What to Know
- Hedera highlighted tokenization, AI, and trust at Davos 2026 through global policy and tech talks.
- Leaders stressed real-world use, strong governance, and simple, reliable infrastructure.
- Partnerships like McLaren show Hedera’s focus on mainstream adoption beyond crypto users.
Every year, the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland brings together global leaders from politics, business, and technology to talk about the world’s biggest challenges. This year’s theme, “A Spirit of Dialogue,” focused on rebuilding trust in institutions, markets, and new technologies shaping the global economy.
Hedera returned to Davos in 2026 as an active voice in these discussions. The team met with policymakers, business leaders, and innovators through panels, roundtables, and private meetings.
AI and Tokenization
One of the biggest topics across Davos was tokenization, turning real-world assets into digital form. This is no longer limited to stablecoins. Today, countries and major institutions are looking at tokenization as a way to move value faster, more safely, and more efficiently across all types of assets.
Another key theme was the connection between AI and blockchain. Leaders discussed how blockchain systems can help AI work in a more transparent and responsible way by tracking data sources, training processes, and rules automatically.
As a sponsor of the USA House, Hedera joined conversations about how tokenization can make finance more open and fair. Topics included:
- Making investing easier through small ownership (fractional access)
- Creating always-on markets that don’t depend on banking hours
- The need for clear rules in the U.S. to keep the country competitive in digital innovation
Global Conversations
Co-founder and Council Chairman Mance Harmon spoke with CNBC about what makes Hedera different. He highlighted its strong governance model, predictable costs, and reliable infrastructure. His simple vision for success was clear, “Hedera will be invisible and ubiquitous. That’s success.”
On Day 2, Eric Piscini, CEO of Hashgraph, joined a fireside chat at the Nasdaq and IIF Igniting Innovation in Finance event. The discussion focused on how digital assets, AI, and new financial systems are changing global finance and how these changes can strengthen financial stability if done responsibly. Eric also spoke at Blockchain Central Davos, alongside leaders from Ava Labs, GBBC, and the Filecoin Foundation.
Policy at a Critical Moment
Policy discussions felt urgent this year, especially for the United States. Digital asset regulation is reaching a turning point. At USA House, Nilmini Rubin, Hedera’s Chief Policy Officer, joined leaders from Euroclear, Chainlink Labs, and the Atlantic Council to discuss what comes next for U.S. digital asset rules. Topics included:
- Market structure
- Investor protection
- The growing role of stablecoins in payments
- The need for global cooperation in regulation
The Hedera-sponsored USA House also hosted talks on AI policy, innovation, and governance, bringing together tech leaders and policymakers to discuss how responsible innovation can move forward. Nilmini Rubin was also recognized at GBBC’s Appreciation Awards for her leadership in blockchain and public policy, reflecting Hedera’s focus on long-term trust and cooperation between the public and private sectors.
Real-world Momentum
Other recent updates show growing real-world use. On 25th Jan, Hedera partnered with McLaren Partnership, becoming the official blockchain partner for McLaren’s Formula 1 and IndyCar teams, offering free digital collectibles for fans with no crypto wallet needed.
Last week Hedera underwent Mainnet Upgrade which improved performance and prepared the system for major 2026 plans. Buying activity suggests growing interest, even as the broader market remains cautious. At the time of writing, HBAR is trading at $0.1057, down 0.34% in the last 24 hours and down 2.53% in the last week with no signs of recovery anytime soon.
Looking Ahead
As Davos 2026 ends, the conversations continue. The relationships and ideas formed this week are now shaping policies and strategies across the world. Hedera’s focus is clear: build trusted, transparent technology that works quietly in the background, supporting finance, payments, AI, and digital systems without needing hype.
Also Read: South Korea Plans Crypto Registry, Raises KRW Stablecoin Concerns
