Blockchain
INTERPOL WORLD 2019 – Exclusive Interview with the organizer, Anita Hazenberg – Director of Innovation Centre Directorate at Interpol Global

We had to pleasure to catch up with Anita HAZENBERG, the Director of the Innovation Centre Directorate at INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation, organizer of INTERPOL WORLD 2019.
PICANTE: What determined you to organize Interpol World?
A.H.: Coinciding with the opening of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, the first edition of INTERPOL World took place in 2015. Two years later, the second edition was held in 2017 just right after I arrived from the Netherlands Police to become the new director of INTERPOL’s Innovation Centre. I was asked to organize the next edition of INTERPOL World for 2019 and I have a strong desire for it to be a forum where we can together develop INTERPOL’s global innovation agenda through the activities we organize. The focus of the Innovation Centre is very much on providing innovation capabilities for INTERPOL’s 194 member countries, and we find it very important that all together, with all participants, we set that agenda, and that we have a clear understanding of what is needed. Many people think innovation is only about new emerging technologies. However, it also means being able to react here and now. If something happens, you can trust and rely on law enforcement that they are there to solve the problems. It’s about changing culture and procedures, it demands a total change of mindset.
PICANTE: Why Singapore?
A.H.: Apart from the support and foresight of the Singapore Government which offered us a fantastic location to build our INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation here in the Lion City back when the INTERPOL President hailed from this great city, Singapore is a country with a strong focus on innovation and law enforcement. It’s only apt to also have the new Innovation Centre and INTERPOL World 2019 in Singapore.
PICANTE: What should the attendees expect from the Interpol World conference?
A.H.: Inspiration and awareness are vital components of INTERPOL World 2019. In the previous editions, exhibitions were a bubble that mirrored the developments in the business world. This year, we want to add another bubble into the constellation, and that is the bubble of working together and finding solutions to contemporary problems. This is why we have different sets of activities including motivational keynotes, plenary sessions, 32 co-creation labs, and working groups. In the co-creation labs, a law enforcement representative presents a contemporary problem and experts from the business and academic worlds respond. At the same time, we have also organized meetings of four INTERPOL law enforcement working groups to continue their discussions and collaboration: the Chief Innovation Officers Expert Group, Darknet and Cryptocurrencies Working Group, Drone Expert Group, and INTERPOL-UNICRI Working Group on Artificial Intelligence for Law Enforcement. In addition, the Chief Information Officers of INTERPOL will gather together during the event. Imagine, these five groups already constitute about 250 law enforcement senior officials and experts, add to these the participants and visitors for the exhibitions and co-creation labs, and you have an event of magnitude.
PICANTE: Who are the “top-selection” speakers of the conference? What’s their add-value to the tech world?
A.H.: All of our speakers for INTERPOL World 2019 are top-notch. However, I want to highlight a topic that should play a significant role in all discussions during INTERPOL World, that of ethics, privacy and human rights. The motivational speaker for the second day of the programme, Dr. Ayesha Khanna, will discuss ethics and privacy issues, as their relationship with law enforcement still faces questions and gaps that need to be answered. For example, do police still have the trust of our population and communities? As machines and algorithms get more and more sophisticated in their abilities to interpret and process information, people raise more questions on how police deal with their data. Thus, there is a challenge for law enforcement to be transparent. This is an overarching theme that will be emphasized during INTERPOL World.
PICANTE: What changes do you see as being short-term possible to implement in the cyber-security world after the conference?
A.H.: First of all, I hope it’s not only the cybersecurity world because I think innovation is much broader. Apart from cybersecurity, we will also talk about disruptors; ethics, privacy and trust within our communities; drones; identification technologies; smart systems; what would 5G mean to law enforcement; augmented reality; and a myriad of other topics pertinent to policing and law enforcement. The coexistence of the motivational keynotes, co-creation labs and working groups at INTERPOL World makes it a comprehensive conference for collaborating on solutions that hopefully could be effectively implemented in the near future.
About INTERPOL World 2019
INTERPOL World 2019 will take place between 2-4 July at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.
