Michael Terpin, Karla Ballard, Lou Kerner Join UN Blockchain Week

Three Visionary Leaders Join the Premier Global Gathering

UN Blockchain Week is proud to announce the addition of three influential leaders — Michael Terpin, Karla Ballard, and Lou Kerner — as speakers for its landmark 2026 edition. Taking place September 10–19 in Times Square, New York City, the event coincides with the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) and New York Fashion Week, bringing together global policymakers, innovators, investors, and visionaries at the intersection of blockchain, Bitcoin, AI, energy, space, and real-world impact.

This historic gathering positions blockchain technology at the center of conversations shaping global governance, sustainable development, and technological progress while world leaders from 193 countries convene in New York. The addition of these speakers elevates the program’s depth and reinforces UN Blockchain Week as the premier platform where industry pioneers engage directly with diplomats, institutional decision-makers, and builders.

Michael Terpin

Godfather of Crypto • Founder, Transform Ventures & BitAngels

Widely recognized as the “Godfather of Crypto” by CNBC, Terpin has shaped the blockchain industry for more than a decade. As founder and CEO of Transform Ventures and co-founder of BitAngels — the first multi-city crypto angel network — he played a pivotal role in early ecosystem development. Terpin’s Transform Group pioneered marketing and advisory for landmark projects including Ethereum, Tether, Augur, Bancor, Gnosis, and others. An early Bitcoin investor and author of Bitcoin Supercycle, he developed influential frameworks such as the “Four Seasons of Bitcoin” model and helped establish Puerto Rico as a leading blockchain hub after receiving the first Act 22 tax decree in the sector.

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Karla Ballard

Future of Work • Blockchain • Cultural Architect • HUMN

A cultural architect and champion of human-centered blockchain, Ballard is Founder and CEO of HUMN, a platform focused on blockchain infrastructure for communities, skills verification, and the future of work. Ballard’s work emphasizes using distributed ledger technology to record economic contributions, enable peer-to-peer skill-sharing, and build inclusive community economies beyond speculative use cases. A former Independent vice-presidential candidate alongside Brock Pierce in 2020, she has long advocated for blockchain’s potential in transparency, trust, and social impact.

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Lou Kerner

Founder, DAIAA + CryptoMondays

Founder of DAIAA and CryptoMondays — the world’s largest crypto-focused Meetup network with chapters across dozens of cities — Kerner has been a dedicated community builder and thought leader since immersing himself full-time in crypto in 2017. Previously called “Wall Street’s Bitcoin Expert” by The Wall Street Journal, Kerner brings experience as a Goldman Sachs equity analyst, early social media executive, and Partner at Blockchain Coinvestors. As a frequent keynote speaker and advocate for real-world adoption and community-first approaches, he has helped scale in-person Web3 networks globally.

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STATEMENT FROM ORGANIZERS

“We are especially proud to welcome Michael Terpin, Karla Ballard, and Lou Kerner during this historic meeting of leaders at UNGA 81. Each has made indelible contributions — from pioneering early crypto infrastructure and investment networks, to advancing community-centered blockchain applications for the future of work, to building the largest grassroots crypto communities worldwide. Their presence ensures our discussions on Bitcoin adoption, AI convergence, policy, energy, space, and societal impact will be informed by true visionaries who have already shaped the industries they represent.”

Event Highlights

UN Blockchain Week features a flagship two-day conference on September 16–17 focused on Bitcoin, policy, institutional infrastructure, AI, energy, space, and real-world applications, alongside more than 100 experiences across the full 10-day program. The event uniquely aligns blockchain innovation with the global stage of UNGA, offering unmatched opportunities for dialogue between technologists and the world’s decision-makers.