01-30, 11:55–12:45 (Europe/Zurich), Beacon Stage
The growth of decentralized finance (DeFi) and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization presents unique regulatory challenges in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the EU. In DeFi, the absence of centralized intermediaries complicates compliance with traditional regulatory frameworks. Switzerland employs a principle-based approach, applying Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules and investor protection standards to balance innovation with risk mitigation. In the EU, efforts to regulate DeFi are advancing under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, though the status of fully decentralized platforms remains unclear, leaving a compliance gray area.
RWA tokenization is transforming the ownership and trading of real estate, precious stones, and both physical and digital art. Switzerland often treats tokenized assets under securities law, requiring issuers to ensure transparency, investor protection, and secure custody. Liechtenstein’s Blockchain Act offers flexible legal wrappers for tokenized assets, while the EU similarly emphasizes compliance with securities and transparency regulations. Use cases for tokenization range from fractional ownership of real estate to digitized rare art collections, enabling new opportunities for investors but demanding careful legal structuring.
Both DeFi and RWA tokenization highlight the need for tailored regulatory frameworks that foster innovation while ensuring market integrity, transparency, and consumer protection across jurisdictions.
Since 2017, Ms. Petrovskaia has successfully structured over 100 web3 projects across various sectors worldwide at various stages with major focus on tokenization of real world assets like real estate, commodities, diamonds, physical and digital art; as well as SDG related projects.
With a background in international consultancy, Ms. Petrovskaia used to advise for years a diverse array of international investors, primarily from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein in CIS countries with all activities in regard to their subsidiaries, branches, joint ventures and M&A deals in the amount up to 150 Million Euro.
Vyara Savova is a web3 & human rights lawyer and a Senior Policy Expert with the European Crypto Initiative (EUCI) - a Brussels-based non-profit that aims to shape EU regulation to favour open, permissionless, decentralised applications leveraging blockchain technology. Vyara is a PhD candidate focusing on the issue of privacy on-chain and the use of smart contracts as a solution.
Fabio is a Swiss lawyer specialized in financial markets regulation with a particular focus on blockchain, and DeFi applications. Since 2016, he regularly advises, both on transactions and on a strategic level, financial institutions and crypto companies on regulatory matters.
Fabio works as counsel at Schellenberg Wittmer and leads the Zurich chapter of the Blockchain Lawyer's Forum.
Head of RegTech & Crypto Compliance Services at Sygnum Bank I Course Director and Lecturer of the CAS in Crypto Compliance at University of Zurich (UZH) I PhD candidate in Law at UZH
Lawyer at day, researcher at night, degen at heart.