Blockchain
Lugano NFT Week: Lugano is becoming a Blockchain & Crypto-Friendly City

From 15-21 November Lugano Living Lab, the digital innovation laboratory of the City of Lugano, has promoted an unprecedented exhibition that explores the fascinating world of NFT and Crypto Art with an exhibition, events and dedicated workshops.
Lugano is increasingly a Blockchain & Crypto-Friendly City. After the launch at the end of 2020 of the MyLugano app, the LVGA Points citizen payment token and the recent creation of 3Achain, the institutional blockchain promoted by the city, this time it is the turn of the NFTs with a review between art and technology entirely dedicated to the understanding of this emerging and extremely topical phenomenon.
Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs) are a cryptographic system that allows you to provide proof of authenticity and ownership. Applied in the field of digital art, they make it possible to certify the uniqueness and scarcity of a work, which as digital is easily replicable or reproducible, but which is, so to speak, made rare by its registration in the Blockchain. NFT is therefore not the work or even an artistic phenomenon, but the corresponding certification registered on the blockchain.
It is an epochal paradigm shift that opens up new and interesting scenarios for the art market and that among its merits has had that of unleashing enormous creative potential by providing a dimension to artistic languages, expressions and grammars hitherto marginalized by the system of traditional art, thanks to a strong push from below.
The exhibition promoted by Lugano Living Lab, the digital and technological innovation laboratory of the city of Lugano, has been held from 15-21 November at Villa Ciani with exhibitions, events and workshops dedicated to understanding this phenomenon.
On the ground floor of Villa Ciani there will be the exhibition entitled “The Future is Unwritten”, curated by Ivan Quaroni and Linda Tommasi. In this context, a selection of works chosen from the hundreds that make up the collection of the Poseidon Group, one of the largest and most conspicuous in Europe, will be proposed. Among these, patrons will be able to admire the works of internationally renowned artists who have played a key role in the explosion of the phenomenon of Crypto Art such as Beeple, XCOPY, Hackatao and Dangiuz, Federico Clapis, Skygolpe, Fabio Giampietro, Raphael Lacoste, Giovanni Motta , Andre Chiampo together with two specimens of the famous Cryptopunks from Larva Labs. Alongside this exceptional team, the curators have selected a core of young artists or newcomers in the NFT universe, such as Niro Perrone, Nicola Caredda, Giuseppe Veneziano, Adriana Glaviano and Giò Roman, for the quality and originality of their works.
The first floor of Villa Ciani will instead be dedicated to Gaming enthusiasts with an exhibition of digital and collectible works. Visitors will thus be able to discover NFTs developed by Lugano-based companies, including Crypto Heroes, a game based on NFTs and the NFT Gaming protocol by Noku, the online 3D entertainment platform The Nemesis by UNDO Studios, which combines the technology of worlds virtual to gaming and gamification, as well as NFT of products from the world of luxury and jewels, real “passports” of authenticity and ownership, made by Luxochain.io.
It will also be possible to see the NFTs of Axie Infinity, the most famous NFT blockchain game in the world, as well as Cryptogene and Scriblet Clubhouse with Shifty Shepherds designed by Juliet Duplessie developed by Sortium, three projects to which Pangea, a fund specialized in investments in blockchain projects with offices in Lugano participated with investments in seed capital. Finally, for sports enthusiasts it will be possible to admire the NFTs of Topps, a multinational leader in the field of sports collectibles for years.
On the first floor there will also be a station where the digital subjects of the first Crypto Stamp of the Swiss Post (a physical stamp associated with NFT digital representations) developed by the Post and which will be launched on November 25th will be previewed (find out more at address https://crypto-stamp.post.ch/).
Within the exhibition, throughout the week, it will also be possible to participate in the creation of the first NFT citizen of Lugano by taking part in the creation of a collective artistic work. This first “NFT Luganese” will then be created in a limited series and a numbered copy will be sent to all those who have contributed to its creation.
The exhibition has been inaugurated on Wednesday 15 November starting at 17:00 and will be accessible free of charge until 21 November, during the week from 11: 00-18: 30 and during the weekend from 09: 00-18: 30.
As part of the Lugano Living Lab exhibition, it proposes a Talk entitled “The NFT World” in which experts from the business and academic world will explore various application fields of the tool and a workshop “Create your NFT” to allow anyone who wishes to create their first NFT in a few simple steps. For info and reservations visit the website https://my.lugano.ch/it/eventi.
