The Blockchain Infrastructure Forum: Building the Future of Decentralized Networks

In today’s fast-moving blockchain landscape, the Blockchain Infrastructure Forum (BIF), powered by Kintsugi Technologies, stands as the definitive gathering for leaders, innovators, and regulators building decentralized networks. This exclusive, invite-only summit connects high-level decision-makers in blockchain infrastructure, validator operations, and Web3 adoption, encouraging cooperation and meaningful industry progress.
At the helm of this transformative initiative stands Daniel Hwang, CEO of Kintsugi Technologies, who serves as both organizer and moderator of BIF. Hwang's journey through the blockchain ecosystem has been nothing short of remarkable, spanning multiple dimensions that uniquely qualify him for this role. His tenure as Stakefish Protocols Lead provided him with invaluable insights into validator operations, while his founding of Validator Commons demonstrates his unwavering commitment to advancing validator infrastructure. Beyond technical expertise, Hwang's environmental consciousness led him to co-found BlockchainXClimate, and his innovative spirit is perhaps best exemplified by the creation of HanDAO, Korea's first DAO.

Creating Safe Spaces for Honest Dialogue

The foundation of BIF's success lies in its commitment to fostering genuine, unfiltered conversations about the most pressing challenges facing blockchain infrastructure. The forum operates under Chatham House Rules, creating an environment where participants can speak freely about sensitive topics without fear of attribution or corporate constraints. This framework ensures that participants may discuss and use insights gained to inform their work and decision-making while maintaining complete anonymity protection.
This trusted environment transforms BIF from a typical industry conference into something far more valuable, a space where candid discussions can flourish. Participants can explore controversial topics, share confidential insights, and challenge conventional thinking without worrying about how their words might be interpreted by competitors or regulators. The effectiveness of this approach relies fundamentally on the integrity of all participants, creating a mutual trust that extends beyond formal sessions and fosters ongoing relationships that benefit the entire ecosystem.

The Power of Selective Participation

What sets BIF apart from other industry gatherings is its carefully curated participant list. The forum's invite-only nature ensures that every attendee is a decision-maker with significant influence in their respective domain, creating a unique convergence of expertise and authority that simply cannot be replicated in open conferences.
The caliber of participants is truly remarkable. Executive leaders from major blockchain protocols including Ethereum, Solana, Polkadot, and Cosmos bring their deep understanding of protocol development and ecosystem management to the table. These individuals don't just understand the technical aspects of blockchain, they shape the very foundations upon which entire ecosystems are built.
Equally impressive are the elite infrastructure providers who collectively manage over $50 billion in staked assets across numerous protocols. These participants represent the backbone of blockchain security and validation, bringing practical, operational insights that are essential for understanding how theoretical concepts translate into real-world infrastructure.

The institutional presence adds another crucial dimension to the discussions. Global institutions such as Tencent, Alibaba, SK Telecom, NTT, and SBI participate as they explore or actively engage with Web3 technologies, bringing traditional finance perspectives that are increasingly important as blockchain infrastructure matures. Complementing this diverse group are key regulatory stakeholders and representatives from central banks and regulatory agencies, ensuring that policy perspectives are integrated into technical discussions rather than treated as afterthoughts.

Addressing the Industry's Most Critical Challenges

BIF's discussions are not theoretical exercises, they address the most pressing challenges facing blockchain infrastructure today. The forum tackles three fundamental pillars that will define the future of decentralized networks, with conversations shaped by participant interests and emerging industry challenges.
Infrastructure excellence forms the technical foundation of these discussions. Participants explore best practices for operating validators at the highest levels, examining industry-standard security practices and technical requirements for optimal blockchain infrastructure management. These conversations go beyond surface-level discussions to address the nuanced challenges of maintaining security and reliability in an increasingly complex ecosystem.
Governance and standards represent another critical area where BIF drives meaningful progress. Participants examine validator roles in blockchain governance, comparing on-chain versus off-chain governance models to identify optimal approaches for different contexts. The forum works toward establishing classification standards for infrastructure providers, ensuring consistency and transparency across the industry while maintaining the flexibility needed for innovation.
The regulatory and institutional dimension addresses perhaps the most complex challenge facing blockchain infrastructure today. Participants explore how blockchain and traditional regulatory frameworks can complement each other, with special focus on sovereign regulatory clarity and industry engagement for compliance, regulation, and co-development. These discussions are essential for creating sustainable regulatory environments that support innovation while ensuring consumer protection, a balance that requires deep understanding of both technical capabilities and regulatory constraints.

