AI and blockchain convergence in Riyadh puts institutional architecture and data provenance at the forefront of investment
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The business track of the 2026 Global Blockchain Expo concluded in the Saudi capital, held on June 29-30, unveiling a technical pathway that focuses on the convergence of decentralized networks with artificial intelligence technologies and interactive digital platforms. The event was organized by the VAP group with support from Times of Block Chain, and took place at the same venue as the Global AI Expo and the Global Gaming Expo in Riyadh. The event recorded more than 15,000 registrations, attracted 6,723 participants, featured over 100 international speakers and 100 exhibiting entities, and included an executive representation in which 70 % of attendees were CEOs and decision-makers from over 80 countries.
Shifting to backend infrastructure represents the core pillar for addressing the requirements of large organisations.The main sessions in Riyadh focused on structural innovations that reshape technical systems, including the abstraction of blockchains and the construction of massive data infrastructure needed to support future enterprise technologies. The event saw broad consensus that the blockchain ecosystem is separating from pure speculation and becoming a parallel economic layer free of operational complexities. Experts discussed how scalable infrastructure and operationally compatible networks can contribute to modernising global trade, enabling companies to move beyond legacy systems, adopt secure digital finance, tokenised assets, and accelerate cross-border commerce.
The concept of “invisible blockchains” emerged as a key theme during the discussions, with specialists outlining gas-free transaction mechanisms and simplified onboarding processes to remove complex technical barriers, which can allow companies to secure digital identities and automate revenue generation at scale. In the conference’s opening session, Miao, co-founder of the Jupiter platform, explained that decentralized finance has demonstrated that financial systems can be transparent, programmable and globally accessible, stressing that the next phase does not aim to replace traditional finance but to combine the strengths of both systems to create a more inclusive and flexible financial ecosystem. Shaiber Moamen, president and founder of the Torus Chain platform, also delivered a keynote that focused on institutional adoption and the innovations shaping the next generation of decentralized systems.
The convergence of artificial intelligence with gaming and data networks enhances the protection of data ownership and the documentation of its sources.The conference agenda covered topics such as digital banking, cybersecurity, intelligent process automation, and blockchain-enabled institutional transformation, as well as the role of technology in supporting the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for emerging technologies. Discussions highlighted how decentralized architectures can provide mechanisms for documenting data sources for regional enterprise environments and global entertainment networks. The sessions featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Dr Mohamed Abdel Rahman, head of the Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Department at Prince Maqrin University; Olyssius Demos, global chief data officer at Red Sea International; Nishanth Kumar Pathi, chief cybersecurity and governance officer at Gulf Air Group; Bilal Yamk, head of the Web 3 Alliance in Saudi Arabia; Murad Ersan, CEO of the Takafou platform; Ryan Turner, CEO of Arconix; Alona Shiftova, CEO of Sends; Mustafa Abu Samra, co-founder of Healthy Gaming in Saudi Arabia; and Talal Al-Hammad, editor-in-chief of “Ruwad Al-Riyadah Ent Arabi”.
The event marked the launch of the VAP Ventures initiative, a strategic investment step aimed at supporting 100 start-ups by 2030 to accelerate innovation in the global technology ecosystem. The exhibition hall hosted companies and solutions specializing in decentralized finance, digital identity, cybersecurity and smart infrastructure, with exhibitors such as Club Mous Technologies, Krouper Digital Limited, Plot Deks, GPY R, Arconix, the Torus Chain Association, Smart Flow, The Loop Craft, EGS, and Fin Studio. VAP founder and CEO Vishal Barmer affirmed that the sector’s future is built through cooperation and integration between institutions and investors rather than competition, noting that this institutional momentum will be carried over to the next edition scheduled in Abu Dhabi.