The Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA), a global non-profit initiative founded by Bybit, participated in the Mauritius Internet Governance Forum to contribute perspectives on how blockchain and emerging technologies can foster an inclusive, secure, and trustworthy digital future for small island developing states (SIDS) — a group of nearly 40 island nations recognised by the United Nations as facing distinct vulnerabilities, including geographic isolation, limited digital infrastructure, and economic exposure to external shocks.

The Mauritius Internet Governance Forum, founded by the Halley Movement and recognised by the United Nations IGF Secretariat as a national IGF, brings together government, industry, academia, civil society, and youth in multistakeholder dialogue on the future of internet governance. The national forum operates under the umbrella of the global UN Internet Governance Forum, a platform established in 2006 following the World Summit on the Information Society to facilitate inclusive policy dialogue on internet-related issues. This year's sessions focused on three central themes: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital trust.

For Mauritius, which has been steadily advancing its national digital transformation agenda across public services and financial infrastructure, the Forum provided a venue for connecting those domestic priorities with global technology and governance trends. The participation of BGA and Bybit also comes at a time when jurisdictions worldwide are grappling with how to regulate digital assets and blockchain-based services, and when small island economies are exploring whether these technologies can help reduce transaction costs, strengthen identity systems, and diversify digital economies.

Glenn Tan, Director of Global Affairs at BGA, delivered a keynote address on harnessing artificial intelligence and blockchain for sustainable development in Mauritius. His presentation examined how these technologies can function as trust infrastructure for the digital economy and strengthen the governance and security frameworks that underpin public confidence in technology. Tan was joined by Mykolas Majauskas, Global Head of Policy at Bybit, who discussed how strategic partnerships can mobilise commitment to Mauritius's digital future.

Engaging with Mauritius Government Leadership

During the Forum, BGA and Bybit met with His Excellency Mr Jean Yvan Robert Hungley, G.O.S.K, Vice President of the Republic of Mauritius; the Honourable Dr Avinash Ramtohul, Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation; and the Honourable Raj Pentiah, Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms. The discussions focused on Mauritius's digital ambitions and the role emerging technology can play in advancing them.

"Sound policy and responsible innovation must advance together," said Mykolas Majauskas, Global Head of Policy at Bybit. "Forums like this one are where that alignment begins, bringing regulators, industry, and civil society into the same conversation. We are proud to support Mauritius and the wider region as they build the frameworks for a secure and inclusive digital economy and look forward to the value that Bybit will bring to the country."

"For small island states, questions of digital identity, inclusion, and cybersecurity are not abstract; they are foundational to sustainable development," said Glenn Tan, Director of Global Affairs at the Blockchain for Good Alliance. "Mauritius has long understood that being small is not the same as being peripheral. The right technology, governed well, can allow a small nation to rise as a global leader of emerging technologies."

"The Mauritius Internet Governance Forum has always been about bringing every stakeholder to the table as equals, from government, industry, academia, civil society, and our youth," said Mahendranath Busgopaul, Secretary-General of the Halley Movement and Founder of the Mauritius Internet Governance Forum. "This year, we are delighted to welcome partners such as the Blockchain for Good Alliance and Bybit into this dialogue. For Mauritius, an inclusive and trustworthy digital future is essential, and it is built through exactly these types of collaborations."

BGA's participation in the Mauritius Internet Governance Forum reflects its ongoing commitment to engaging with the SIDS community and supporting a digital future grounded in inclusion, security, and trust.