Istanbul Blockchain Week: Gathering Web3 Titans in Turkey this November

Istanbul Blockchain Week, the premier event of web3 and digital assets in the Eurasia region, will be inviting the world to Istanbul, one of the most adopted cities for cryptocurrency. Kicking off on the 14th November with NFT Day, Istanbul Blockchain Week will host a whole week of exciting events culminating with the main event of the week ‘IstanBlock’ at the prestigious Hilton Bomonti Hotel. 

Istanbul Blockchain Week is putting together a world-class list of speakers that bridge across web3. Including Sandbox’s Sebastian Borget and legendary cryptographer David Chaum. With involvement from top-tier exchanges such as Binance and Coinbase, large corporates like Mastercard and Vodafone, and the best NFT projects alongside huge institutions such as the United Nations. Gaming talent participating at the event includes Yoshihisa Hashimoto, the former CTO of Square Enix who personally oversaw the Final Fantasy and Sonic Unleashed brands leading voices from gaming/fashion/music/entertainment for a big celebration of web3 culture.

The event will make use of this incredible potential; offering attendees access to panels, and events. And discussions on investment, privacy, metaverse + NFTs, and government policy from around the globe. The leading blockchain event in the region will also be a chance to network with thousands of informed and involved attendees in a historic and beautiful city that bridges two continents. 

IstanBlock, Istanbul Blockchain Week’s flagship 2 day event kicks off on November 15th. A jam packed schedule of exciting content. Including educational workshops from some of the top builders in web3, hackathons, a networking zone, a VIP dinner and a historic  official afterparty taking place in a unique and historic venue in Istanbul. Builders and web3 start ups will also have the chance to take part in a Pitch Competition, where their project can be pitched to top tier investors for investment and guidance. 

Introducing W3E, the world’s first live Web3 Esports Tournament

The week will also feature the world’s first live Web3 Esports tournament, W3E. Made by gamers, for gamers, the event aims to put blockchain-based gaming at the heart of the conversation. Our game partner will be EV.io, a faced-paced first-person-shooter, and the most popular game on the Solana blockchain. The tournament will take place at the ESA Esports Arena and will include multiple teams from across Europe and Asia. Competing for a $15,000 prize pool and the chance to take home the inaugural W3E Championships trophy – including an NFT version too.

NFT Day, which will take place on the 14th, will be an exciting deep-dive into the transformative world of blockchain-based digital collectibles. Panels and events will discuss NFTs’ role in the metaverse, and how NFTs will change the future of ownership. And how to spot the most exciting projects that will lead us into the future – and much more. If you’re interested in seeing first-hand some of the most exciting collections, there will also be an NFT Gallery for attendees to feast their eyes on. Speakers from top NFT projects such as Lazy Lions, Hape, and Kusama Kings are already confirmed to speak at the event with more set to be announced soon. 

The future of web3 begins in Turkey

With 20% of the Turkish population owning or using cryptocurrency, and over 25 million Turks still unbanked. Turkey remains one of the most fertile grounds for the growth of cryptocurrencies and decentralized technology.

Currently, in Turkey, regulations around the use of cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based digital assets are unclear or non-existent. Making this an ideal time to discuss policy in one of the world’s leading emerging economies. In a time of market volatility – and with a global recession potentially on the horizon – it has never been more important to discuss the transition to web3 and crypto-based finance.

“Turkey represents the ideal location to bring together the heavyweights of web3 alongside policy makers, venture capital, and large web2 brands looking to break into web3,” says Erhan Korhaliller, founder of Istanbul Blockchain Week and CEO of Blockchain PR Agency EAK Digital. “The adoption of web3 in Turkey has been extremely promising and represents an exciting opportunity for Turkey to establish itself as a leader in the field. We look forward to showcasing to the world the passion and talent that Turkey has to offer to the industry whilst offering exciting opportunities for international projects to meet, partner, and onboard the Turkish community.