about us

mission & vision

Promoting the highest standards of education and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of industry and society, by leading the blockchain, crypto & Web3 profession globaly.
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blockchain, crypto & web3 profession

We believe that high-quality professionals contribute significantly to industry advancement and sustainable functioning. DEC Institute´s mission is to provide value to this profession through a platform for knowledge distribution and certification and by engaging with the industry to advance the newest developments, expertise and professional standards of practice.

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standard of
education

The blockchain, crypto, and Web3 industries are not easily accessible and move much quicker than educational developments. To deliver the highest standard of excellence and education, universities, research centres and educators require access to a holistic and up-to-date platform of learning resources, syllabi and examinations developed by DEC members and its professional community.

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professional
EXCELLENCE

DEC Institute consolidates the industry's cutting-edge thought leadership to support continued professional excellence to its members and charterholders. Expanding the suite of educational and certification products will support its members to deliver high-quality education, new workplace dynamics and professional development for talent entering the market.

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benefit to industry & society

The industry lacks trust and confidence, driven by the unprofessional behaviour of greedy and opportunistic individuals. Professional standards and cross-functional knowledge sharing are essential to allow the industry to deliver positive outcomes for society. DEC aspires to foster the development of professionals that serve the public interests.

Dec chartderholder & directory

Learn more about our chartered professionals, their benefits of pertaining to a professional body, and use the DEC Institute charterholder directory to quickly verify an individual’s active DEC charterholder status.

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code of conduct & ethıcs

At DEC Institute, we believe that a fair, ethical, inclusive, and accessible society and industry are paramount. Our 5 key principles are the bedrock of this commitment, guiding our actions and initiatives to ensure the responsible and equitable application of decentralized technology. In pursuit of professionalism and industry best practices, all members and charterholders are expected to adhere to our self-regulatory Code of Conduct & Ethics.

This Code encapsulates our dedication to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and responsible engagement within the industry. Members and charterholders are required to comply with these principles and guidelines in all aspects of their professional conduct, regardless of their specific area of business or expertise.

governance

The DEC Institute, an internationally registered brand, has a dual organisational structure. It comprises the DEC Association, incorporated in the Kanton of Zug in Switzerland, a shareholder of DEC Education Services AG, and represented by its board and academic and industry members. The DEC Association defines the global knowledge standard and rules of the code of conduct and ethics, and delivers the benefits for active member organizations. The DEC Education Services AG, also incorporated in the Kanton of Zug in Switzerland, has the mandate from the Association´s board to commercially build, distribute and scale the DEC charter programmes in alignment with the Association´s interest. We believe a philosophy of candour and transparency is key to facilitating a relationship of trust with our constituents and the public. If you have any questions or want more information, please email our Corporate Secretary at governance@decinstitute.org.

the board of directors
dec association
President & Treasurer:
Prof. Dr. Tim Weingärtner
Vice President & Secretary:
Arno Pernthaler
Member of the board:
Valeria Portale
Member of the board:
Prof. Keith B. Carter
Member of the board:
Dr. Reinhard Willfort
DEC INSTITUTE
Member of the board:
Marcel Harmann
Member of the board:
Urs Bamert
advisory board
Member of the board:
Lauren Weymouth
Member of the board:
Prof. Dr. Georges Grivas
Member of the board:
Saqr Ereiqat
contact us
Are you are a university or institution and want to join the DEC association?

Are you providing professional education and want to certify your students?

Are you a corporation and want to strengthen, upskill and certify your team?

Fill out the contact form to your right if you want to speak to us, or scroll down to directly submit the membership application form.
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become a member
If you wish to join DEC as a member or research fellow, please fill out our application form below. Our executive board will carefully review your application and inform you about the results of your application within twenty (20) business days.

dec association

The DEC Association embraces the industry´s ethos of decentralisation and being open source and inclusive. Its main purpose is to define the global knowledge standard for its professional qualifications and to foster international collaboration in research & development, in conjunction with its active academic and industry members.

