News Summary

At the Inventures 2025 event in Calgary, Jim Balsillie, former BlackBerry co-CEO and Chair of the Council of Canadian Innovators, emphasized the urgency for Canada to adopt stablecoins and open banking. In a discussion with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Balsillie warned that the US’s embrace of cryptocurrencies and stablecoin legislation could marginalize Canada if it does not act swiftly. He argued that failing to integrate stablecoins might be perceived as a tariff by the US, prompting retaliatory measures. The dialogue highlighted the need for Canada to support its technology founders and harness innovation for geopolitical strength. Premier Smith expressed willingness to appoint a crypto or Web3 expert to the Alberta Securities Commission to assist in shaping policies on decentralized currencies. This conversation came amid growing efforts to position Alberta as a major innovation hub, with recent venture capital investments boosting the province’s profile.