The Blockchain Confluence – PRR Blockchain.PT Conference, organized by NOVA SBE Data, Operations & Technology Knowledge Center and the Nova Blockchain Lab, convened a diverse and dynamic community of academics, industry professionals, practitioners, and blockchain builders to explore the cutting edge of distributed ledger technologies (DLT).

Over the course of two days, participants engaged in in-depth discussions and workshops addressing key developments in the blockchain ecosystem:

• Real-world applications of DLT across healthcare, energy, public services, gaming, and smart territories.

• Technical advances such as zero-knowledge proofs, self-sovereign identity, smart contract architectures, interoperability, and layer-2 solutions.

• Blockchain’s convergence with emerging technologies, including AI, quantum computing, and the metaverse, highlighting its role in fostering new knowledge economies.

• National blockchain strategies, with a focus on the BLOCKCHAIN.PT initiative, part of Portugal’s Recovery & Resilience Program (NextGen EU).

As part of the program, the conference hosted the XRPL Commons Insights workshop, delivered under the Ripple Blockchain Initiative, which offered participants hands-on experience with the XRP Ledger ecosystem and its expanding role in real-world blockchain applications.

The conference began on 16th November with a welcome dinner, bringing together leading figures from academia, industry, and international blockchain experts. Among the distinguished guests were:

• João Ferreira – IEEE Blockchain Portugal

• Joel Curado – Industry and corporate innovation

• Gora Datta – IEEE, Conference Chair

• Leid Zejnilovic – NOVA University Lisbon, Conference Chair

• Kim Jorgensen – University of Minho, expert in wallets and blockchain

• Raymond Choo – University of Texas at San Antonio, cybersecurity and blockchain expert

• Beck Roman – Bentley University, blockchain and governance expert

The evening fostered meaningful conversations around trust, interoperability, digital identity, and the future trajectory of blockchain technologies, setting an inspiring tone for the conference.

The event reinforced Portugal’s commitment to building a robust, innovative blockchain ecosystem and highlighted the country’s leadership in fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and international partners. Co-funded by the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and the European Union through NextGenerationEU, the conference represents a significant step in advancing the BLOCKCHAIN.PT agenda and driving real-world applications of blockchain technology across sectors.

With the insights, discussions, and collaborations fostered at this event, Portugal is poised to continue shaping the future of distributed ledger technologies, both nationally and globally.

For more information, visit blockchainconfluence.pt.