Former Mt. Gox CEO Mark Karpelès, Author Chris Dixon Among Exclusive Speakers At KBW2024

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, August 30, 2024 — Korea Blockchain Week 2024, Asia’s most impactful blockchain conference, is delighted to announce that Former Mt. Gox CEO Mark Karpelès, who has been active in the blockchain industry since 2009, will be among the exclusive speakers at its flagship KBW2024: IMPACT event. 

Mark Karpelès first discovered blockchain and crypto technologies through Bitcoin in 2009, and soon after became a founding member of the Bitcoin Foundation in 2012. He acquired Mt. Gox in 2011, and after twelve years of working through currently available cybersecurity technologies, he became the Minister of Technology for Joseon in 2023. Mark also serves as the CTO of EllipX, a crypto wallet and exchange that eliminates the need for passphrases and provides a user-friendly platform for digital asset trading.

Besides Mark, the exclusive list of distinguished voices at the KBW includes Chris Dixon, a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and the author of Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet, who will speak at the Kickoff Event for KBW2024 on September 1st. 

It is highly significant that KBW has added speakers who can shed light on both the past and present of the blockchain industry, as well as AI leaders driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In Korea, the blockchain community is intrigued by the story of Mt. Gox, and is eager to understand how the industry can integrate with traditional sectors.

KBW2024: IMPACT, the main event of the week-long conference, will feature over 300 speakers, including new additions such as:

• Hakan Eroglu (Advisor – Innovation Hub, Bank for International Settlements)
• Mark T. Uyeda (Commissioner, the US Securities and Exchange Commission)
• Rune Christensen (Co-Founder, MakerDAO)
• Stani Kulechov (Founder and CEO, Avara)
• Alex Blania (Co-Founder, Worldcoin)
• Brad Garlinghouse (CEO, Ripple)
• Andrew Durgee (President, Republic)
• Henry Child (Head of Ecosystem, Tether)
• Yam Ki Chan (Vice President, Circle)
• Sean Lee (Co-Founder and CSO, IDA)
• Nathan Allman (Founder and CEO, Ondo)
• Sota Watanabe (Founder of Astar Network & CEO of Startale Labs)
• Sidney M. Gutierrez (Former NASA astronaut, Chairman of Vaya Space)
• Wesley Clark (Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, CEO of Wesley K. Clark & Associates)

FactBlock CEO Jeon Seon-ik expressed enthusiasm about the event, stating, “KBW2024 is an essential occasion to explore the latest trends and innovations in the blockchain and Web3 industries. We are delighted to offer a rich program featuring speakers with outstanding careers across various fields.”

Hashed CEO Kim Seojun added, “KBW2024 is establishing itself as an innovative conference platform that transcends the boundaries of blockchain technology, finance, content, and entertainment. We hope it serves as an opportunity to showcase the ecosystem’s potential to both domestic and international Web3 communities.”

Now in its seventh year, KBW is organized by FactBlock, a Web3 ecosystem builder, and co-hosted by blockchain venture capital firm Hashed. The main event, KBW2024: IMPACT, will be held on September 3-4 at the Walkerhill Hotel & Resort in Seoul. 

Another key event, KBW2024: AI World, will take place on September 5 at Lotte Cinema, Lotte World Tower, Seoul. Organized by Financial News  and the Ministry of Science & ICT, it will feature Stability AI Founder Emad Mostaque, Worldcoin CEO Alex Blania as well as leading Korean entrepreneurs in the AI field.

KBW2024: IMPACT is supported by the official conference partners Sui, Movement Labs, and BlueRun Ventures Capital Management (BRV), with title sponsors including Aptos, Tron, Chiliz, DOP, Creditcoin, Sahara AI, Presto, TON, Bitthumb, SK Telecom, and Aleo. Gold sponsors include Orbs, Flare Network, and Ripple. The KBW organizers have also partnered with Forbes Web3, dedicating one of the four stages as the Forbes Web3 Stage. The full list of partners and sponsors is available on KBW’s official website. 

For more information and continued updates on Korea Blockchain Week 2024, please visit: https://koreablockchainweek.com/ 

About Korea Blockchain Week:

Founded by FACTBLOCK and co-hosted by Hashed, Korea Blockchain Week (KBW) is an annual global blockchain and web3 festival held in Seoul, South Korea, since 2018. It has been a gathering ground for the top global blockchain and web3 leaders and unifying diverse communities.

KBW curates multiple prestigious main events, including the flagship conference ‘IMPACT.’ This provides participants and attendees exclusive opportunities to exchange industry insights and indulge in an immersive blend of music, art, and culture, making KBW a unique and enriching experience for all involved.

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Ronnie Levi

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