SKN | From Snow to Sand: CfC St. Moritz Expands to Abu Dhabi in 2026

The Crypto Finance Conference (CfC St. Moritz), one of the most exclusive global gatherings for institutional investors in digital assets, is broadening its footprint. Beginning in 2026, the renowned Swiss event will add a second annual venue in Abu Dhabi — a strategic move that reflects the Middle East’s rising influence in fintech, crypto regulation, and institutional capital flows. CEO Nicolo Stöhr confirmed the expansion and outlined the vision behind the new edition.

A New Home for Institutional Crypto Dialogue

The inaugural Middle Eastern conference will take place from April 21 to 24, 2026, at Qasr Al Sarab in Abu Dhabi, a location chosen for its strategic positioning and growing importance in digital asset innovation. Stöhr explained that the decision follows extensive engagement in the Gulf region, where leaders expressed strong interest in hosting a CfC-format event.

Stakeholders in Dubai and Abu Dhabi — from financial institutions to sovereign entities — recognized the absence of a conference dedicated specifically to high-level, institutional crypto discussion. This created a clear market gap that CfC St. Moritz is now poised to fill.

Why Abu Dhabi? Strategic Appeal for Digital Assets

The UAE has increasingly positioned itself as a future-focused digital asset hub, thanks to its progressive regulatory environment and commitment to attracting global fintech activity. Abu Dhabi brings together several key advantages for an institutional crypto forum:

• A sophisticated regulatory framework balancing innovation with risk oversight

• The presence of significant capital pools, including sovereign wealth funds and large family offices

• A rapidly expanding fintech and Web3 ecosystem

• A geographic position bridging Europe, Asia, and Africa

According to Stöhr, these attributes make the UAE an ideal location for hosting a high-trust, curated event designed for decision-makers in digital finance.

A Fully Fledged Second Flagship, Not a Satellite Event

Importantly, the Abu Dhabi edition will not serve merely as an overseas replication of the Swiss event. Stöhr emphasized that the new venue will be a standalone, fully developed counterpart — maintaining the conference’s trademark curated networking and private, high-trust environment, but adapted to the culture, market structure, and ambitions of the Middle East.

Diplomatic support is already in place: Ambassador Arthur Mattli will act as patron of the event, underscoring the institutional credibility behind the new edition.

January in St. Moritz Remains the Global Kickoff

Since its founding in 2017 by Marc P. Bernegger and Tobias Reichmuth, CfC St. Moritz has grown into one of the most respected gatherings for institutional investors in blockchain and digital assets. The Swiss edition, which traditionally sets the tone for the year’s crypto discussions, will return from January 12 to 17, 2026.

Closing Insights

The expansion of CfC St. Moritz into Abu Dhabi highlights how the epicenter of digital asset innovation is becoming more globally distributed. As capital, regulation, and institutional appetite shift toward emerging fintech hubs, the conference’s move reflects a broader realignment in the crypto ecosystem. For investors, policymakers, and industry leaders, the addition of a Middle Eastern edition creates a new axis for strategic dialogue — one poised to influence the next phase of institutional digital asset development.

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