Ms. Trang Fernandez-Leenknecht, Founder of Holistik and Founding Board Member of Women in Web3 Switzerland (WiW3CH), shared her journey and highlighted the growing influence of women in the Swiss and European Web3 ecosystems.

Trang’s presentation, titled “Small but Different,” explained why Switzerland is at the forefront of blockchain technology. Key points included:

• Switzerland’s consensus-driven society and bottom-up approach
• The country’s decentralized structure with 26 cantons, mirroring blockchain’s decentralized nature
• The dialogue approach between experts and authorities in Switzerland
• The Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Act and tax guidelines for blockchain in Switzerland
• The role of Women in Web3 Switzerland in education and empowerment

Ms. Kamila Pudlo, General Counsel at swissQuant and Attorney-at-law, provided invaluable insights into the legal and regulatory landscape of Web3, emphasizing the crucial role women play in shaping this innovative space.

Her presentation focused on the European AI Act and its global impact. Key points included:

• The impact of EU regulations on Switzerland, despite not being an EU member
• The AI Act’s purpose to ensure AI systems are safe, fair, and protect human rights
• Different risk categories for AI systems under the Act: Prohibited AI systems (e.g., certain facial recognition technologies); High-risk AI systems (e.g., self-driving cars, bank loan decision software); Limited risk AI systems (e.g., chatbots like ChatGPT)
• The global reach of the AI Act, affecting companies outside the EU that want to sell products or services in the EU market or impact EU citizens

One of the event’s highlights was the presentation by Mr. Mark A. Greenslade from Casper Association, who provided an in-depth look into ACTUS (Algorithmic Contract Types Unified Standards), showcasing the transformative potential of Web3 technologies.

The integration of ACTUS with Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) enhances financial contract verifiability, ensuring integrity, tokenization, and secure payments through cryptographic validation and addressing the challenges of counter-party risk and post-quantum security.

Representatives from Japan also shared their expertise and perspectives. Ms. Chieko Tanabe from JETRO Osaka discussed Japan’s vibrant entrepreneurial landscape and highlighted initiatives like J-Bridge and Hack Osaka that foster innovation and collaboration.

Ms. Ayako Moriyama from Osaka City and Mr. Mitsuo Ueyama from Global Financial City Osaka shared insights into Osaka’s strategies and financial initiatives to position the city as a global financial hub.

The event served as a dynamic platform for sharing knowledge and fostering meaningful connections between Web3 leaders from Switzerland and Japan, with a particular emphasis on women entrepreneurs. This collaboration is set to drive future innovations in the Web3 space. By showcasing Switzerland’s expertise in blockchain and AI, the event highlighted the critical role of regulatory frameworks, international collaboration, and diverse perspectives in shaping the future of these technologies.

The event structure, which combined expert presentations with ample networking opportunities, allowed attendees to gain valuable insights into the latest developments in Web3 and AI from a Swiss perspective. It also facilitated connections between Swiss and Japanese entrepreneurs and professionals. Heartfelt thanks were extended to all participants, celebrating the collective effort in shaping the future of Web3 and empowering women entrepreneurs to lead the way.