The Mayor of the city of Lugano, Michele Foletti, declares:
“We have always followed the development of new technologies very closely and we have identified blockchain as a topic of great interest for both multinational and local companies, citizens and businesses. We believe that a city must be at the service of citizens and with these initiatives we intend to place Lugano as a top-level player on the international scene, for all applications related to this technology “.
Robert Bregy, Secretary-General of the City of Lugano:
The financial sector has always had a very close link with technology which has strengthened especially in this last period. In particular, since bitcoin and cryptocurrencies have become a concrete reality, we have discovered and learned about the potential of blockchain technology in many different sectors. And, from our privileged vantage point, it seemed right to us to chart the path of innovation in this direction and build a system that can support businesses and citizens, and become a pole of attraction at an international level.
Davide Baldi, CEO of Luxochain – interviewed following the announcement, comments: “we are honored to have contributed to the realization of this initiative, which contributes to the city plan to make Lugano a reference center of blockchain technology on the international scene”.
Blockchain
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 24, 2025 (Decrypt, CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, 80 Level, UNDP/BGA)

In an era defined by rapid innovation and ever-shifting regulatory landscapes, blockchain continues to prove its mettle across diverse sectors—from data privacy and prediction markets to gaming and sustainable development. Today in Blockchain, we explore five major developments shaping the decentralized world on April 24, 2025:
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Europe’s New Privacy Guidelines: How the EDPB’s draft rules may redefine on-chain data handling.
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Canada’s Blockchain Advantage: Lessons from Consensus Toronto on agility, talent, and national strategy.
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Prediction Markets for Science: DeSci’s leap toward crowdsourced validation and the reproducibility crisis.
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Ubisoft’s NFT Gaming Gamble: Yet another Web3 pivot in mainstream video games—and why it matters.
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Blockchain for Good Accelerator: The UNDP joins forces with the Blockchain for Good Alliance to fuel SDG-focused innovation.
This op-ed–style briefing strips away the noise to deliver concise yet detailed coverage, incisive commentary, and big-picture implications for developers, entrepreneurs, regulators, and enthusiasts alike. Strap in as we decode today’s key blockchain headlines.
1. Europe’s Data Privacy Guardrails: EDPB’s Draft Blockchain Guidelines
What happened:
On April 22, 2025, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) published draft guidelines clarifying how personal data must be stored and accessed on blockchain networks to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Key takeaways include:
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Minimize on-chain data: Avoid embedding personally identifiable information directly into immutable ledgers.
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Data Protection by Design & by Default: Mandate early-stage DPIAs (Data Protection Impact Assessments) for any blockchain project touching personal data.
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Controlled access & erasure mechanisms: Develop off-chain storage layers and governance protocols to satisfy “right to rectification” and “right to be forgotten” requirements.
Source: Decrypt
Why it matters:
GDPR’s foundational principles clash with blockchain’s inherent immutability and transparency. By issuing these guidelines, the EDPB seeks to preserve individual privacy rights without stifling decentralized innovation. However, the tension between censorship-resistant networks and regulator-mandated mutability raises profound design challenges.
Analysis & Commentary:
Today’s guidance is overdue but pivotal. As Bryn Bennett of Hacken reminds us, “Privacy isn’t an add-on—it’s infrastructure.” Projects that ignore privacy-by-design risk not only fines but also eroded user trust. Conversely, decentralized privacy pioneers like Nym Technologies warn that retrofitting GDPR onto public blockchains can compromise both privacy and sovereignty. In my view, the next frontier lies in hybrid architectures—leveraging off-chain zero-knowledge proofs, secure enclaves, and permissioned sidechains—to reconcile transparency with confidentiality. Europe’s blueprint could become a global reference, influencing regulators in Asia-Pacific, North America, and beyond to articulate their own blockchain-specific data rules.
2. Canada’s Blockchain Advantage: Small Enough to Move Fast, Big Enough to Matter
What happened:
At Consensus Toronto 2025, CoinDesk columnist William Mougayar argued that Canada is uniquely positioned to outpace other G7 nations in blockchain adoption, thanks to:
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Homegrown talent & heritage: Ethereum’s origins in Toronto and thriving developer ecosystems in Montreal and Vancouver.
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Regulatory agility: Streamlined federal-provincial coordination, pro-innovation tax credits, and pilot sandbox frameworks.
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Strategic national vision: Proposals to mandate crypto access in Canadian banks, integrate digital assets into capital markets, and even explore a national cryptocurrency reserve.
