The era of on-chain finance? Opening remarks by Mícheál O'Keeffe, Director of Policy and International at Blockchain Ireland Summit 2026
Introduction Good afternoon everyone. Thank you, Paul and Lory, for the invitation, and thank you to Blockchain Ireland and TEDx Dublin for putting this afternoon together – it really is quite the lineup. So – as the summit was pitched – we are here today to explore how the new era of digital on-chain finance has the potential to bring speed, security, innovation, opportunity and resilience to one of our oldest inventions: money. Speed that transforms settlement, security that protects assets, innovation that brings new business models, opportunity that democratises access, and resilience that reduces counterparty risk. You’ve picked a big topic, Paul. But a really important one. It is a topic close to our hearts – and our jobs – at central banks. Many of you in the audience will engage with the Central Bank as your supervisor or through our regulatory policies. But our core job in central banks is to help ensure that money is trusted, retains its value over time, and can function reliably throughout the economy. So I really am delighted to be able to share some perspectives from my “view of the forest” here today. What is Money, Really? Maybe a good place to start is the question:
Free plan · Plus CA$29 or Pro CA$99/month
