Adrian Wall of Digital Sovereignty Alliance Advocates Digital Sovereignty and Financial Inclusion at UN General Assembly
UN roundtable explores blockchain's role in empowering 1.7 billion unbanked with Adrian Wall championing data ownership.
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Washington, D.C., October 23, 2025 — The Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing clear and ethical public policy, research and education surrounding emerging technologies, today announced its participation in the United Nations General Assembly Roundtable, “A New Blueprint for Sovereign Sustainable Development,” held at the UN Headquarters in New York on October 22, 2025. The roundtable convened 48 global leaders, policymakers, and experts to advance dialogue on developing inclusive policy frameworks to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including climate resilience, equitable economic growth, and responsible technological innovation, with the shared goal of building a fairer and more sustainable future.
Adrian Wall, Managing Director of the Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA), moderated the discussion on “Global Digital Identity and Financial Inclusion Protocol,” which examined key themes such as digital sovereignty in Africa and the role of blockchain and stablecoins in advancing financial inclusion. The sessions focused on the importance of empowering individuals to own and control their personal data and highlighted the urgent need to expand financial access for the 1.7 billion people worldwide who remain outside the formal banking system. Wall noted that digital sovereignty and inclusive financial systems are essential to shaping the next phase of sustainable global development.
“Financial inclusion without financial literacy is a bridge to nowhere. It is access without empowerment,” said Wall. “True inclusion must be anchored in understanding, agency, and dignity. In the digital age, agency begins with access, and dignity begins with data ownership. Data sovereignty is not a technical issue—it is a question of human freedom.”
Participants of the roundtable represented a distinguished assembly of global leaders from international organizations, the private sector, and academia, united by a shared commitment to advancing sustainable development through dialogue and cooperation. Among those in attendance were:
- Tracy Wang, CEO of the Nobel Sustainability Trust Foundation
- Sangbu Kim, Vice President for Digital Transformation, The World Bank
- Tom Zschach, Chief Innovation Officer, SWIFT
- Dr. Oliver Zahn, Astrophysicist and Data Scientist (formerly at Google/Deepmind, SpaceX, Impossible Foods, and Berkeley's Cosmology Center)
- Caroline Yap, former Global Head of Cloud AI, Google
- Dr. Simran Chana, University of Cambridge / FTL
- Simi Nwogugu, CEO, Junior Achievement Africa
- Connor Fennely, CEO & Founder, Abacus
- Jacqueline Corbelli, CEO, Sustain Chain
- David X. Sánchez, Secretary General, Council of Global Change
- Lena Alfi, CEO, Malala Fund
DSA remains dedicated to its mission to advance digital sovereignty, financial inclusivity, and ethical technology adoption on a global scale. Through collaboration with governments, international organizations, and technology innovators DSA works to shape policy frameworks that protect individual autonomy, enhance national digital resilience, and expand access to technological opportunity.
About Digital Sovereignty Alliance
The Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA) is a nonprofit social welfare organization committed to advocating for public policies that support ethical innovation in decentralized technologies, blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3, and artificial intelligence. DSA conducts research, organizes educational events, and promotes policies that prioritize public welfare and digital sovereignty.
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