Source: CoinDesk
Why it matters:
While the U.S. grapples with interagency turf wars between the SEC, CFTC, and others, Canada’s structural simplicity offers a template for coherent blockchain policymaking. This could accelerate capital inflows, enterprise pilots, and global competition for fintech talent.
Analysis & Commentary:
Canada’s playbook hinges on being “small enough to pivot, yet big enough to impact”. As blockchain matures beyond niche use cases, national champions will emerge from jurisdictions that marry regulatory clarity with creative incentives. I predict that within two years, Toronto and Montreal will rival Miami and Dubai as leading hubs for DeFi, tokenization, and digital-asset custody. But execution is everything—if Canada can streamline licensing, shore up AML/CTF safeguards, and embed digital literacy into its education system, it could truly leapfrog entrenched incumbents.
3. Prediction Markets in Science: DeSci’s Bold Experiment
What happened:
In an opinion piece for Cointelegraph, Dr. Sasha Shilina explored how blockchain-powered prediction markets (e.g., Polymarket, Pump.science) are being repurposed to address the scientific reproducibility crisis. Highlights include:
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Crowdsourced forecasting: Researchers and investors stake tokens to bet on experimental outcomes, incentivizing rigorous study design.
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Financial accountability: Monetary losses for flawed work create a rapid feedback loop, potentially weeding out irreproducible findings.
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Regulatory hurdles: Jurisdictions still classify these markets as gambling, complicating mainstream adoption.
Source: Cointelegraph
Why it matters:
Traditional peer review can take months or years to expose methodological flaws. Decentralized prediction markets promise near-real-time validation, democratizing scientific oversight and reducing wasteful replication studies.
Analysis & Commentary:
Prediction markets offer an “open-science complement”—not a replacement—to scholarly publishing. By aligning economic incentives with truth-seeking, they could elevate data integrity and funders’ confidence. However, unchecked speculation risks gaming the system, especially if liquidity pools are dominated by a handful of whales. The solution lies in multi-stakeholder governance: academic consortia, journal publishers, and veteran researchers collaborating to set market parameters, oracle standards, and dispute-resolution mechanisms. In my view, the coming year will determine whether DeSci moves from proof-of-concept to institutional legitimacy—or remains a fascinating experiment.
4. Ubisoft’s NFT Gaming Bet: Might & Magic Fates
What happened:
On April 24, 2025, gaming giant Ubisoft announced Might & Magic Fates, its third blockchain game in under six months, developed in partnership with Immutable. Key features:
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NFT trading cards: Creatures, spells, and artifacts minted as on-chain assets.
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Optional Web3 layer: Players can choose between traditional gameplay or unlocking digital ownership via NFTs.
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Community backlash: Early reactions decry “Web3 slop,” with seasoned gamers lamenting lack of gameplay previews.
Source: 80 Level
Why it matters:
Ubisoft’s persistence underscores a broader corporate push into play-to-earn and digital-ownership models. Despite vocal skepticism, top publishers see NFTs as a path to new revenue streams and player engagement metrics.
Analysis & Commentary:
I admire Ubisoft’s willingness to iterate—but will “third time be the charm”? Past misfires suggest they’ve yet to nail the balance between token mechanics and fun. If Fates can deliver rich narrative, balanced tokenomics, and genuine secondary-market value, it might convert skeptics. Otherwise, gamers will continue associating NFTs with pump-and-dump schemes. Successful blockchain gaming will require tight integration of on-chain assets with deep, off-chain gameplay loops—think on-chain skins that evolve with player achievements or governance tokens that shape in-game lore. Ubisoft’s true test will be fostering an ecosystem where NFT ownership enhances, rather than distracts from, core gameplay.
5. Blockchain for Good: UNDP & Alliance Launch Global Accelerator
What happened:
The Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and EMURGO Labs, launched the SDG Blockchain Accelerator on April 24, 2025. Program highlights:
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4-month accelerator: Tailored training, mentorship, and technical support via UNDP AltFinLab and EMURGO Labs.
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Multi-chain innovation: Encourages solutions across Cardano, Ethereum, and other protocols.
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Up to $1.5 million in post-acceleration grants: Equity-free funding to scale blockchain solutions addressing the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Source: UNDP Innovation
Why it matters:
This initiative bridges Web3 technology with humanitarian impact, channeling blockchain’s transparency and efficiency into real-world challenges—financial inclusion, supply-chain traceability, carbon credits, and more.
