ctrl/shift 2026: Web3, AI, and Quantum in Naples

Industry NewsProtocol & Development

March 16, 2026

3 min read

ctrl/shift 2026: Web3, AI, and Quantum in Naples

ctrl/shift powered by NapulETH returns to Naples on June 13–15, 2026, at Villa Doria d’Angri, for its most ambitious edition yet. Built around the idea of Convergence, the summit treats Web3, Artificial Intelligence, and Quantum Computing not as three separate communities, but as one intertwined technological roadmap. Three dedicated tracks, a competitive hackathon, and a curated speaker lineup make this the most institutionally grounded tech summit in Southern Italy.

The 2026 edition follows NapulETH 2025, which brought 1,200 attendees and 120+ speakers to Naples, confirming real demand for high-quality, institutional-grade discourse on frontier technology in Italy. ctrl/shift builds directly on that foundation, expanding the scope and deepening the institutional layer.

Institutions in the Room

What sets ctrl/shift apart is the deliberate inclusion of policymakers, regulators, academics, and financial institutions alongside researchers, protocols, and builders. This year’s lineup reflects that commitment directly.

From the Italian Parliament, On. Marcello Coppo, leader of the Intergruppo Parlamentare “Digital Assets, Blockchain e Bitcoin,” and On. Giulio Centemero, a key voice on digital assets and fintech policy, will both be present. Their participation brings legislative context to conversations that are simultaneously technical, legal, and infrastructural.

The financial and academic layer is equally strong. Luisa Fischietti, Head of Italy ETFs at Borsa Italiana, brings capital markets perspective to a room full of protocol builders. Francesco Pierangeli, Director of the MSc in FinTech at the University of Birmingham, will examine how differing regulatory mindsets across jurisdictions shape innovation and digital assets adoption. Dialogue is ongoing with Banca d’Italia, Consob, and Banca Sella.

On the technology and protocol side, Antonio Sanso from the Ethereum Foundation will deliver a session titled “Post-Quantum Transaction Signatures for Ethereum: One Year Later,” examining quantum-resistant signature schemes and what the ecosystem has learned since the first proposals. Eugenio Reggianini, Head of Growth at the European Blockchain Association and DIF contributor, will present on Privacy Pools on EBSI, exploring how Zero-Knowledge proofs and W3C Verifiable Credentials can embed AML and KYC compliance natively, aligned with MiCA, 6AMLD, and GDPR. The legal track features Marco Tullio Giordano and Giuseppe Vaciago, two of Italy’s most respected practitioners in cybersecurity, data protection, and crypto-asset law.

AI Track, Hackathon, and Startup Competition

The AI track is co-curated with WeMakeFuture, one of Italy’s most important innovation and digital culture events. WeMakeFuture will take full ownership of the AI programming at ctrl/shift 2026, bringing curatorial depth, speakers, and a dedicated community to the convergence agenda.

Alongside the talks and panels, a hackathon and startup competition challenge participants to prototype, build, and compete for prizes, grants, and ecosystem opportunities, turning ideas into deployable artifacts under real conditions.

June 16: Boat Networking Day

The week closes on June 16 with the NapulETH VIP Boat Party, 250 people, in the Bay of Naples. Described as the “highest-value networking of the week,” it is where founders, investors, and researchers finalize what the conference started. A VIP ticket includes full access to ctrl/shift and boarding pass for June 16.

Sponsors and ecosystem partners

The 2026 ecosystem is supported by a growing sponsor base. Confirmed publicly: NexLabs, Bridgy, NeverLocal, BChainers, BitGet, Regione Campania, and Binance Italy, which has also been publicly announced as joining ctrl/shift 2026 with a dedicated meetup on June 13.