A Journey Through BIF History

The Blockchain Infrastructure Forum has established a tradition of hosting its gatherings in historically significant venues that inspire innovation and meaningful dialogue.
The journey began in 2023 at the Austrian National Library in Vienna, where the inaugural BIF took place from July 6–7. This magnificent setting, steeped in centuries of intellectual tradition, provided the perfect backdrop for establishing the foundation of what would become the premier blockchain infrastructure summit.
Building on this success, BIF24 was held at the Windsor Hotel Toya in Hokkaido from August 30 to September 1, 2024. The breathtaking natural beauty of Hokkaido, combined with Japan's position as a technological innovator, created an environment that encouraged participants to think beyond current limitations and envision the future possibilities of blockchain infrastructure.
The most recent gathering, BIF25, took place in Seoul, South Korea, on October 22, 2025, marking another significant milestone in the forum's evolution. Seoul's position as a global technology hub, combined with South Korea's innovative approach to digital assets, made it an ideal location for advancing the conversation about blockchain infrastructure.

BIF25: Pioneering Regulatory Dialogue

BIF25 dedicated itself to the Regulatory Roundtable, which brought together regulators, legal professionals, and Web3 leaders from APAC, the EU, and the US for an unprecedented open dialogue on shaping the future of digital asset regulation.
This year's roundtable was structured around four ambitious goals that reflected the growing maturity of the blockchain industry. The first goal focused on exchanging regulatory insights from participating regions, highlighting the diverse national approaches that have emerged as different jurisdictions grapple with the challenges of regulating digital assets. This exchange was particularly valuable because it revealed both common challenges and unique solutions that could inform global best practices.
The second goal centered on driving discussions aimed at identifying key industry priorities and emerging compliance challenges. Rather than simply reacting to regulatory developments, participants worked to proactively identify areas where industry input could help shape more effective regulatory frameworks.
Evaluating potential frameworks for blockchain infrastructure standards and interoperability formed the third pillar of the roundtable. This discussion was particularly timely given the increasing complexity of multi-chain ecosystems and the need for standardized approaches to infrastructure management.
Finally, the roundtable focused on promoting regional cooperation to ensure APAC remains central, not sidelined, in the global regulatory conversation. This goal reflected a recognition that the future of blockchain regulation will be shaped by global cooperation, and that APAC's innovative approaches deserve equal consideration alongside Western regulatory frameworks.
The discussions took place against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving global regulatory landscape defined by two major legislative frameworks. In the United States, the GENIUS Act (July 18, 2025) established a federal structure for USD-backed stablecoins, while the CLARITY Act introduced long-awaited market definitions and governance guidelines for digital assets.
Meanwhile, the European Union's MiCA (effective December 30, 2024) created a unified regulatory regime for crypto-assets, featuring a passporting mechanism that facilitates cross-border operations across all 27 EU member states.
Perhaps most importantly, the BIF25 discussions highlighted APAC's capacity to lead with inclusive, innovation-first regulatory models. Rather than simply mirroring Western precedents, APAC participants demonstrated how regional approaches could pave the way for a balanced and forward-thinking global framework that supports innovation while ensuring appropriate oversight.

Looking Forward: The Future of Blockchain Infrastructure

The Blockchain Infrastructure Forum represents more than just an annual gathering, it is a catalyst for meaningful change in the blockchain ecosystem. Through its exclusive, invite-only format and commitment to open dialogue under Chatham House Rules, BIF creates an environment where genuine progress can be made on the most pressing challenges facing blockchain infrastructure today.
As the forum continues to expand globally, from Vienna to Hokkaido to Seoul, it remains committed to fostering the collaboration and innovation necessary to build a more robust, secure, and globally distributed blockchain infrastructure ecosystem. The success of BIF lies not just in the quality of its participants or the significance of its venues, but in its ability to create lasting relationships and drive concrete progress on issues that matter most to the future of decentralized networks.
The evolution from technical discussions to regulatory dialogue, as evidenced in BIF25, reflects the growing maturity of the blockchain industry and BIF's role in facilitating that maturation. As blockchain infrastructure becomes increasingly critical to global financial systems, forums like BIF will play an essential role in ensuring that this transition happens in a way that benefits all stakeholders, from individual users to global institutions.