Advancements for the Government and the Fintech Development Fund to push ahead in digital currency will go before legislators next month in the House of Assembly.

David Burt, the Premier and finance minister, told The Royal Gazette during the final day at the Salt Wyoming Blockchain Symposium: “There’s still work needed to advance the digital version of the Bermuda dollar — but our view is that is going to be private sector, not something that’s going to be issued by the Government or the Bermuda Monetary Authority.”

Mr Burt said the synergy between the BMA and Wyoming regulators went back at least five years, and that “advancing that partnership, learning about the latest things they are doing, the latest things we are doing — we have worked in a very complementary way”.

He added: “They have launched their own token, we’re looking at working with the private sector to launch the Bermuda digital dollar, and so the work they have done from that particular perspective was very helpful for the BMA and Ministry of Finance officials to hear, learn and understand as we advance our journey.”

The Premier has been a prolific attendee of digital conferences. Mr Burt was in Miami this May at Consensus 2026, billed as the world’s largest and most influential annual gathering for the digital assets and blockchain industry.

He attended the Satoshi Roundtable fintech conference in the United Arab Emirates in January, and joined panel discussions on digital governance that same month in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum.

Those were preceded by ForbesBLK in Atlanta, Georgia in October 2025, the previous Salt Wyoming forum in August last year, and the Eurofi Financial Forum 2025 in Warsaw in April 2025 — shortly after the opening ceremony for Circle Internet Group Inc in New York.

Also last year was the DC Blockchain Summit in Washington DC that March.

Mr Burt said the digital Bermuda dollar tied in “absolutely” with plans announced in May to push ahead with the Bermuda Government accepting and investing in digital assets.

The Premier added: “But it’s important to note that a digital dollar could be issued now. There are no law changes that are necessarily required.

“What we want to do is make sure we bring clarity, to make it explicit that persons will be able to pay their taxes or fees in digital currency.

“We want to make sure we are fully on board with everything that has to be done on the legislative side, in order to go ahead and start accepting digital currency for payments, for goods and services as well.”

On the local front, the Premier said digital asset businesses had continued to grow.

“I think there are six in total that have licensed so far this year, bringing our total up to 56,” he said.

“We are seeing more instrumental names looking at Bermuda, expanding their options — people who might have insurance companies in Bermuda or captives, looking to see how they can expand with digital asset insurance.

“We’re seeing that growth continuing. The BMA reports a steady and strong pipeline.”

He said it was critical for the island to “continue to tell the story that Bermuda has the more innovative regulatory regime, and we have the best regulator”, in the face of stiff competition from other jurisdictions.

Back home, Mr Burt said the work continued to get residents and vendors to explore digital business.

“When we’re talking about the local adoption of the use of digital finance, the work continues from the Ministry of Finance team with the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation and others to continue making sure that vendors are able to do so.

“Lindo’s supermarket is fully on board, I believe, with the acceptance of digital currency payments.

“If you have digital currency, you need to be able to spend digital currency, which is why we’re making sure we continue to work with vendors in Bermuda to expand that option.

“That is not what we’re doing out here — but that work continues, to fulfil the promise to develop the on-chain economy in Bermuda.”

Mr Burt, who steps down in October as leader of the Progressive Labour Party, said of the Wyoming symposium: “I’m sure my successor will lead a delegation out here as well, because it is a very worthwhile conference to attend.”