Yearly activites

DEC´s active members meet each quarter for an online AMM (Active Member Meeting) where academia and industry leaders discuss and define topics such as:

  1. Status and candidate feedback of the CBA® and CDAA® programme
  2. Yearly syllabus updates and amendments to the programme
  3. Submission of learning resources and study material by its members
  4. Collaboration on education initiatives on DEC Institute´s MOOC platform
  5. Collaboration on research & development initiatives across members
  6. Event participation, sponsorships and networking across members

academic members

Who co-developed CBA® and CDAA®?
University College London – UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies

The UCL CBT was founded in 2016 to research the effects of Distributed Ledger Technologies and Blockchain into our socio-economic systems and to promote the safe and organic development and adoption of Blockchain-based platforms. The centre is the nucleus for DLT and Blockchain research and engagement across eight different departments at UCL and for its Research and Industry Associate network. Our Research and Industry Associate community consists of over 180 researchers and practitioners from UCL, other academic institutions and companies utilising DLT.

NUS National University of Singapore – FinTech Lab School of Computing

NUS stands among the world’s leading universities today. Thanks to the NUS FinTech Labs, NUS is being ranked as the 2nd best Blockchain University in the world in 2022 according to Coindesk, achieving significant milestones in the knowledge of financial technology, providing financial literacy to over 1 million individuals in partnership with MAS through the SFF Talent Pavilion and upskilling more than 50,000 individuals in FinTech through programs like the SG United FinTech program and the NUS SG FinTech program. NUS Fintech Lab collaborates with more than 60 industry partners who actively contribute to their thought leadership, innovation, and education initiatives. NUS has multiple student-led crypto clubs and offers pupils the opportunity to work with its many partners in the blockchain space.

The University of British Columbia - Blockchain@UBC

Blockchain@UBC is a multidisciplinary research cluster focusing on blockchain technology as a central component in investigating the broader research question “How can emerging technologies be leveraged to benefit Canadians and the world?” UBC engages in both research and education to advance the design, development and adoption of blockchain technologies. Their research initiatives bring academics, industry and community partners, and policy-makers together to explore pressing issues and advance the emergence of blockchain and distributed ledger technologies. Teaching initiatives span undergraduate, graduate, and executive levels to advance the knowledge and qualifications of students and professionals interested in blockchain and distributed ledger technologies.

Frankfurt School of Finance and Management – Blockchain Center

The Frankfurt School is one of Europe’s leading business school and the most aktive DLT University in Germany. The Frankfurt School Blockchain Center is a think tank & research center which investigates implications of blockchain technology, crypto assets and distributed ledger technology (DLT) for companies and their business models. Besides the development of prototypes, it serves as a platform for managers, startups, technology and industry experts to share knowledge and best practices. The Blockchain Center also provides new research impulses and develops trainings for students and executives. It focuses on industries such as banking, finance, mobility and, “Industrie 4.0”.

Politecnico Di Milano, Graduate School of Business

MIP is the Graduate School of Business part of the Politecnico di Milano ecosystem and the Politecnico School of Management. It is a innovation leader in digital learning which placed MIP amongst the top-ranked schools globally: 6th in the @QS Quacquarelli Symonds Online MBA Rankings and 8th in the @Financial Times Online MBA Rankings in 2021. At the School of Management, Osservatori Digital Innovation has developed the Blockchain & Distributed Ledger Observatory, the Italian leader in research and knowledge distribution around DLT.

Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – Information Technology

Located in the Crypto Valley in Switzerland the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – School for Information Technology was one of the first Universities focusing on Distributed Ledger Technologies. As a founding member of the Crypto Valley Association and organizer of the IEEE Crypto Valley Conference, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences is deeply rooted in the international blockchain scene. In addition, the Blockchain Lab of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and the CAS Blockchain program combines all activities of the Department of Computer Science.

ABC RESEARCH - AUSTRIAN BLOCKCHAIN CENTER

ABC Research is an application-oriented research center funded partly by the Austrian national initiative COMET (Competence Centers for Excellent Technologies). ABC is jointly owned by five leading Austrian Universities and an association for researchers and consortium members. The aim is to provide innovative solutions to their members and clients, and advance research and education related to Blockchain in Austria.

International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad

The International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H) is a nationally accredited public technical and research university located in Hyderabad, Telangana, established in 1998 with government of India laying focus on Information Technology and other fields such as Computer Science, Electronics and Communication. It is one of the premier institutions of India and the IIT Hyderabad Blockchain Center of Excellence focused on academic research, technical development and offers advanced educational programs. IIT-H is also a founding member of the Blockchain District in Telangana, an initiative of the ITE&C Department of the Government of Telangana.

