Hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Expand North Star celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2025 and welcomes the entire global tech community throughout its four-day duration. It presents participants with a unified platform to explore funding, scaling, and deal flow opportunities while showcasing industry best practices and driving inclusive digital growth across emerging and established markets. 

A key feature of the 2025 programme is Future Blockchain Summit x Fintech Surge, the region’s premier blockchain and fintech gathering, established as the single destination where blockchain, fintech, and Web3 unite with the wider innovation ecosystem. From embedded payments and Web3 banking to open finance, AI-driven platforms, and beyond, the summit aims to redefine finance through blockchain and inspire the creation of next-generation financial systems.

This year’s centrepiece is the Digital Assets Forum, sponsored by YPAY, convening regulators, banks, investors, and innovators to examine the new market structure of finance. Attendees will gain exclusive access to a one-day deep dive into CBDCs and stablecoins, tokenised capital markets, cross-border regulation, inclusive payment systems, and AI’s pivotal role in risk and compliance.

Across the exhibition and conference stages, participants can expect exclusive insights on policy, regulation, and enterprise adoption alongside product showcases and live demos that connect corporate innovation teams with disruptive technologies. Investor matchmaking will facilitate one-to-one meetings between founders and global capital, while a curated demo program spotlights the newest market deployment breakthroughs. 

Startups exhibiting at Expand North Star will be automatically enrolled in the Supernova Challenge, the world’s largest startup pitch competition and a launchpad propelling high-growth ventures. Finalists will pitch live before global judges, tech media, and leading investors, competing for their share of a US$214,000 equity-free prize pool. Additionally, Headline, Gold, and Bronze Sponsors anchor this year’s agenda: Ruya as Headline Sponsor, OKX as Gold Sponsor, and DKK Partners as Bronze Sponsor, with YPAY supporting the Digital Assets Forum.

Christoph Koster, CEO of Ruya, said: “We’re excited to take part in Fintech Surge and the Future Blockchain Summit in Dubai this year. These events provide an ideal platform to highlight how ethical Islamic Finance, fintech, and blockchain technologies come together to deliver integrated solutions.”

Reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global meeting point for digital assets, visionary leaders from exchanges, foundations, and enterprise Web3 will appear on stage. Speakers include Jimmy Su, Chief Security Officer - Binance, Eric Piscini, CEO - Hashgraph, Oliver Stauber, CEO - KuCoin, Lily Liu, President - Solana Foundation, and Kevin Lee, Chief Business Officer - Gate. 

Future Blockchain Summit x Fintech Surge invites founders, corporates, regulators, and investors to join a programme designed to move the market forward, with sessions, showcases, and structured connections that translate ideas into action. 

For event registration and information, please visit the official website.