From Tokenized Finance to Space Networks: Deep Tech Award 2026 Finalists in Web3 & distributed ledger technologies (DLT)

Berlin has long been at the forefront of Web3 innovation in Europe. What began as a grassroots movement of developers, cryptographers, and decentralization enthusiasts has matured into a dynamic ecosystem where startups, corporates, regulators, and researchers are collectively shaping the future of digital infrastructure. Today, the city stands out not only for its vibrant blockchain community, but also for its ability to translate emerging technologies into real-world applications – from finance and capital markets to entirely new domains like space infrastructure.

The Web3 category of the Deep Tech Award 2026 reflects this evolution. This year’s finalists Bitbond, NYALA, and Decen Space demonstrate how distributed ledger technologies are moving beyond experimentation and into scalable, impactful use cases.

Building the infrastructure for a tokenized economy

Leadership Team of Bitbond

For Bitbond, the journey into Web3 began with a clear observation: traditional financial systems are often slow, opaque, and inaccessible. As its founder Radoslav Albrecht explains: “When I discovered Bitcoin and blockchain technology around 2012, I immediately saw its potential to leapfrog these outdated legacy systems.”

Bitbond is tackling this challenge by simplifying the issuance and management of digital assets. Its approach focuses on making blockchain technology usable without deep technical expertise, opening the door for a wide range of organizations to participate in tokenized finance.

The company’s long-term ambition is equally bold: “Our long-term vision is for Bitbond to be the foundational infrastructure layer for the tokenized economy, seamlessly connecting traditional finance with decentralized systems.”

This vision aligns closely with broader developments in the industry, particularly the rise of tokenized real-world assets and increasing regulatory clarity across Europe.

Opening capital markets through regulated blockchain infrastructure

Founders & Leadership Team of NYALA

While Bitbond focuses on usability and access, NYALA is building the backbone of a new, regulated financial system. Born out of firsthand experience with inefficiencies in traditional capital markets, NYALA addresses a critical gap: access.

As the team around CEOs Daniel Wernicke and Dr. Johannes Schmitt puts it: “The idea was not to build another crypto product, but to use blockchain technology to fix a real-world problem: democratizing access to capital markets for SMEs who were never part of the capital market and giving retail investors access to asset classes previously reserved for the few.”

At the core of NYALA’s work is its Digital Asset Engine, enabling the full lifecycle of tokenized securities – from issuance to settlement – all within a regulated framework. Their broader vision reflects the scale of transformation underway: “Our long-term vision is a unified investment market across all EU member states, where tokenized securities can be issued, distributed, and traded seamlessly across borders.”

By combining regulatory compliance with technical innovation, NYALA exemplifies how Web3 is evolving into institutional-grade infrastructure.

Decentralizing space infrastructure

Founders & Leadership Team of Decen Space

Pushing the boundaries of Web3 even further, Decen Space applies decentralized principles to an entirely different frontier: space.
The company is rethinking how satellites communicate with Earth, so an area traditionally dominated by high costs and limited access. Their ambition is striking: “What we want to build is a world where communicating from space to Earth is as effortless as your phone connecting to a cell tower.”

By leveraging distributed ledger technology to coordinate a global network of ground stations, Decen Space enables more participants to access space infrastructure. This has far-reaching implications: “We can enable more participants in space and more access for those who have historically been priced or locked out.”

From universities and startups to emerging space nations, the company’s approach could fundamentally reshape how space-based data and communication systems are built and accessed.

Berlin: a hub for Web3 innovation

All three finalists highlight Berlin as a critical enabler of their success. The city’s unique combination of technical talent, regulatory engagement, and collaborative culture creates fertile ground for deep tech innovation.

As Bitbond puts it: “Berlin is the undisputed Web3 capital of Europe.”

This sentiment is echoed across the ecosystem. Whether it’s fintech infrastructure, regulated digital assets, or decentralized space networks, Berlin provides the interdisciplinary expertise and open mindset needed to tackle complex challenges at the intersection of technology and society.