Navigating Crypto Events in 2024 w/Devconnect

1. Why Events in Crypto Events are Valuable

Crypto events provide significant value to enthusiasts, developers, and investors by enabling community engagement and knowledge sharing. As the crypto sector continues evolving rapidly, such gatherings are pivotal for progress, keeping stakeholders connected, informed, and collaborative.

These events facilitate networking, discussion of latest developments, and partnership building among professionals. Attendees exchange insights on market trends, innovations, and real-world applications, helping shape the industry’s trajectory. Conferences allow specialists to engage deeply on technical advances, while workshops and hackathons spark new ideas and projects.

For enthusiasts, crypto gatherings present opportunities to interact with experts across domains and explore diverse perspectives. Investors obtain timely information to guide strategy in a dynamic marketplace. Developers collaborate with peers, learning about new applications and forging alliances to drive innovation.

As the crypto industry reaches new heights, events will remain essential platforms for stakeholders to learn, connect, and push boundaries collectively. Their long-term value lies in accelerating progress and growth through knowledge sharing and community building.

2. Insights from a Recent Crypto Event w/Devconnect

2.1 About Devconnect

Devconnect is one of the most important crypto events for developers. It is a week-long gathering of independent Ethereum events aimed at learning, sharing, and making progress together. The second edition of Devconnect took place in Istanbul from November 13-19, 2023. More than 3500 Ethereum enthusiasts convened at the Devconnect Cowork in the Istanbul Congress Center, while numerous independent events were held throughout the city.

The event provided valuable insights into various aspects of Ethereum and highlighted important topics for advancing the Ethereum ecosystem.

2.2 Events in Devconnect

There were around 70 events in DevConnect. The range included technical sessions and explanation on new ideas on the overall blockchain. However, this year had a lot of events focused on infrastructure and rollups.

Let's take a look at some of the interesting sessions.

Source: Schedule · Devconnect

2.1.1 EVM Summit

The EVM Summit featured two notable presentations:

1. "MEVM: Private EVM Computation for MEV":

In the presentation, Daniel Marzec discusses the importance of privacy in blockchain transactions. He highlights the potential risks of exploitation and surveillance due to the public nature of blockchains. Marzec introduces concepts such as Miner Extractable Value (MEV) and explores various privacy-preserving options, including zkEVM, fhEVM, and Zcash.

The main focus of the presentation is on the Modified EVM (MEVM), which allows for the execution of confidential data off-chain through a Confidential Compute Request flow. Marzec also discusses the application of MEVM in different blockchain environments and mentions the use of View Functions. To demonstrate the concept, he provides a case study on zkUniswap.

However, Marzec acknowledges that there are open problems that need to be addressed, such as resource pricing and encryption. The presentation concludes with a Q&A session to further discuss the implementation of confidential computation off-chain and its potential benefits, including stronger provenance and transaction clarity.

1. "Impact Studies for Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs)"

This presentation by Neville Grech from Dedaub, a security vendor, discussed the importance of conducting impact studies for proposed Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs). Dedaub specializes in these impact studies to assess the potential effects of EIPs on smart contracts and protocols. They utilize techniques like static program analysis, specifically declarative program analysis, to analyze contracts and measure impact.

Impact studies have been conducted on proposals such as Verkle trees, removal of self-destruct, and account abstraction. These studies are crucial in informing design decisions, avoiding issues in ecosystem contracts, and facilitating the upgrading of smart contracts and protocols. By identifying potential problems, they contribute to the overall security and stability of the Ethereum network. Impact studies help predict and mitigate negative effects of changes to the ecosystem, making them an important part of the decision-making process for EIPs.

Dedaub has developed partially open-source tools and techniques to identify affected contracts, using blockchain indexing, abstraction, heuristics, and static and dynamic analysis. Overall, this source highlights the need for thorough impact analysis of proposed Ethereum changes.

