What Was the Crypto Finance Conference 2023?
The Crypto Finance Conference 2023 (CfC St. Moritz) was an exclusive, invitation-only blockchain and digital assets conference held in the Swiss Alps at St. Moritz from 11 to 13 January 2023. A premier annual gathering since 2018, it deliberately limited attendance to a maximum of 250 participants — all drawn from the world of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWI), family offices, institutional investors, and decision-makers at the intersection of traditional finance and crypto. Details sat on the official CfC St. Moritz page. The alpine setting of the Engadin valley at 1,800 metres elevation added an intimate, relationship-building dimension that larger conferences cannot replicate.
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Key Themes and Event Highlights
The 2023 edition came just weeks after the FTX collapse — arguably the most consequential moment for crypto institutional trust. The agenda was shaped by this context.
Event Highlights
- Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Founder and then-CEO of Binance, discussed the future of decentralized finance and the critical importance of regulatory alignment for sustainable crypto market growth. His presence weeks after FTX's collapse made for one of crypto's most watched conference moments.
- Anthony Scaramucci (Founder, SkyBridge Capital) brought characteristic wit and substance, discussing how traditional finance bridges to crypto — sharing anecdotes about gradually convincing his family of Bitcoin's value.
- Michael Sonnenshein (CEO, Grayscale Investments) expressed institutional optimism: digital assets are on track to become a major component of professional portfolios as regulatory clarity improves globally.
- Staci Warden (CEO, Algorand Foundation) explored blockchain's potential for financial inclusion and sustainability, drawing parallels between exploring decentralized technology and her passion for scuba diving.
- Christine Moy (Partner, Head of Digital Assets, Apollo Global Management Inc.) represented institutional capital's growing engagement with digital assets from one of the world's leading alternative asset managers.
- Dr. Thomas Moser (Alternate Member of the Governing Board, Swiss National Bank) gave institutional weight to discussions about CBDCs and digital asset regulation from one of Europe's most credible central banking voices.
- Jemma Green (Powerledger) highlighted blockchain's role in carbon credit tracking and sustainability.
- Format: 60+ speakers, 250 expert attendees; small-group workshops on DeFi yield, digital asset treasuries, and stablecoin design; roundtable lunches for investor-to-investor exchange; optional alpine ski activities.
How Crypto Is Thriving in Switzerland
Switzerland's Crypto Valley in Zug hosts over 1,700 blockchain firms. The top 50 Swiss crypto companies were valued at around $467 billion in 2025, and Swiss companies raised approximately $728 million in 2025, up 37% year on year. The DLT Act (in force since 2021) gives digital assets a clear legal home, and FINMA follows a technology-neutral regulatory philosophy. Private investors typically pay no capital gains tax on crypto, and corporate tax in Zug can be near 12%. BX Digital won the world's first DLT trading venue licence in March 2025. SwissBorg received one of Europe's first AMF MiCA approvals in France in March 2026. For more shows, see CoinGabbar's crypto events Switzerland page.
Impact of the Event on Institutional Crypto
Running CfC 2023 in the immediate aftermath of FTX's collapse was a high-stakes moment for institutional confidence. The event's intimate format allowed for genuinely candid conversations that larger conferences cannot produce. CZ's presence, alongside central bank officials and institutional fund managers, signalled that serious finance was not walking away from crypto — it was recalibrating for a more regulated, mature market. The optimism expressed about long-term institutional adoption proved prescient, as 2024 and 2025 saw US Bitcoin ETF approvals and record institutional inflows.
Why Sponsors, Exhibitors and Partners Should Join
- Institutional crypto platforms: reach the family offices, sovereign funds, and UHNWI who will move billions into digital assets.
- Crypto banks and custodians: meet the institutional buyers who need regulated, compliant infrastructure.
- DeFi with institutional features: present to sophisticated investors actively seeking yield on digital assets.
- Tokenization and RWA firms: CfC's audience is exactly the institutional capital that will tokenize real-world assets.
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Why KOLs, Media and Influencers Attend
CfC is where institutional voices speak candidly off the record — and occasionally on it. Coverage from St. Moritz tends to carry authority. KOLs and media get access to fund managers and central bank officials who rarely sit for public interviews. Coverage can spread through the crypto press release network.
Why Participants Join
Institutional investors and decision-makers come to update their strategy in a setting designed for genuine connection. You hear from peers managing billions in digital assets, meet founders in small-group workshops, and ski the Engadin valley between sessions. Many leave with investment theses updated and a new trusted network in their pocket.
Tickets and PR Offers With CoinGabbar
CfC is application-only, but CoinGabbar covers all major Swiss crypto events. Free or discounted press release publishing is available for projects. Email event@coingabbar.io for details.
How the Event Concluded and What Came Next
CfC St. Moritz 2023 closed with cautious optimism after one of crypto's most turbulent months. Institutional participants left with reinforced conviction that blockchain's long-term trajectory was intact despite FTX. CZ's presence in particular helped steady institutional confidence in the broader crypto ecosystem. The 2024 edition continued the series with panels on building the "new digital factory of finance," and the 2025 edition featured partnerships with Sygnum Bank around Bitcoin reserves. Track upcoming shows on the crypto events calendar and our crypto events Switzerland page.
Glossary of Key Terms
- UHNWI: Ultra-high-net-worth individual, typically with investable assets above $30 million — the core audience of CfC St. Moritz.
- Grayscale Investments: the world's largest digital asset manager, whose CEO Michael Sonnenshein spoke at CfC 2023.
- Apollo Global Management: one of the world's largest alternative asset managers, with Christine Moy heading its digital assets division.
- DLT Act: Switzerland's Distributed Ledger Technology Act, in force since 2021, giving digital assets a clear legal home.
- Algorand Foundation: the organization supporting the Algorand blockchain, whose CEO Staci Warden spoke on financial inclusion.
Disclaimer
This page is for general information only. It is not financial, legal, or investment advice. The event described was held in January 2023; future dates and details may differ. Please confirm with the official source and do your own research. Crypto assets are volatile.
