As the race to commercialise artificial intelligence, quantum computing and tokenised finance accelerates, Perth will host the second edition of the Black Swan Summit Australia 2026 from 23–25 March at the University of Western Australia’s Winthrop Hall. Part of a global summit series that connects innovation ecosystems around the world, the event will bring together financial institutions, technology leaders, policymakers and researchers to examine how frontier technologies are reshaping the architecture of the global financial system.
Framed around the emerging Web3 paradigm connecting “Money, Machine and Humanity,” this year’s summit builds on insights from the inaugural edition by shifting the focus from laboratory research to real-world financial industry applications. Discussions will explore how artificial intelligence, quantum computing, tokenisation and green digital infrastructure are converging to reshape financial systems while redefining collaboration between human expertise and intelligent machines.
Held exclusively in Perth in Australia, the Black Swan Summit highlights Western Australia’s emerging role as an Indo-Pacific gateway for technology, finance and advanced research. Long known as the engine of Australia’s mining economy, the state is increasingly positioning itself at the frontier of a new economic cycle where resources, computing power and financial innovation converge.
Hon. Stephen Dawson, Minister of Science and Innovation, Western Australia said: “Western Australia is determined to be at the forefront of the digital economy powered by artificial intelligence, quantum computing and other emerging technologies. The Black Swan Summit, which began here in Perth and now has a global reach, showcases our innovation ecosystem and connects Western Australian businesses with international partners, investment and opportunities for jobs and growth.”
Reflecting this ambition, the summit will launch Q-FINEX (Quantum Finance Industry Experimentation), a quantum finance testbed designed to accelerate experimentation in quantum computing applications for financial markets. The initiative is a collaboration between the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN) and the University of Western Australia’s Quantum Information, Simulation and Algorithms (QUISA) research group.
The initiative aims to narrow the gap between quantum computing research and real‑world utility by supporting the translation of complex quantum algorithms into practical use cases. The testbed will enable financial institutions to explore industry challenges as potential quantum‑enabled solutions and to evaluate hybrid classical and quantum algorithms using real‑world data.
This reflects a broader shift from predominantly theoretical quantum research toward practical experimentation, as banks and financial institutions explore whether quantum algorithms can address optimisation and modelling challenges beyond the reach of classical computing. Given that financial markets depend on analysing vast numbers of possible scenarios, quantum computing has the potential to significantly enhance risk modelling, portfolio optimisation, and the pricing of complex assets.
Quantum technologies are projected to generate between US$450 billion and US$850 billion in global economic value by 2040, according to Boston Consulting Group’s 2024 report The Long Term Forecast for Quantum Computing Still Looks Bright.
Industry and Research Collaboration Driving Quantum Innovation
Sopnendu Mohanty, Group Chief Executive Officer of GFTN and former Chief FinTech Officer of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, said: “By linking Western Australia’s research ecosystem with GFTN’s global network across more than 150 countries, initiatives like Q-FINEX position Perth as a global testbed where quantum technologies can move from research labs into the next generation of financial market infrastructure.”
Strengthening the Indo-Pacific Deep Tech Corridor
The Black Swan Summit will also strengthen a growing Indo-Pacific technology corridor, connecting Western Australia with innovation ecosystems in Singapore, India, Japan and beyond.
James Boey, Chief Executive Officer for China, India, ASEAN, Europe and Central Asia and Co Chief Executive Officer of GFTN Forums, said: “The regions that will shape the next wave of global growth are those that can translate research excellence into real-world capability. Western Australia and Perth can connect world-class science with industry demand across the Indo-Pacific region.”
As frontier technologies move from research labs into financial markets and real-world infrastructure, regions able to combine scientific capability, computing power and global capital will shape the next phase of the digital economy. Perth is positioning itself at precisely that intersection.
About the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)
Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) is a Singapore-headquartered not-for-profit organisation established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in 2024. With offices Tokyo and Berlin, GFTN’s mission is to bridge policy, capital, and technology to build financial systems that are resilient, efficient, and inclusive. GFTN operates through its commercial subsidiaries, GFTN Services and GFTN Capital. GFTN Services, through GFTN Connect, hosts global forums across five continents that bring together market makers and policymakers from over 130 countries, and GFTN Solutions offers comprehensive advisory, technology solutions, and capacity building to governments and the private sector. For more information, please visit www.gftn.co
