Last week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Paul Sladkus on his Good News Broadcast. What began as a conversation about blockchain quickly evolved into something much deeper.

We talked about what blockchain really is — a distributed ledger that creates trust without a central authority. We discussed Bitcoin’s fixed supply, the difference between true blockchains and tokens that can be minted endlessly, and why decentralization matters in a world where trust is often in short supply.

Then Paul shared his life’s work: “Pause the World for Peace.” For more than two decades he has championed the International Day of Peace. This year, on the 24th anniversary, he is bringing the movement to Times Square on September 19th — a powerful midday gathering featuring human peace signs, peace messengers, live music, and a collective pause for humanity.

Watch the Original Interview

Here is the full conversation where this partnership began:

An Official Addition to UN Blockchain Week

UN Blockchain Week 2026 is happening right alongside the United Nations General Assembly. Our two-day premier conference runs September 16–17, followed by the Washington Elite Investment Summit & Gala on the 18th.

After thoughtful internal discussion, we are proud to announce that “Pause the World for Peace” is now an official part of UN Blockchain Week 2026.

On Saturday, September 19th — the final day of our week — after all the panels, keynotes, Bitcoin Palooza, runway shows, and special programming, the entire UN Blockchain Week community will gather in Times Square (Duffy Square) to Pause for Peace.

This is more than an add-on. It is a natural extension of what UN Blockchain Week stands for. Blockchain is ultimately about creating systems of trust. Peace requires the same foundation — trust between people, transparency in relationships, and the courage to come together.

Paul said something during our conversation that stayed with us: without real business relationships and shared realities, peace remains an abstraction. We agree completely.

We are grateful to Paul for his decades of dedication and excited to bring our communities together for this meaningful day.

Whether you are joining us for the full week or simply want to be part of this special gathering on the 19th, you are welcome.