that YouHodler started offering comprehensive institutional services back in 2022. We saw this need early and began developing solutions before many larger brands. Our commitment to connecting the crypto world with traditional finance meant we were already building the secure, compliant, and scalable services that big institutions require.
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This proactive approach allowed us to understand and serve the detailed needs of large clients long before it became a widespread industry trend. We're proud to be part of this change, proving that crypto platforms can deliver the professionalism, reliability, and advanced features expected by even the most demanding financial players.

The Global Landscape: US, EU, MENA, and Switzerland's Bold Vision

The global regulatory landscape was a core discussion point at CVC 2025, with different approaches from the US, EU, the Middle East, and our beloved Switzerland. While the "Great American Exodus" narrative from CVC 2023 seems to be shifting, it's clear the EU is now seen as less crypto-friendly due to its increasingly complex regulatory environment.
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In contrast, the UK is actively crafting more welcoming strategies, and the Middle East, particularly vibrant hubs like Bahrain, showed a formidable presence at the conference, actively building supportive crypto communities and rapidly gaining ground that the EU has lost. This shifting tide presents an extraordinary opportunity for Switzerland.
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As YouHodler, with our deep roots within Switzerland and the Crypto Valley Association, we know firsthand that Switzerland is already recognized worldwide as a premier hub for crypto, FinTech, and innovation, just as it has always been. However, even the best can do better. The ambition to "Make the Crypto Valley Great Again," as discussed in a panel with Max Kon from CVA, Hans Kuhn (Lawside), Eva Selamlar from the Swiss Financial Innovation Desk, Nicolas Brügger from SIF (Secretariat for International Finance), and Luzius Meisser (Bitcoin Suisse) - perfectly captures this moment.

Switzerland, despite its size, has always aimed to be exceptional, not just average. This drive was powerfully articulated in the "12 Recommendations and Demands for Politics, Government, and Industry"—a clear manifesto designed to further strengthen Switzerland as a leading blockchain hub. These recommendations advocate for everything from:

• making regulations even more innovation-friendly,
• accelerating approvals,
• actively promoting digital money
• and empowering self-regulation.
  

As Luzius Meisser, a Bitcoin Suisse Board Member, aptly stated, there's a strong sentiment against overly strict rules on minor risks (like the Travel Rule) while larger financial risks (like the Credit Suisse collapse) might be overlooked. Switzerland has a unique chance to capitalize on the EU's declining crypto favor and the US's rising prominence by truly differentiating itself.
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There is already a strong foundation for blockchain adoption at the highest levels—from the Swiss National Bank and the Bank for International Settlements to forward-thinking cities like Lugano and several cantons. What’s needed now is greater support for innovation and entrepreneurship among small and medium-sized businesses, especially considering today’s inherently global market environment.
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To maintain and elevate its global competitiveness, Switzerland must double down on its innovative approach, ensuring it continues to champion independent businesses and truly live up to the promise of "Crypto Valley". 

Thomas Moser, Swiss National Bank
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Eva Selamar, Swiss Financial Innovation Desk

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Biba Homsy, Thomas Moser (SNB), Daniel Eidn (BIS), Paolo Bortolin (City of Lugano), Marco Kessler (SDX)

Key insights from Keynote Speakers

Beyond the broad trends, the heart of the Crypto Valley Conference lay in the powerful insights shared by industry leaders. We had the privilege of attending numerous captivating panels and keynotes that shed light on the most pressing issues and exciting opportunities in our evolving space.
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A major focus was compliance and regulation, particularly the complex challenges of the "Travel Rule." Our very own Ilya Volkov of YouHodler joined a panel highlighting the lack of global alignment, the need for interoperability, and concerns around user experience and high implementation costs. Laura Hildebrandt, from Coinbase, presented solutions for these issues, emphasizing secure data sharing and due diligence. Discussions further compared differing regulatory approaches, like the EU's MiCA framework versus Switzerland's unique tax and legal environment.

The conference also reinforced the growing maturity of the crypto market, with strong emphasis on institutional adoption and the rise of new products. Experts from CME Group, Google Cloud, and Franklin Templeton discussed how stablecoins are moving beyond hype to build real infrastructure, and how traditional finance is integrating tokenization and digital assets. 
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The Swiss National Bank shared updates on its wholesale CBDC projects. Paolo Bortolin again highlighted a huge adoption of Blockchain and Crypto in the City of Lugano.  Finally, keynotes from the CEOs of Cardano and Solana passionately discussed the balance between decentralization and scalability, emphasizing blockchain's original vision to empower individuals and democratize financial access in this rapidly evolving landscape.

A Dash of Real-World Drama
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The conference certainly unfolded against a dynamic global backdrop that added an unexpected layer of entertainment. Picture this: while we were deep-diving into the blockchain's future, the highly public social media sparring match between Elon Musk and Donald Trump was playing out on the sidelines. It got people talking! 
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As we all know, Bitcoin's price often moves with broader sentiment, and this high-profile drama, which coincided with some market dips, naturally led to lively discussions behind the scenes. We found ourselves laughing and speculating if this was just genuine political theatre or perhaps even a clever play influencing market dynamics. It was a fun reminder that even in our maturing industry, external events can throw a curveball and spark some intriguing conversations about sentiment.

The Synergy of AI and Blockchain: A Peek into the Future

Another highlight of CVC 2025 was the exciting discussion around AI and blockchain. YouHodler’s very own Alexandra Lloyd joined a panel called “ Agentic Compliance: AI and the Future of AL.” The panel highlighted crypto’s potential as “native money” for AI and how AI is already proving its value in financial market modeling.
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The panel also saw AI dramatically improving the user experience of financial applications, making them more user-friendly and intuitive. This combination of AI and blockchain promises a future where digital interactions are more secure, intelligent, and user-friendly.
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Currently, YouHodler is already implementing AI strategies in customer support and compliance, which is certainly improving the experience for every YouHodler client. 

Final Thoughts: Building a Balanced Future with YouHodler

The 2025 Crypto Valley Conference confirmed what we already know: the blockchain industry is rapidly maturing and becoming a key part of the global economy. It also brought vital discussions about freedom, decentralization, and the growing role of institutions into sharp focus.
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At YouHodler, our core belief remains firm: we are here to build a strong bridge between traditional finance and the future of decentralized technology. We will continue to offer innovative solutions that combine the best aspects of both worlds, giving our users powerful financial tools that are both secure and forward-thinking. The discussions and ideas shared in Crypto Valley are not just concepts; they are the foundation for the next era of digital finance, and YouHodler is proud to be actively helping shape that future.
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Keep scrolling down for more photos of the event, and to see our yearly traditional “lake cruise” party:

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