Analysis & Commentary:
SDG-focused accelerators signal a shift from speculative token swaps to impact-driven development. By equipping UNDP personnel and global innovators with blockchain toolkits, the program can catalyze projects that deliver measurable social value. Success stories—like transparent vaccine distribution chains or micro-loan platforms for underserved communities—will validate blockchain’s promise beyond hype cycles. I urge stakeholders to watch for pilots that blend on-chain verification with off-chain delivery, ensuring that funding flows transparently and outcomes are independently audited. If this Alliance proves out, it could redefine public-private partnerships in digital development.
Conclusion: Today’s Takeaways & Tomorrow’s Roadmap
These five headlines illustrate blockchain’s multifaceted evolution:
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Regulatory Maturation: Europe’s privacy guidelines spotlight the need for nuanced frameworks to guide on-chain data use.
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National Strategies: Canada’s agile approach demonstrates how government policy can catalyze ecosystem growth without heavy-handed bureaucracy.
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Decentralized Science: Prediction markets could revolutionize research validation, forging new alliances between academia and DeFi.
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Corporate Experimentation: Ubisoft’s repeated NFT forays reveal both the promise and pitfalls of integrating blockchain into mainstream entertainment.
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Mission-Driven Innovation: The SDG Blockchain Accelerator aligns decentralized tech with societal goals, charting a course for truly “blockchain for good” outcomes.
As blockchain technology accelerates, the imperative for thoughtful design, cross-sector collaboration, and impact measurement has never been clearer. Whether tackling data privacy conflicts, mobilizing global talent, democratizing scientific rigor, reinventing digital ownership, or driving sustainable development, today’s stories offer a roadmap for the next chapter of decentralized innovation.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s edition of Blocks & Headlines, where we continue decoding the daily pulse of the blockchain revolution.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 24, 2025 (Decrypt, CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, 80 Level, UNDP/BGA) appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
Blockchain
World Chess and the Algorand Foundation propose leveling the playing field with a “chess passport”

In a whitepaper published today, World Chess (LSE: CHSS) and the Algorand Foundation (ALGO) conceptualize a new blockchain-based system that would establish secure, private, and verifiable credentials for global sports organizations, including chess. Grandmaster Evgenij Miroshnichenko contributed to the paper alongside the Algorand Foundation and World Chess.
The move comes as interest in chess hits a new high, driven by popular television series on Netflix and the BBC, the 2024 awarding of the youngest-ever world chess champion, and the inclusion of chess for the first time in the Esports World Cup later this year.
If adopted, the system would allow chess players to independently manage their identity and credentials across all chess platforms and organizations with a single decentralized ID, and one login credential for everywhere they play. They could then easily “port” their identity, achievements, records of play, rankings, and rewards across online chess platforms, as well as seamlessly from the digital world to in-person games and tournaments. This provides them with a much easier way to prove their identity, no matter their status or documentation; it would also reduce tournament application times significantly. Chess organizations would then be able to welcome even more players to their competitions, including those who have built their chess career solely online, as well as players who have previously only competed in tournaments held by other organizations.
Among other benefits, the adoption of a “global chess passport” would make it much easier for organizers and chess clubs and federations alike to onboard and register players, both online and offline.
Another benefit of the proposed system is to safeguard fair play. As chess becomes increasingly integrated into e-sports and online competitions, the use of AI programs or player fraud (one player representing another) is an increasing concern. Being able to confirm player integrity (including whether they have been banned for cheating on any other platform) ensures credibility of chess contests and competitions. These verifiable credentials also preserve player privacy. They can be used to confirm player eligibility and relevant identity data without providing access to sensitive documentation, such as passports. Finally, identity verification also prevents fraud in tournament payouts. Phishing and other attempts to steal winnings are on the rise; this ensures only the rightful winner can access their prize funds.
“I think that chess needs its version of the global e-version of drivers license. It’s a global game, and using blockchain for the benefit of having one universal independently verifiable ID is something that both players and organizers will certainly benefit from,” says Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World Chess.
“This initiative is not just about chess; it’s about the future of fair play and verifiable achievement across all sports and esports,” said Bruno Martins, principal architect at the Algorand Foundation and co-author of the whitepaper. “Chess has a rich history of proving the usefulness of new technologies. In this case, World Chess is showing the integrity, privacy, and portability of records in any competitive arena is not only possible – it’s in the best interest of every player, everywhere.”
Statista estimates that the market for esports should reach $4.8 billion in 2025, with nearly 900 million players by 2029 (source), all of which could benefit from better cross-platform registration for online and in-person competitions.
The full whitepaper and more information about the proposed open-source system can be found here. Chess platforms, esports organizations and other parties interested in contributing to the project can get involved by contacting [email protected].
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