Adrian Wall of Digital Sovereignty Alliance Advocates Digital Sovereignty and Financial Inclusion at UN General Assembly

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 in the field of new technologies, today announced its participation in the UN General Assembly Roundtable entitled “A New Agenda for Sovereign Sustainable Development” held at UN Headquarters in New York on October 22, 2025. The roundtable convened 48 global leaders and development experts dialogue between politicians and politicians. framework 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 fairer and more sustainable future.

Adrian Wall, Executive Director of the Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA), moderated the discussion on “Global Digital Identity and Financial Inclusion Protocol”, which explored key topics such as digital sovereignty in Africa and the role of blockchain and stablecoins in advancing financial inclusion. The session 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 critical to shaping the next phase of sustainable global development.

“Financial inclusion without financial literacy is a bridge to nowhere. It’s an approach without empowerment,” Wall said. “True inclusion must be anchored in understanding, action and dignity. In the digital age, action 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 represented a significant gathering of global leaders from international organizations, the private sector and academia, united by a common commitment to promote sustainable development through dialogue and cooperation. Among those present were:

• Tracy Wang, CEO of the Nobel Sustainability Trust Foundation
• Sangbu Kim, Vice President for Digital Transformation, 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 and Founder of Abacus
• Jacqueline Corbelli, CEO of Sustain Chain
• David X. Sánchez, Secretary General, Council of Global Change
• Lena Alfi, CEO of the Malala Fund

DSA remains committed to its mission of advancing digital sovereignty, financial inclusion and the ethical adoption of technology on a global scale. Through collaboration with governments, international organizations and technology innovators, DSA works to create policy frameworks that protect individual autonomy, increase national digital resilience and expand access to technological opportunities.

About the Digital Sovereignty Alliance

The Digital Sovereignty Alliance (DSA) is a nonprofit social welfare organization committed to advancing 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 advance the public good and digital sovereignty.

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