2.1.2 Ethconomics

Lots of interesting discussions have taken place regarding the economics surrounding Ethereum. One notable talk is titled "Semantics of Staking: Fun and Games and Balance Sheets with Staking Tokens" by crypto researcher Barnabé Monnot, a key figure in the community. Monnot focuses on the semantics of staking, liquid staking, and re-staking in the Ethereum protocol. The presentation emphasizes the importance of understanding principal-agent problems and the need for a language to assess relationships and incentives in these processes. Key concepts explored include liquefying assets in solo staking, staking service providers (SSPs), node operators, and the associated risks and solutions in reducing leverage and binding operators.

In the realm of decentralized finance (DeFi), re-staking involves using assets like Ethereum (ETH) or liquid staking tokens (LST) to participate in protocols and earn yields. This also includes consideration of Actively Validated Services (AVSs) that require stake backing and offer revenue to risk takers. The challenges of reporting slashing events and potential misalignment between protocols are addressed, along with the exploration of infinite re-staking and the question of claim hierarchy and delegation of services. The discussion underscores the importance of robustness in permissionless environments, highlighting that protocols with higher value to users tend to be more robust. It also highlights the need for future research to address complexities and risks associated with re-staking.

The presentation emphasized the necessity of understanding the intricate processes of staking, liquid staking, and re-staking, and suggests the need for a roadmap to effectively navigate these processes. The source concludes with a panel discussion on the presented topics, indicating a keen interest in fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

2.1.3 Solidity Summit:

One of the notable talks was "The State of EVM Languages".

The panel discussion began with introductions from four panelists representing different EVM languages, including Solidity, Vyper, Huff, and Fe. They provided brief pitches for their respective languages and shared their thoughts on the EVM and potential improvements. The panelists then highlighted upcoming features in their languages, showcasing innovation and advancements. They also discussed the current state of tooling and how tools can better interact with compilers. Some panelists advocated for using languages themselves for testing, while others preferred general-purpose languages and existing tooling.

The discussion then shifted to the importance of better language support in developer toolkits. The benefits of using general-purpose languages like Python for interacting with contracts were discussed, as well as the significance of unit testing and stateful testing. The panel also explored Yul as an intermediate representation (IR) that deviates from LLVM and expressed interest in a more LLVM-like backend. They appreciated the diverse strengths and approaches offered by EVM languages. The pros and cons of inline assembly were debated, and the importance of security in language design was highlighted. Additionally, the panel touched on the potential for alternative VM architectures and languages. The discussion concluded by emphasizing the need for more experimentation in EVM languages and tooling.

3. Other Events in 2023

Devconnect is primarily focused on researchers and developers. While most companies attend this event for networking and learning opportunities, there have also been numerous valuable events with their own unique characteristics.

3.1 ETH Focused Events

Source: 2023 Ethereum Events

Ethereum has positioned itself as the blockchain with the most vibrant community of developers, researchers, and enthusiasts. This is evidenced by the myriad of events that bring together members of the Ethereum ecosystem to build, share, and learn. These diverse community events range from large conferences to intimate hackathons, but all embody the spirit of open collaboration that underpins Ethereum.

Some of the most notable Ethereum events include ETHDenver, one of the world's largest blockchain-focused hackathons; EDCON and DevCon, the biggest annual Ethereum developer conferences; EthCC, which covers both technical and non-technical discussions around Ethereum; and various ETH hackathons that bring together developers to build Ethereum-based projects. At these events, attendees can listen to talks and panels, participate in workshops, forge connections with other community members, and even compete by building Ethereum applications and prototypes.

he conferences cover a wide range of topics from scalability improvements to social impact use cases while the hackathons put the community's building skills to the test. Regardless of format, these events ultimately gather the brightest minds in blockchain to advance the overall blockchain community

3.2 Institutions Focused Events

Institutions are becoming increasingly crucial in this industry, and more formal and important gatherings are occurring.