INTERPOL World is a global co-creation opportunity which engages the public and private sectors in dialogue, and fosters collaboration to counter future security and policing challenges. INTERPOL World comprises of three interlinked activities: a series of niche and targeted platforms for knowledge exchange culminating in strategic co-creation labs to discuss the challenges and solutions for combating the crimes of the future; an exhibition that serves as a business and networking event for manufacturers, distributors, and Research and Development organizations to offer innovative products and cutting-edge technologies to public and private entities involved in law enforcement, security and likeminded industries. INTERPOL World will also host a series of INTERPOL working groups (by invitation only) focusing on innovation, artificial intelligence, drones and darknet cryptocurrencies.
Police, public, security professionals and commercial buyers from around the world will convene in Singapore to forge mutually beneficial alliances leading to faster, more accurate responses to global security and public safety threats.
Register to attend INTERPOL World 2019 here: www.interpol-world.com
About Anita Hazenberg
Ms Anita Hazenberg assumed her current duties as the first Director of the Innovation Centre Directorate, INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore on 1 July 2017. In the increasingly complex policing operating environment characterized by rapid technological breakthroughs, the Innovation Centre was set up to engage global law enforcement in strategic futures planning and to co-create solutions to emerging law enforcement challenges.
In the past 36 years of her career in the Netherlands Police, Ms Hazenberg was involved in various operational duties across the Netherlands specializing in ‘Violence against Women and Children’ and ‘International Police Cooperation’. She progressed into the international foray to take up several trailblazing roles, including as the Director of the European Network of Policewomen (ENP); the first Programme Director ‘Police and Human Rights’ for the Council of Europe (France); the founder and first Director of the School for Police Leadership; the first Coordinator for International Strategic Alliances and Deployment of the Staff of the Dutch National Police Commissioner; and as the initiator and Conference Director of the global annual law enforcement think-tank consisting of top-level executives – ‘Pearls in Policing.’ Ms Hazenberg holds two Masters, one in Public Administration and one in Change Management.
In the current digital age where technology has led to the fast convergence of the physical, digital and biological worlds, Ms Hazenberg believes that global law enforcement must better anticipate future challenges, and formulate innovative, efficient and resource-efficient solutions in response to criminals constantly looking to exploit vulnerabilities. The writings are already on the wall, and the global policing community must be ready to tackle the inevitable challenges that lay in the horizon.
Blockchain
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 25, 2025 | BitNile, Dutch Blockchain Week, Citigroup, Philippine Blockchain Week, D.O.G.E Foundation

Blockchain’s metamorphosis from niche ledger technology to the backbone of Web3 has never been more evident. Today, we cover five stories that illustrate the evolving ecosystem: a gaming platform issuing its own token on Solana; Europe’s marquee Web3 summit; a major bank forecasting a “ChatGPT moment” for blockchain; a Southeast Asian conference aimed at busting crypto myths; and a foundation rebuilding blockchain from the ground up to solve scalability. Each development—whether product launch, industry gathering, macro forecast, educational initiative, or infrastructure innovation—offers a window into the trends shaping decentralized finance, NFTs, DeFi, and beyond.
1. BitNile.com to Launch Nile Coin on Solana
News Summary
Hyperscale Data’s subsidiary BitNile.com will introduce the Nile Coin on Solana starting May 1, 2025. The U.S.–based social gaming site chose Solana for its high throughput and low fees, aiming to enhance in-game economies, reward engagement, and deliver seamless micro-transactions. Details on tokenomics and governance are forthcoming, but management touts Nile Coin as a cornerstone of future gaming experiences.
Source: CoinTrus
Analysis & Commentary
Launching a proprietary token underscores two converging trends: the gamification of finance and finance-ification of gaming. By minting Nile Coin, BitNile.com taps into DeFi mechanics—staking, liquidity pools, NFT rewards—while leveraging Solana’s scalability. Strategically, BitNile.com positions itself for partnerships with NFT marketplaces and DeFi protocols, potentially opening secondary markets for in-game assets and generating new revenue streams beyond ad sales or subscription fees.
2. Dutch Blockchain Week 2025 Gears Up in Amsterdam
News Summary
From May 19–25, Amsterdam will host the sixth annual Dutch Blockchain Week, culminating in the two-day summit (May 21–22) at De Meervaart. Tier 1 exchanges (Bitvavo, Kraken, Coinbase), Web3 pioneers (WOW.ai, Blockrise), regulators (European Commission, De Nederlandsche Bank), and industry partners (Mastercard, Deloitte) will convene. Side events range from AI-powered hackathons tackling compliance to padel networking meetups—underscoring the event’s blend of technology, policy, and community.
