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Washington, DC, October 23, 2025 – the Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA)A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting clear and ethical public policy, research and education related to emerging technologies, today announced its participation in the United Nations General Assembly Roundtable, “A New Blueprint for Sovereign Sustainable Development,” held at UN Headquarters in New York on October 22, 2025. The roundtable brought together 48 global leaders, policymakers and experts to foster dialogue on policy development. All inclusive. Frameworks for action to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including climate resilience, equitable economic growth, and responsible technological innovation, with the common goal of building a more just and sustainable future.
Adrian Wall, Director General of the Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA), moderated the discussion on the “Global Digital Identity Protocol and Financial Inclusion”, which covered key topics such as digital sovereignty in Africa and the role of blockchain and stablecoins in promoting 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 access to financial services for the 1.7 billion people around the world 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,” Wall said. “It is access without empowerment.” “True inclusion must be based on understanding, agency and dignity. In the digital age, agency begins with access, and dignity begins with ownership of data. Data sovereignty is not a technical issue – it is a question of human freedom.”
The roundtable participants represent a distinguished gathering of global leaders from international organizations, the private sector and academia, who are united by a shared commitment to promoting sustainable development through dialogue and cooperation. Among those attending were:
- Tracy Wang, CEO of the Nobel Sustainability Foundation
- Sangpo Kim, World Bank Vice President for Digital Transformation
- Tom Zschach, Chief Innovation Officer at SWIFT
- Dr. Oliver Zahn, astrophysicist and data scientist (formerly at Google/Deepmind, SpaceX, Impossible Foods, and Berkeley Cosmology Center)
- Caroline Yap, former global head of Cloud AI at Google
- D. Simran Chana, University of Cambridge/FTL
- Simi Nwogogo, CEO, Junior Achievement Africa
- Conor Finley, CEO and Founder, Abacus
- Jacqueline Corbelli, CEO of Sustain Chain
- David X. Sanchez, Secretary General of the Global Change Council
- Lina Alvi, CEO of the Malala Fund
DSA remains committed to its mission of promoting digital sovereignty, financial inclusion 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 opportunities.
About the Digital Sovereignty Alliance
The Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA) is a non-profit social advocacy organization committed to advocating for public policies that support ethical innovation in decentralized technologies, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, Web3, and artificial intelligence. DSA conducts research, organizes educational events, and promotes policies that prioritize the public good and digital sovereignty.
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