3.3.1 Consensus by CoinDesk

Source: https://consensus2024.coindesk.com/

Consensus is considered the most important annual conference for the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry. Held each year in Austin, Texas over three days in May/June, Consensus brings together thousands of participants from across the diverse sectors that make up the digital economy ecosystem. Major talks and sessions at the event cover the latest technical developments, applications, and regulatory issues. It provides a forum for industry leaders, founders, developers, investors, brands, and policymakers to come together, highlight successes, and discuss the critical challenges facing the industry.

As the largest and longest-running conference of its kind, Consensus also acts as a major opportunity for networking and collaboration. With over 300 exhibitors showcasing products and services, attendees can learn about emerging areas, foster new partnerships, and gain inspiration from visionary speakers. The scale and diverse set of participants have led to Consensus being compared to other prominent global events in terms of its impact and importance as a showcase for the cryptocurrency field.

3.3.2 Messari Mainnet

Source: https://mainnet.events/

Messari Mainnet is an annual cryptocurrency conference hosted by Messari in New York City. The event typically draws over 3,000 attendees from more than 100 countries, including leaders in crypto from companies like Coinbase, Ripple, Circle, and PayPal. Over 150 speakers presented across multiple tracks on topics like venture capital, technology, policy and other sectors of the crypto industry.

Mainnet 2023 offers the opportunity to learn about the latest developments, network with decision makers, and get exposure for projects. Registration provides access to all conference sessions which feature prominent speakers such as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Brian Armstrong of Coinbase, and Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures.

3.3.3 Blockworks Permissionless and DAS(Digital Asset Summit)

Source: https://blockworks.co/event/permissionless-2023

Permissionless II was a major crypto conference and festival organized by Blockworks that took place from September 11-13, 2022 in Austin, Texas. It was billed as the world's largest Crypto event, with over 7,000 crypto enthusiasts and builders in attendance. The main conference was held at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX. This location in the capital of crypto-friendly Texas was likely chosen for its vibrant crypto community. Over 186 speakers were scheduled, covering various roles in the crypto/DeFi ecosystem such as founders, developers, and investors.

DAS (Digital Asset Summit), which is focused on institutions, will be held in 2024.

3.3.4 Token2049

TOKEN2049 is the premier cryptocurrency conference and was held in Singapore. It brought together over 20,000 attendees including 300+ world-class speakers from leading blockchain projects, cryptocurrency exchanges, investment firms, and more. Past speakers have included Vitalik Buterin of Ethereum, Charlie Lee of Litecoin, and executives from companies like Pantera Capital and Galaxy Digital. The conference agenda aims to shed light on the latest global developments in the crypto industry while providing perspectives on opportunities across the evolving ecosystem.

The event is organized to unite entrepreneurs, investors, developers, media, and other industry enthusiasts from over 5,000 companies through its main conference program and 400+ side events. This creates great networking opportunities for the global crypto community to connect and shape the future of the space. TOKEN2049 has established itself as the premier event attended by leaders who will help define what's next for cryptocurrencies and decentralized technologies.

3.4 Ecosystem Specific: Bitcoin, Solana and more …

3.4.1 The Bitcoin Conference

https://b.tc/conference/

The Bitcoin Conference is an annual event that brings together leaders, activists, and enthusiasts from the cryptocurrency and finance industries. A wide range of topics are discussed, including institutional adoption, sustainable mining practices, macroeconomic conditions, public policy, and risks.

3.4.2 Solana Breakpoint

Source: https://solana.com/breakpoint

Solana Breakpoint is an annual event that unites the Solana community.

The 2023 Breakpoint event, held in Amsterdam, featured several notable highlights. These included discussions on the role of blockchain technology in sustainable development and the necessity of establishing regenerative economies. Furthermore, notable product launches and technological advancements within the Solana ecosystem were unveiled during the event, such as the introduction of the Firedancer validator client, aimed at enhancing validator diversity, long-term resiliency, and decentralization within Solana.

3.4.3 Cosmoverse

Source: https://cosmoverse.org/

Cosmoverse is the largest annual conference focused on the Cosmos ecosystem and interoperability. It brings together developers, investors, and others from the Cosmos community.

