Stellar Development Foundation Announces Meridian 2023: Unlocking Human Potential

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA — May 16, 2023 — The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), the nonprofit organization supporting the development and growth of the Stellar network, is pleased to announce the return of its annual conference, Meridian, under the theme Unlocking Human Potential. Scheduled for September 26-28 in Madrid, Spain, Meridian 2023 is expected to attract 400+ attendees from more than 50 countries and feature over 100 speakers, including award-winning actor, filmmaker, and UN Goodwill Ambassador, Idris Elba, who will headline the opening conference session.

“Entrepreneurism came early in my life. It was about grabbing opportunity because opportunity equaled freedom,” Elba said. “And that's why I'm really interested in what is happening on the Stellar network and joining the discussion at Meridian to talk about how to create opportunities that help people reach their potential. It's about freedom, that sort of ability and agility to move about, and I believe that's important.”

The conference will look at the ways technology can unlock human potential, recognizing that today traditional systems of value often exclude people and new tools and innovations have the power to change that. The discussions will be rooted around the borderless nature of ideas and how today Stellar builders are creating opportunities and increasing access in innovative ways that create real-world utility and empower people in tangible ways.

“At SDF, we believe that fractured systems can stack the deck against people’s potential based on where and how they were born. And we believe that Stellar as a technology can unlock that human potential. We want to devote this year’s Meridian to celebrating the builders in this ecosystem and in this industry who prove it every day,” said Denelle Dixon, CEO and Executive Director of the Stellar Development Foundation.

Meridian will bring together developers, founders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and diverse leaders from technology as well as the decentralized and traditional finance sectors. This year’s program will include keynotes, tech talks, panels, debates, workshops, and interactive experiences tailored for technical and business attendees. A full list of confirmed speakers, program details, and registration with very early bird tickets is available at meridian.stellar.org .

About Stellar‍

Stellar is a decentralized, fast, scalable, and uniquely sustainable network for financial products and services. It is both a cross-currency transaction system and a platform for digital asset issuance, designed to connect the world’s financial infrastructure. Financial institutions worldwide issue assets and settle payments on the Stellar network, which has grown to over 7 million accounts and processed more than 10 billion operations. For more information, visit stellar.org.

About the Stellar Development Foundation‍

The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) is a non-profit organization that supports the development and growth of Stellar, an open-source network that connects the world’s financial infrastructure. Founded in 2014, the Foundation helps maintain Stellar’s codebase, supports the technical and business communities building on the network, and serves as a voice to regulators and institutions. The Foundation seeks to create equitable access to the global financial system, using the Stellar network to unlock the world’s economic potential through blockchain technology. For more information, visit stellar.org/foundation.

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