Finance Forward & OMR 2023: AI, Crypto & the Future of Finance in the Spotlight

Hamburg turned into the hotspot for innovation, disruption, and digital thought leadership in May 2023 - Between music stages, corporate booths, and marketing buzzwords, one thing was clear: the future of finance is becoming more decentralized, intelligent – and highly relevant for the Web3 ecosystem.

AI, Crypto & Regulation – What Mattered at Finance Forward

While OMR Festival 2023 attracted tens of thousands with a focus on marketing and tech trends, the Finance Forward Conference zoomed in on what matters for FinTech and crypto builders. From volatile funding climates to EU regulation and institutional adoption, key topics were dissected by startup founders, VCs, and financial innovators.
A standout panel titled “Crypto in the Post-Bull Era” discussed how Web3 projects are adapting – refining tokenomics, building real use cases, and establishing long-term institutional partnerships.
The looming MiCA regulation (Markets in Crypto-Assets) also took center stage. Rather than fearing tighter oversight, many founders welcomed it as a foundation for long-term growth and investor trust.

Klarna, Roubini & the Reality Check for FinTech in 2023

With speakers like Sebastian Siemiatkowski (Klarna) and economist Nouriel “Dr. Doom” Roubini, Finance Forward offered both optimism and caution. Klarna showcased its vision of app-first, data-driven banking, while Roubini issued sharp warnings about crypto hype, calling much of the space “pure speculation” without strong asset backing.
Whether you agree or not, his presence highlighted the ongoing tension between crypto’s vision and traditional economic skepticism.

Masterclasses: ChatGPT, Web3 SEO & the AI x Crypto Intersection

Some of the most actionable insights came from Finance Forward’s exclusive Masterclasses, particularly those bridging AI and Web3.
A session on “AI meets Web3" showcased use cases for ChatGPT in DAO governance, NFT community engagement, and automated trading strategies. Another focused on SEO in a decentralized web, with tips on prompt engineering for complex Web3 content visibility, such as tokenomics explanations, DeFi products, or Layer-2 scaling solutions.

From Finance to Festival – The OMR Experience

As always, OMR blurred the lines between conference and festival. With live performances from Macklemore and Fettes Brot, and keynotes by stars like Serena Williams and Pamela Reif, the event combined culture and capital in a unique way.
For Web3 founders, it was the perfect place to connect with investors who don’t typically attend crypto-only conferences – opening doors to new audiences and verticals.

Final Thoughts: OMR & Finance Forward – Bridging Web2 and Web3

If you’re building at the intersection of crypto, AI, and finance, Finance Forward at OMR is a must-attend. Between thought leadership, hands-on sessions, and high-level networking, the 2023 edition proved that Web3 is no longer niche – it’s entering the mainstream. The challenge now is execution.