Organized by Cryptocito, Cosmoverse aims to educate the community and provide a forum for networking. As the flagship Cosmos event, it covers the growth, direction and progress of the overall Cosmos ecosystem.

3.3 Region/Sector Specific

3.3.1 KBW

Korea Blockchain Week is an annual blockchain conference held in Seoul, South Korea every September. The flagship event is KBW Impact, which features keynote speeches and panel discussions from top industry leaders. Past speakers have included Vitalik Buterin, Jeremy Allaire, and Simon Kim. The conference aims to facilitate education, networking, and innovation in the blockchain space. Additional events include The Gateway: Korea, which showcases digital art installations, and Micro Seoul: SeoulBound, a music festival with DJ performances. These events expand on the themes of creativity, technology, and community in the blockchain industry.

KBW2023 was a major success that further cemented South Korea's role in the global blockchain movement. The next KBW is scheduled for September 2024 in Seoul and is expected to once again bring together international industry leaders for high-level discussions and networking.

3.3.2 NFT NYC

https://www.nft.nyc/

NFT NYC is an annual conference focused on non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the broader blockchain/web3 space. It has been held each year since 2018 in New York City, typically attracting thousands of attendees from the crypto and NFT community.

Major brands and projects in the web3/NFT sector support and participate in NFT NYC. It's seen as an important gathering for builders, creators and professionals in the industry. In addition to programming, there is an "Artist's Village" exhibition showcasing NFT art from over 1000 creators. Live music is also part of the event.

3.3.3 SBC

Source: https://cbr.stanford.edu/sbc23/

The Science of Blockchain Conference 2023 (SBC'23) took place from August 28-30, 2023 at the Arrillaga Alumni Center at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. The conference focused on technical innovations in the blockchain ecosystem and brought together researchers and practitioners working in areas such as blockchain protocol development, cryptography, distributed systems, secure computing, crypto-economics, and risk analysis. It aimed to foster collaboration between academics and professionals in the blockchain and cryptocurrency field.

The conference was co-organized by the Stanford Center for Blockchain Research, IC3 at Cornell Tech, and Berkeley RDI.

In addition to the main conference, there were also a number of affiliated workshops that took place before and after from August 26-31, 2023 at Stanford and UC Berkeley on topics such as blockchain applications, consensus protocols, decentralization, DAOs, and more. The program committee consisted of faculty from Stanford, Cornell Tech, UC Berkeley, as well as researchers from blockchain projects and companies. The conference was sponsored by foundations and companies in the blockchain and crypto space.

4. Looking Ahead to 2024

As we look ahead to crypto events in 2024, many of the major conferences and gatherings from 2023 will likely continue, providing opportunities to track the latest trends and market developments.

However, there will also be important new dynamics to follow that could shape the crypto landscape in 2024 and beyond:

• Regional Innovation: Asia and Africa have vibrant local crypto innovation. Regional events are crucial to understand local developer and user communities, as global trends can obscure important regional differences.

• Following Major Trends: Attending headline events offers firsthand exposure to major industry trends by networking with key players. However, reviewing recap videos and coverage post-event also allows you to catch emerging themes. Combining live participation with post-event analysis is optimal for closely tracking where the industry is heading.

• Institutional Adoption: There are certainly increasing interest from institutional investors and funds. There will be more attempts and adoption in the institutions in 2024. Major events will be key to measuring the pace of mainstream adoption.

As 2024 unfolds, combining insights from headline global gatherings as well as grassroots local events will provide the most complete perspective on where the industry is heading. Regulation, institutional interest, technological progress, and regional nuances will all shape crypto's trajectory in 2024. Careful event monitoring will help track it all.

Some of the resources to look into events in 2024

• 2024 Ethereum Events

• https://cryptonomads.org/

• Kaito Portal for Analysis on Events

Thanks to Kate for designing the graphics for this article.