High-profile digital innovators, investors bringing blockchain finance leaders to Kansas City

As Kansas City’s rise as a Midwest blockchain hub continues, a new investor-focused summit is set to bring global blockchain and digital finance leaders to the region next month. The aim: Connect major players in the rapidly maturing sector with Heartland-based investors.

Heidi Lehmann, founder of the Heartland Digital Asset Exchange (HDAX), speaks during a 2024 KC Futures DAO event; courtesy photo

The inaugural Heartland Digital Asset Exchange, or HDAX, is planned for Sept. 9 at the Magnolia Event and Garden Venue in historic downtown Kansas City. The gathering is produced by KC Digital Drive and KC Futures DAO, with support from TIGER 21, a network of high-net-worth investors.

“HDAX isn’t about trends — it’s about trusted access,” said Heidi Lehmann, founder of HDAX. 

“We’re creating a credible, high-trust environment for capital allocators to explore compliant blockchain finance — grounded in education, regulation and strategy,” she added.

Compliant finance in focus

Institutional interest in tokenized assets is accelerating, with Boston Consulting Group projecting the sector could reach $16 trillion by 2030. Recent moves by firms including BlackRock, Fidelity and Franklin Templeton — alongside payments players such as PayPal, Amazon and Fiserv — highlight blockchain’s push into the mainstream.

Washington is also signaling momentum, with bipartisan support building around key legislation such as the FIT21 Act, the Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act and the GENESIS Act. Organizers say HDAX is designed to help investors cut through the noise, with an emphasis on compliant structures and actionable frameworks.

“With billions flowing into ETFs, stablecoins, and tokenized funds, allocators need more than access — they need understanding,” Lehmann said. “HDAX equips investors with clear insights into what’s real, what’s regulated, and what’s ready for capital today.”

Jim Starcev, KC Digital Drive, speaks during the 2025 Innovation Festival; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

On the agenda

Esther George, former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and current board chair of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, speaks in June 2025 during the City of Fountains Annual Celebration, hosted by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC); photo by Brian Escobar, EDCKC

The summit is set to feature leaders from Coinbase, Fidelity Labs, Deloitte and TIGER 21. Sessions are expected to explore tokenization strategies, digital infrastructure and blockchain-based private credit.

A fireside chat with Esther George, former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and current board chair of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, will open the event. George is expected to discuss regional economic resilience and the evolving landscape of monetary policy and innovation.

Founder, investor and author Grant Cardone also is expected to take the stage to discuss how real estate and bitcoin are converging, bringing a high-profile perspective on new wealth strategies at the intersection of hard assets and blockchain.

Specific happenings of note:

• Private investor breakfast (invite-only) at The Phoenix;
• Main sessions on digital assets, regulation and tokenization strategies; and
• Curated afterparty at one of Kansas City’s most iconic live music venues.

The event is designed to tap into the buzz Kansas City is generating across its diverse sectors, said Jim Starcev, program manager at KC Digital Drive and a founding team member of KC Futures DAO. 

“We’re seeing increased blockchain activity across freight, energy, agriculture and supply chains,” he explained. “HDAX gives regional innovators a rare opportunity to plug into global capital conversations around digital compliance and infrastructure.”

Investor lens

Organizers say the summit also reflects the growing role of TIGER 21 in Kansas City, one of the network’s fastest-growing new markets. Members of TIGER 21 have already allocated more than $6 billion to digital assets globally.

Each group operates as a personal board of directors, offering members a confidential forum to refine investment strategies and discuss a broad range of topics, from estate planning and philanthropy to health, purpose and family dynamics.

Kansas City’s two TIGER 21 groups are chaired by Lehmann and Joe Kessinger.

ICYMI: Tiger 21 expands its invite-only peer network in KC as number of ultra-wealthy leaders rises

Sponsors

Polsinelli, a Kansas City-based national law firm recognized for its leadership in blockchain regulation and compliance, is a foundational sponsor of HDAX. Its expertise ensures that investor conversations are anchored in regulatory clarity — a core pillar of the event, Lehmann said.

Stellar Forge Mining, a rapidly scaling infrastructure company, is also a foundational sponsor. By building high-performance AI and Bitcoin hosting capacity in the Heartland, Lehmann noted, Stellar Forge represents the kind of frontier infrastructure that HDAX was created to showcase.

Other sponsors include Mariner Wealth Advisors, Collaborative Capital, UMKC Tech Venture Studio, Nationwide Equipment Transportation, and Bulla Network, each playing a vital role in shaping the future of blockchain-enabled infrastructure, investment, and innovation.

Attendance for the summit is invite-only and space is limited. To inquire about sponsorships, speaking or attending as an accredited investor, those interested are asked to visit Heartland Digital Asset Exchange and/ or their Luma Registration, or contact Lehmann via email.Additionally, Fintech TV is scheduled to provide coverage ahead of the summit from the New York Stock Exchange and on-site in Kansas City.

For more information, visit KC Futures DAO’s HDAX site or the event registration page.

Haines Eason is the owner of startup content marketing agency Freelance Kansas. Previously he worked as a managing editor for a corporate content marketing team and as a communications professional at KU. His work has appeared in publications like The Guardian, Eater and KANSAS! Magazine among others. Learn about him and Freelance Kansas on LinkedIn.