Industry members

Who co-developed CBA® and CDAA®?
University College London – UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies

The UCL CBT was founded in 2016 to research the effects of Distributed Ledger Technologies and Blockchain into our socio-economic systems and to promote the safe and organic development and adoption of Blockchain-based platforms. The centre is the nucleus for DLT and Blockchain research and engagement across eight different departments at UCL and for its Research and Industry Associate network. Our Research and Industry Associate community consists of over 180 researchers and practitioners from UCL, other academic institutions and companies utilising DLT.

Web3 Foundation, Zug, Switzerland

The inception of the Web3 Foundation in 2016 was driven by the goal of fostering and overseeing advancements in decentralized web software protocols. Web 3.0 Foundation's mission is to nurture cutting-edge applications for decentralized web software protocols. It aims to deliver a decentralized and fair internet where users control their own data, identity and destiny. The foundation supports Web 3.0 teams and open-source projects through funding, advocacy, research and collaborations. Polkadot, Web3 Foundation's flagship protocol, is a scalable sharded chain and protocol that provides a secure environment for cross-chain composability.

Ripple Labs, San Francisco, USA

Established in 2012, San Francisco, California, Ripple offers enterprise-level solutions that surpass traditional financial services in speed, transparency, and cost-efficiency. Ripple clients leverage these solutions for various purposes: sourcing crypto, facilitating instant payments, optimising treasury operations, expanding their audience reach, reducing capital requirements, and generating additional revenue streams. Ripple operates a global payments network spanning over 300 customers across 40+ countries and six continents, and has raised $150 million in XRP token sales, with a market cap of $32,603,421,530 in 2024.

Elliptic, London, United Kingdom

Founded in 2013 in London, UK, Elliptic drives the intelligence essential for financial services, crypto enterprises, and governmental bodies to make swift, informed, and secure decisions with crypto assets. Through their expanding global ecosystem, Elliptic empowers clients and collaborators to proactively navigate crypto compliance, mitigate risks, and influence the trajectory of the financial landscape.

Tezos Foundation, Zug, Switzerland

The Tezos Foundation, established in 2017 in Zug, Switzerland, operates as a Swiss foundation, and is dedicated to fostering and advancing innovative technologies and applications, with a particular focus on emerging open and decentralized software architectures. This mission encompasses the promotion and advancement of the Tezos protocol and associated technologies. Back in 2017, Tezos ICO raised $232 million with a market cap of $1,218,748,955 in 2024.

DFINITY Foundation, Zürich, Switzerland

The Dfinity Foundation is a non-profit organization that is focused on developing and promoting the Dfinity network, a decentralized blockchain-based computing platform. Dfinity aims to create a more efficient and secure internet by providing a decentralized platform for hosting software and applications, as well as for storing and sharing data. The Dfinity network is built using a unique consensus mechanism called Threshold Relay, which is designed to provide fast and secure transactions with high scalability. The Dfinity Foundation has raised over $160 million in funding in 2018 from investors, including Andreessen Horowitz and Polychain Capital, and its ICP token has a market cap of $7,755,468,582 in 2024.

AMINA Bank, Zug, Switzerland

Founded in April 2018 and based in Zug, Switzerland, AMINA Bank stands as one of the pioneering crypto banks globally, offering a smooth, secure, and user-friendly conduit between digital and traditional assets. Catering to professional investors, corporations, family offices, and institutional clients, they provide comprehensive financial services. In August 2019, AMINA Bank obtained a Swiss banking and securities dealer license from FINMA, further solidifying its regulatory standing. Since then, the bank has expanded its footprint, establishing international offices in key financial hubs including Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore.

Sygnum Bank, Zurich, Switzerland

Sygnum was incorporated in May 2018. Sygnum is a digital asset banking group with a global presence, and has its roots in Swiss and Singaporean traditions. Their mission is to facilitate the investment in digital assets for professional and institutional investors, banks, corporations, and DLT foundations, fostering trust and confidence. They achieve this by offering institutional-grade security, personalized expert service, and a comprehensive range of regulated digital asset banking, asset management, tokenization, and B2B services. In Switzerland, Sygnum operates under a banking license, while in Singapore, they hold a CMS and Major Payment Institution Licenses. Additionally, their regulatory compliance extends to established financial centers such as Abu Dhabi and Luxembourg.

