Istanbul Blockchain Week 2023 Global cryptocurrency exchange Binance hosted its flagship event in Turkey on November 8-9, with the event taking place in Turkish Lira, the top trading pair on its platform.
Although Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao was absent from the event, the Binance senior team and key senior executives from all event sponsors were enough to make Binance Blockchain Week one of the busiest Web3 events in Istanbul. Once seen.
As a city that connects Europe and Asia, Istanbul is no stranger to international cryptocurrency and blockchain summits. While most events choose the city center because of the ease of transportation and nearby hotels, Binance chose a venue along the Bosporus coastline—far away from the metro and many other modes of transportation—to show visitors the true beauty of Istanbul.
Accessing the main event area without registration or getting last-minute tickets at the entrance is usually not a problem – at least for most events in Turkey. However, security measures are very tight at Binance Blockchain Week and tickets are sold out. Binance’s events team designed the two-story layout for more than 2,000 attendees from around the world.
The spacious lobby leads upstairs where the main stage and booths welcome visitors. The entrance level offers a variety of activities, including a small hair salon where visitors can choose to have the Binance logo spray-painted on their hair, two vintage arcade machines and an innovation stage centered around new startups.
From Binance’s perspective, the importance of the Istanbul event was clear, as the cryptocurrency platform reserved a major announcement for its Web3 wallet (not to be confused with the Binance-owned Trust wallet) at the event.
Richard Teng, Binance regional market leader, introduced the Binance Web3 wallet to 150 million Binance users and kicked off the event.
Magazine: Exclusive: Two years after John McPhee’s death, widow Janice is penniless and needs answers
Binance Istanbul Blockchain Week starts off on a high note, with two days of keynotes and panel discussions in Istanbul from the biggest names in blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3, gaming, and entertainment. Opportunities are provided for people from all backgrounds and experience levels to join groups or network.
important moment
viewing time @_RichardTeng First announced new #binance Web3 wallet is located at #BinanceBlockchainWeek!
— Binance (@binance) November 11, 2023
Binance Chief Marketing Officer Rachel Conlan told Cointelegraph that the exchange considered several cities before choosing Istanbul as the destination for this year’s Binance Blockchain Week.
“The city has a very active cryptocurrency community and the overwhelming support we continue to receive from the local community played a decisive role in our decision.”
Citing surveys that rank Turkey as one of the countries with the highest cryptocurrency adoption rates, Conlan noted that this participation and adoption “reaffirms our long-term commitment to investing in and nurturing the Turkish blockchain ecosystem, making Istanbul the location for our flagship event” natural selection.”
The flagship event was missing the Binance CEO, who is known to embrace a decentralized culture within Binance and even hinted that he might be willing to step down as CEO.
“Effective decentralization means not only the distribution of authority and responsibility, but also visibility,” Conlan said.
She added that Binance wants to continually engage users and ensure a consistent presence across multiple forums and regions, and having an experienced team to independently represent the company is critical to achieving this goal.
Binance and the greater Web3 ecosystem
Although this was a Binance event, the conference also included several other companies and platforms. Booths from Tron, Chiliz, Animoca Brands, Zignaly, Alchemy Pay and Trust Wallet were installed in the sponsor area.
“Binance Blockchain Week isn’t just about Binance; it’s about Binance,” Conlan explained, adding that by promoting collaboration with partners, Binance aims to extend its reach to the greater Web3 ecosystem.
Event attendees were also satisfied with the lively and lively atmosphere they encountered in Istanbul. “We were surprised by the energy and enthusiasm of the Turkish crypto community at Binance Blockchain Week,” said David Uhryniak, head of ecosystem development at Tron. He added that the most exciting aspects of the event were the stablecoin panel and the Spruce Strait.”
Abdul Rafay Gadit, co-founder of cryptocurrency trading platform Zignaly, added more praise for Istanbul’s charm and hospitality. Commenting on Binance Blockchain Week, Gadit told Cointelegraph, “The event in Istanbul was a success, with different crypto projects demonstrating their long-term efforts, especially given the long-term bear market.”
Tomasz Wojewoda, head of business development at BNB Chain, said that a highlight of the event was interacting directly with developers to build Web3 for the next billion users. “It was great to meet so many developers building on the BNB chain ecosystem and hear firsthand how they benefit from opBNB’s low gas fees and BNB Greenfield’s decentralized storage,” he said.
Bilal Bin Saqib, a blockchain entrepreneur listed on Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30, told Cointelegraph that he is fascinated by discussions about the future of blockchain. “I think the launch of Binance’s first self-hosted Web3 wallet is a highlight for me,” Saqib said. He noted that the launch “opens up countless avenues to the Web3 future for the masses.”
For Conlon, the “Women in Web3” session on the innovation stage was a highlight of the entire event. “The discussion delved into the perspectives of several leading women in the industry, covering the intersection of female power and the future of technology,” Conlan said.
Türkiye is a hotbed of Web3 innovation
A sponsor area is located next to the patio where food and drinks are served. Despite the crowds, the food selection was plentiful. In addition to the main dishes, tourists also queue up to taste local delicacies such as simit (a type of Turkish bagel), malas flavored ice cream, and Turkish coffee.
Visitors from different countries gathered in the food queue, sponsor booths, drank coffee and discussed Turkey’s role in the industry, discussing Web3, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, while cherishing the long-awaited development of the cryptocurrency market Bullish price action.
Underscoring Turkey’s growth as a major player in the blockchain space, Binance Turkey general manager Mücahit Dönmez told Cointelegraph that open collaboration between traditional financial institutions such as Turkish banks and crypto platforms demonstrates the country’s forward thinking. “This collaborative business environment inspires an innovation-friendly atmosphere that is conducive to the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry,” he added.
Recent: Can Cryptocurrency Privacy Pools Help Balance Privacy and Regulation?
Bin Saqib said the recession in the local economy will help accelerate cryptocurrency adoption in Turkey. “With the Turkish lira not showing any clear signs of recovery, I think more and more people will enter the crypto ecosystem in hopes of saving their hard-earned money,” he said.
After two days of meetings, Zhao concluded the event via video call, highlighting the compliance efforts of cryptocurrency exchanges and how Binance can help lawmakers create a regulatory framework for digital currencies.
In response to questions from the audience, Binance’s CEO stated that the crypto industry is moving towards decentralized finance (DeFi), adding:
“I want to spend more time on DeFi, wallets, etc. I think this is the real technological innovation.”
Binance Blockchain Week Istanbul 2023 brings visibility to the Turkish cryptocurrency and blockchain ecosystem through Binance’s global brand.
“Binance sheds light on Turkey’s crypto ecosystem – something many people didn’t know about, which will also attract other projects, investors and crypto locals to the country,” said Bin Saqib.
Svlook
