The Sofia Declaration
Shared academic standards for cryptoeconomics education, formally adopted by European universities.
Sofia, 29–31 October 2026
Blockchain Education 2026
International Conference on Cryptoeconomics, Blockchain Technologies and Financial Innovations
- Date
- 29–31 October 2026
- Location
- UNWE, Sofia
- Duration
- 3 days
- Language
- English
Organised by
A structural gap at the heart of European academia
Blockchain and the cryptoeconomy have moved faster than the universities that should teach them.
The rapid evolution of blockchain technologies and the cryptoeconomy has outpaced academic frameworks, leaving a critical gap in European higher education.
This conference is a platform for systematic dialogue between academia, regulators and industry to close that gap.
“We are not convening to discuss blockchain. We are convening to build the academic architecture that governs its transfer into a tangible, structured and recognised new European educational field.”
What this conference will produce
Four concrete outcomes that last beyond the three days in Sofia.
Academic network
A permanent international consortium for ongoing research exchange and faculty collaboration.
Curriculum frameworks
Implementation-ready models for new university programmes, blockchain labs and regulatory compliance.
Industry partnership
Foundations for funded collaboration between universities and leading Web3 actors in DeFi and asset tokenisation.
Four domains of inquiry
The programme is built around the questions universities, regulators and industry share.
Education and academic standards
Curriculum design, quality benchmarks, cross-institutional alignment and the Sofia Declaration framework.
Regulatory frameworks (MiCA)
European regulation and its direct impact on academic programmes and infrastructure.
Web3 technologies and tokenomics
DeFi, RWA tokenisation, blockchain and AI convergence, and emerging models in digital finance.
Research and industry synergy
Translating academic research into practice through joint projects and innovation labs.
International faculty
Regulators, lawyers and policy experts shaping crypto-asset markets in Europe.
Anna Todorova
Deputy Director, Regulatory Regimes of Investment Activity (Investment Firms and Crypto-Asset Service Providers) Directorate
Financial Supervision Commission
Key dates
Plan your participation around three deadlines.
- Early bird
Discounted tickets end
- Payments
Payment deadline
- Conference
UNWE campus, Sofia
Three days of focused inquiry
Education and regulation, then technology and research, then standards and the declaration.
Education and regulation
- Opening plenary session
- Global trends in blockchain education
- MiCA regulatory framework
- Curriculum models and competencies
- Evening networking reception
Technology and research
- Web3 research frontiers
- Peer-reviewed paper sessions
- Tokenisation of real-world assets
- DeFi and sustainable economic models
- Industry and academia matchmaking
Standards and declaration
- Curriculum design workshops
- Blockchain labs and infrastructure
- International academic network
- Sofia Declaration signing
- Official closing ceremony
Study cryptoeconomics and blockchain at UNWE
The conference grows out of degree programmes that already exist.
UNWE offers bachelor and master programmes in the digital finance field. Organised by UNWE, the Institute of Cryptoeconomics, Blockchain and Innovation (ICBI) and the National Association for Blockchain and Innovation (NABI), the conference brings academia, regulators and industry into one shared space focused on quality education, research and innovation.
Join the conversation that shapes the future of finance education
29–31 October 2026 at UNWE, Sofia. In person or online.