Consensus 2024 Experience: Ethereum and ETF Darkly, AI and DePIN Blossom

Original | Odaily Planet Daily

Author | jk

From May 29th to 31st, 2024, the well-known Web3 media Coindesk held the Consensus 2024 conference in Austin, Texas, USA. The Odaily reporter stationed in North America attended.

As one of the largest and most influential cryptocurrency and blockchain industry events globally, the Consensus conference brings together developers, investors, founders, brands, and policymakers from around the world. This conference not only provides a platform to showcase cutting-edge technology and discuss industry trends, but also offers an excellent opportunity for industry professionals to exchange and collaborate.

Bull Market以来的第一场大会

This Consensus conference is the first industry event since the bull market. Previously, due to the approval of the Bitcoin ETF and the Bitcoin skyrocketing from $50,000 to $70,000 during ETH Denver, the entire industry has made a full response to the arrival of the bull market in the past few months.

This time, although the number of participants has decreased compared to previous years, the overall quality has significantly improved. From the situation of on-site communication, the attendees are more professional, the discussion is very in-depth, and the communication effect is more efficient. The number of newcomers or students who have no understanding of the blockchain industry and come to learn has decreased significantly compared to other conferences. It can be seen that most of the participants this year are deep participants in the industry. For companies looking to raise funds or find clients or investment targets in the United States, Consensus is still one of the top three must-attend blockchain events in the United States.

The venue is not deserted, but everyone is at the Side Event

As soon as possible, the design of last year's classic main venue with a main road and many small branches was adopted. It seems that there were not as many participants in the formal activities at the venue as last year, even many people I met on the spot said that they didn't go to the main venue much. More discussions and exchanges took place in various side events, and participants tended to attend these small and flexible activities. Within the four days of the Consensus event, there were about 200+ similar activities organized by various Web3 companies. These activities are closer to practical applications and cutting-edge technologies, providing more opportunities for exploration and cooperation.

In addition, the high ticket prices (although relatively lower for students and developers) are also a reason why many people did not appear at the main venue.

Consensus side event table, source: Consensus official

AI and decentralized Internet of Things (DePIN) are the most focused ecosystem tracks at this conference. Whether it's technical discussions or project presentations, they are all centered around these two areas; the most intuitive thing is that there are many activities focused on this ecosystem, while other traditional tracks such as DeFi and games have not received as much attention as before. In contrast, Ethereum and ETF, although still under discussion, obviously did not receive as much attention from the participants.

The number of Asian participants is very significant, with many of them coming specifically from China to participate in this conference. Most of these people are not from well-known institutions, but are mostly founders of start-up companies or investors in funds, coming to the United States to seek financing opportunities, targets, or the latest trends in European and American funds. This also makes this conference an international and highly diverse platform, promoting communication and cooperation between the East and the West.

Overall, Consensus 2024 demonstrated the depth and breadth of the industry, providing direction for the future development of blockchain and cryptocurrency through international communication. This conference is not only an industry event, but also a collision and integration of global cutting-edge ideas and technologies, heralding a more open, innovative, and decentralized future.