BITPANDA GMBH, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Bitpanda was founded in 2014 in Vienna, Austria with the aim of making investing accessible for everyone. Their goal since day one was to reimagine what it means to invest, by making simple, easy-to-use financial products for everyone. Now, 10 years later, and with more than 700 team members and 5 million users, they’re one of the most successful fintechs in Europe. With a PSD2 payment service provider licence and E-Money licence, state-of-the-art security and streamlined user experience, they make it possible for both first-time investors and seasoned experts to invest in what they believe in.

Taurus SA, Geneva, Switzerland

Founded in 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland, Taurus stands as the leading entity and a global frontrunner in enterprise-level digital asset infrastructure, deeply rooted in the Swiss ecosystem. Recognised for its market dominance, Taurus commands over 50% market share in Switzerland, renowned as one of the most competitive markets worldwide. Internationally, Taurus enjoys the trust of a diverse array of financial institutions, including systemic banks, investment banks, crypto banks, private banks, universal banks, as well as financial market infrastructure providers and core banking systems, utilising Taurus solutions in production.

HOPR, Zurich, Switzerland

HOPR, founded in 2020, Zurich, Switzerland, empowers the Web3 ecosystem by furnishing individuals with the tools and framework necessary to assert control over their privacy, data, and identity in their online interactions. At the core of the HOPR protocol lies the pioneering open incentivized mixnet, offering everyone the opportunity to earn tokens by staking and operating nodes. Operating at the intersection of a proven legal entity under Swiss jurisdiction and the principles of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO), HOPR embodies a Decentralized Community-Enabling Governance (decenGov) model. HOPR has a market cap of $47,507,103 in 2024.

CMS Law & Tax, London, United Kingdom

CMS Law & Tax, established in 1999, has over 80 offices spread across more than 40 countries and a team of over 5,800 lawyers globally. CMS merges profound local market insights with a panoramic global perspective, important in serving global digital asset clients. This unique combination empowers CMS not only to anticipate future developments but also to actively influence them. In a rapidly evolving landscape where technology plays an ever-expanding role in executing global strategies, CMS provides clear, business-oriented guidance.

LEXCELLENCE AG, ZUG, SWITZERLAND

Lexcellence AG is a law firm based in the heart of Zug, Switzerland, known as "Crypto Valley." Since 2018, They have been dedicated to delivering exceptional legal services tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs and businesses. Their approach is hands-on, providing pragmatic, clear, and concise advice that focuses on real-world business solutions.

Global chapters

Four vibrant DEC Chapters around the world serve to expand your professional networks, keep you on top of industry developments, and assist in your international career pursuits. DEC members may elect to receive event information and notice of chapter activities in their DEC dashboard. 

Browse Chapters
jobs at dec

Want to join our team? Apply now!

Join our international and remote team if you like to work in a flexible and stimulating environment in close connection with leading academic and industry experts.

contact us
how to apply
Tell us your profession, strengths and interests, and we will check whether we can offer you a position or collaborate in any way.

If you are an expert in the filed of Blockchain, Digital & Crypto Assets or Web3, you can also apply as a Research Fellow to contribute to DEC´s mission and access our network.

Please send your application, CV and other helpful documents/links to jobs@decinstitute.org!
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

The DEC Association serves as a global and decentralized hub for premier universities, to find and engage with like-minded researchers and professors, to collaborate on research initiatives and lecturing programs, as well as to facilitate introductions to the industry and the wider public. Activities provided to its members involve both the regular screening of research grants and funding opportunities, as well as the support for coordinating and promoting international and collaborative research programs across members and the public.

our charterholder

Becoming a DEC charterholder allows professionals to demonstrate their expertise to clients, recruiters, regulators and industry peers. It grants them access to the DEC Association when they have a valid CDAA® or CBA® credential. Members can interact with active academic and industry members, participate in DEC´s annual networking event, and receive privileged access to events and networking opportunities.

dec’s average charterholder profile