Ashish Shelar Discusses Digital Innovation at Unchained Summit India

Mumbai played host to the Unchained Summit India on November 5-6, where Ashish Shelar, Maharashtra’s Minister of Electronics, IT, AI & Cultural Affairs, shared valuable insights on digital innovation and asset tokenisation. He addressed industry leaders on the importance of integrating emerging technologies into India’s economy, while emphasizing the necessity of aligning these advancements with consumer protection and legal frameworks.

Focus on Innovation and Trust

In his keynote titled Maharashtra’s Digital Future: Innovation, Investment and Financial Transformation, Shelar stressed how emerging technologies can drive economic growth. He noted the crucial role of establishing a trusting environment for users, which requires well-defined legal rights and mechanisms for accountability.

Shelar pointed out that while innovations like AI and blockchain hold significant potential for enhancing financial systems, there should be a robust framework surrounding tokenised assets. He remarked, "A token cannot strengthen a weak asset, guarantee liquidity or eliminate risk," reinforcing the need for credible legal structures and consumer safeguards.

From Pilots to Real-World Applications

A significant part of the summit was a focused roundtable discussion on RWA Tokenisation in India: From Pilots to Adoption. This session convened legal, financial, and blockchain experts to explore the next steps in the practical application of tokenisation beyond initial test cases.

• Jaideep Reddy, Partner, Trilegal
• Sanmesh Kalyanpur, Director, Finternet
• Dilip Chenoy, Chairperson, Bharat Web3 Association
• Kunaal Patel, Head of Institutional – Asia & MENA, Ondo Finance
• Parth Chaturvedi, Director of Business Development, Canton Foundation
• Ashutosh Dubey, Head of Innovation, Jio Financial Services
• Prasanth Kalangi, Founder and CEO, Zoniqx
• Dinesh Dahiya, Vice President, OpenZeppelin
• Pramod Mishra, Director – Tokenisation and Programmable Money Lead, PwC
• Garima Singh, CEO and Director, BitViraj Technology

Sharat Kumar, the founder and CEO of Aeternum, the summit’s organizer, expressed, "Over these two days, we aimed to integrate insights from India's financial and Web3 sectors to discuss future directions and actionable pathways for the industry." The discussions focused on how to transition from potential projects to real-world applications.

The 5-Step Tokenisation Workshop

Another highlight was the 5-Step Tokenisation Playbook workshop, conducted by Cristian Ulloa, Co-Founder of Crave Management and Liquid Loans. This workshop addressed key considerations in the tokenisation process, including challenges in implementation and risks to consider before entering tokenisation initiatives.

Exploring Digital Asset Landscapes

The Unchained Summit also provided a comprehensive agenda that examined various aspects of digital assets, from regulatory hurdles to institutional engagement. Topics included the scalability of blockchain technology, interoperability challenges, and how AI can enhance both financial services and enterprise applications.

The event attracted a diverse range of participants, including exchanges, investment entities, legal experts, and technology firms, all contributing to discussions shaping the digital asset ecosystem.

Key sponsors of the summit included CoinSwitch and KoinX as Gold Sponsors; with Silver Sponsors such as Liquid Loans, WazirX, and NEAR Foundation among others. Various exhibitors showcased their innovations, further enriching the event’s offerings.

About Aeternum Consulting

Aeternum is dedicated to forging business connections in the emerging tech space, providing strategic consulting and hosting impactful B2B events. Catering to a diverse clientele, Aeternum focuses on fostering knowledge sharing and business growth through their specialized conferences and networking opportunities.

For more details regarding Aeternum and their initiatives, visit aeternuminc.com.