Source: Dutch Blockchain Week
Analysis & Commentary
Dutch Blockchain Week typifies the maturation of blockchain conferences into multidisciplinary forums. Beyond token talk and yield farming, panels on regulation, institutional adoption, and security reflect Web3’s integration into mainstream finance. Anticipate announcements on CBDC pilots, DeFi compliance frameworks, and cross-chain interoperability projects that may emerge from the Block & Order Hackathon.
3. Citigroup Predicts Blockchain’s “ChatGPT Moment”
News Summary
In an April 23 report, Citigroup analysts argue that 2025 could be blockchain’s “ChatGPT moment,” driven by regulatory clarity around stablecoins and integration with traditional financial systems. They forecast stablecoin market capitalization ballooning to $1.6 trillion (base case) or as much as $3.7 trillion (bull case) by 2030—anchored by dollar-denominated issuers and collateralized with U.S. Treasuries. Regulatory frameworks like the GENIUS Act could catalyze adoption among banks and fintechs.
Source: Cointelegraph
Analysis & Commentary
Drawing parallels to generative AI’s explosive growth, Citigroup envisions a tipping point where blockchain moves from experimental to essential infrastructure. Successful integration will hinge on robust compliance tools, auditability, and clear governance models. Enterprise blockchain vendors should prepare for surging demand in tokenized payments, on-chain settlements, and embedded DeFi rails within legacy systems.
4. Philippine Blockchain Week 2025 Debunks Crypto Myths
News Summary
Scheduled for June 10–11 at SMX Convention Center Manila, Philippine Blockchain Week (PBW) 2025 will tackle misinformation and spotlight real-world use cases. Highlights include “Crypto, Unpacked” sessions demystifying the technology; “Smart Regulation” panels uniting policymakers and innovators; and “Blockchain for Impact” showcases on remittances, disaster relief, and digital identity. Founding President Donald Lim emphasizes government support and public–private collaboration to spur inclusive growth.
Source: UseTheBitcoin
Analysis & Commentary
PBW exemplifies how emerging markets leverage education to accelerate Web3 adoption responsibly. By engaging regulators early, PBW can shape balanced frameworks that encourage innovation while protecting consumers—an instructive model for markets wrestling with both hype and skepticism.
5. D.O.G.E Foundation Launches New Blockchain, Opens Seed Round
News Summary
The D.O.G.E Foundation announced a ground-up blockchain rebuild designed to solve the scalability and reliability challenges plaguing existing networks. This modular architecture separates validation from execution to enable parallel transaction processing—targeting real-time gaming, DeFi under high load, and AI-driven applications. A seed funding round is now open to investors who share the vision of a performant, decentralized infrastructure.
Source: D.O.G.E Altcoin GlobeNewswire
Analysis & Commentary
As layer-1 congestion and high gas fees persist, new entrants must justify a “why now” with clear architectural advantages. If the D.O.G.E blockchain delivers real-world throughput and maintains decentralization, it could spur a renaissance of high-performance DeFi protocols and NFT platforms hungry for cost-effective base layers.
Conclusion & Key Takeaways
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Tokenization of Entertainment: BitNile’s Nile Coin on Solana highlights blockchain’s expansion into gaming economies and NFT reward systems.
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Convergence of Tech, Policy & Community: Dutch Blockchain Week showcases Web3’s evolution into an ecosystem engaging regulators, enterprises, and developers under one roof.
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Mainstream Inflection Point: Citigroup’s “ChatGPT moment” thesis suggests blockchain is poised for exponential adoption given regulatory support.
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Education as Catalyst: Philippine Blockchain Week’s myth-busting curriculum underscores the importance of public–private dialogue in emerging markets.
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Infrastructure Innovation: The D.O.G.E Foundation’s modular, high-throughput chain exemplifies the next wave of layer-1 networks addressing real-time, real-world use cases.
Today’s stories convey that blockchain’s next chapter will be written through strategic token launches, global convenings, regulatory clarity, educational outreach, and radical infrastructure redesign. By tracking these threads, industry participants can anticipate opportunities in DeFi, NFTs, Web3 games, and enterprise integration. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Blocks & Headlines, where we’ll continue to decode the innovations shaping decentralized finance.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 25, 2025 | BitNile, Dutch Blockchain Week, Citigroup, Philippine Blockchain Week, D.O.G.E Foundation appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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