As I searched east, west from Tokyo to Madrid, from Singapore to Helsinki for independent digital currencies governed by commercial law, stable regulations, not tied to the volatile American market or the influence of Wall Street governed by interests under the guise of pragmatism, I found the “Crypto Valley” in Zug, Switzerland, a haven for innovation. Here, new futures for digital assets and financial technologies are being built away from traditional market influences.
### Notable Projects in Crypto Valley
A thriving group of innovative projects is flourishing in Crypto Valley, with Ethereum (ETH) being established as a major driver of smart contracts, thanks to figures like Vitalik Buterin, who has helped develop the decentralized application ecosystem. Cardano (ADA), led by Charles Hoskinson, is also prominent, focusing on building a comprehensive and sustainable financial architecture that serves emerging markets.
Tezos (XTZ), founded by Kathleen and Arthur Breitman, is a self-upgrading blockchain that allows the community to participate in its development without the need for forks. Definity (ICP), led by Dominic Williams, is a decentralized internet that aims to restructure the internet to make it more secure and independent, promoting digital autonomy.
### The role of Swiss banks in supporting the sector
Swiss banks are playing a pivotal role in supporting the crypto valley. Swissquote was one of the first to offer digital asset trading services, led by Mark Burki. Sygnum is the world’s first licensed digital bank, offering a full suite of services that are compatible with the crypto world.
### Supporting Associations and Academic Influence
The Crypto Valley Association, led by Emmy Lorincz, and the Swiss Blockchain Federation, led by Heinz Tanner, play a key role in expanding the crypto community. The University of Basel, led by Professor Fabian Schar, provides academic support, fostering the development of research and technology.
### Annual Events in Crypto Valley
Crypto Valley organizes annual events such as the Crypto Valley Conference and *CV Summit*, where industry leaders exchange ideas and showcase innovations. These events provide open platforms to foster collaboration and stimulate creative ideas between projects.
### Towards a decentralized and independent future
Zug’s Crypto Valley is a model of technological autonomy and financial transparency. Here, individuals are able to control their money and digital identities, free from traditional market pressures, in an environment that supports innovation in the areas of privacy and identity management.
This article is an introduction to Crypto Valley's activity and is in no way an advertisement or promotion for any particular cryptocurrency.
