Pacific Digital Assets Forum Launched to Boost Digital Finance in Pacific Islands

Dadvan Yousuf, Trade Commissioner of the Republic of Nauru to the United Arab Emirates, announced on 30 July 2026 in Abu Dhabi the creation of the Pacific Digital Assets Forum (PDAF). The independent initiative is designed to support research, education and policy dialogue on digital assets and digital finance across Pacific Island jurisdictions.

The Forum will publish an annual Pacific Digital Assets Report beginning in the fourth quarter of 2027, featuring a Pacific Digital Assets Regulatory Index that compares regulatory developments among the islands. An annual Pacific Digital Assets Conference is also planned for late 2027 to bring together government officials, regulators, academics and industry participants. The PDAF does not have regulatory authority; it aims solely to foster informed discussion and international collaboration. Yousuf emphasized that “effective regulation is not a barrier to innovation; it provides the confidence that innovation needs to grow.”