Day 1: Wednesday, July 9, 2025
9:00 – 9:10 AM
Welcome/Opening Remarks
9:10 – 9:50 AM
Academic Keynote
Prof. Hans-Arno Jacobsen (Full Professor at the University of Toronto, Jeffrey Skoll Chair in Computer Networks and Innovation)
Title: The Renaissance of Byzantine Fault Tolerance: Revolutionizing Consensus Architecture for Pervasive Decentralized Systems
9:50 – 10:00 AM
Q&A Session
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Invited Talk
Prof. Tim Weingaertner (Full Professor at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts)
Title: Switzerland 2025: Blockchain Regulation, Identity, and the Crypto Valley
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Short Research Talks
Khalid Hassan, University of Manitoba, "Enabling Blockchain Interoperability Through Network Discovery Services"
Yunjung Pak, University of Alberta, "Beyond the Code: An Institutional Configurational Approach to Blockchain Governance Resilience"
Arshpreet Singh, Toronto Metropolitan University, "Analysis of User-Generated Content to Unfold Privacy Concerns with CBDCs"
Trinh Nguyen, University of British Columbia, "Coordination strategies in promoting innovation in critical minerals mining: insights from a Canadian initiative"
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch & Open Discussion - Lunch Provided
Lunch time and open discussion to facilitate networking
1:00 – 1:40 PM
Academic Keynote
Prof. Mohammad Ali Maddah-Ali (Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities)
Title: Game of Coding: Enabling Decentralized ML via Approximate Computing Outsourcing
1:40 – 1:50 PM
Q&A Session
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Lightning Talks and Informal Discussions
Interactive session featuring lightning talks and networking opportunities
Day 2: Thursday, July 10, 2025
9:00 – 9:10 AM
Recap of Day 1 and Start of Day 2
9:10 – 9:50 AM
Academic Keynote
Prof. Wojciech Golab (Full Professor at the University of Waterloo)
Tentative Title: Towards Scalable Consensus for Blockchains
9:50 – 10:00 AM
Q&A Session
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Informal Discussions on AI + Web3
Interactive discussion exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Short Research Talks
Hongyan Sun, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, "A Blockchain Based Decentralized Machine Learning Platform with Data Privacy"
Jiho Lee, Sejong University, "Research on Standards-based Blockchain and IoT Integration"
Danielle Batista, University of British Columbia, "Securing Brazil’s Public Procurement with Blockchain and Smart Contracts"
Mahsa Mohammadi, University of British Columbia, "From NAFTA to Blockchain: Transforming North American Supply Chains for Efficiency and Sustainability"
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch & Open Discussion - Lunch Provided
Lunch time and open discussion to facilitate networking
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Industry Panel
Short Talk 1: Ian Moore, PhD, DeFiPy/Syscoin, "Advancing DeFi Analytics with DeFiPy for Research and Prototyping"
Short Talk 2: Mimi Vong, CEO of Metafyed, "Tokenizing Real-World Assets: Enhancing Liquidity and Accessibility through Blockchain Technology"
Panel Discussion: Industry perspectives on blockchain adoption and innovation
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Social Events - Guided Tours
Explore the beautiful UBC Vancouver campus with guided tour options