Speech delivered by Nigel Feetham KC MP Minister for Financial Services HM Government of Gibraltar at the Gibraltar Crypto Conference held on the Sunborn Yacht Hotel on 20 th October 2023.
I am delighted to have the opportunity to deliver the opening remarks at the Crypto Gibraltar conference. Many of you, who may have been closely following our General Election, deserve a wellearned break from the endless political chatter, and I assure you that I will keep my remarks concise. First, I extend my warmest congratulations to Pete Burgess and his dedicated team for arranging this event here in Gibraltar. We wholeheartedly welcome the numerous visitors who have taken the time and trouble to travel here. I am confident that they will relish their time at the conference and the countless benefits that Gibraltar has to offer. As the introductory page of this event rightly emphasizes, "Gibraltar is now firmly established as one of the leading crypto centres in the world." Our journey commenced in January 2018 with the introduction of the DLT Regulatory Framework by my friend and predecessor in this role, Albert Isola. I must acknowledge the exemplary leadership and visionary insight he demonstrated in crafting and nurturing this unique regulatory framework. I am also happy to recognise the support provided by Paul Astengo in delivering it. This framework has proven to be a cornerstone of our success, providing license holders with the regulatory certainty essential for building thriving businesses. Notably, consumers enjoy a high level of protection, while we continue to attract immensely talented technology entrepreneurs who are forging powerful and prosperous new ventures. My own background lies in the realm of legal practice, specializing in financial services here in Gibraltar, a field I have been devoted to for over three decades. I have witnessed the incredible growth and prosperity of our financial services sector, particularly in areas like insurance and online gaming. I am delighted that our more recent partners in the crypto and blockchain domains have found their own footing and are flourishing despite the inevitable challenges. Irrespective of our small size, we consistently punch above our weight. Nevertheless, I am a staunch advocate for forward thinking, striving for more, and doing it better.