ETHSofia 2024: The Highlights You Wish You Didn’t Miss

We’re in full steam getting ready for the second edition of ETHSofia, happening this September 23-25th at Sofia Tech Park. If you're still on the fence about attending, you probably weren’t at ETHSofia 2024, and it shows.

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a rundown of everything you missed in 2024. Our advice? Don’t make the same mistake twice.

We Made Ethereum Cypherpunk Again

ETHSofia 2024 was a full-blown cypherpunk experience. Neon lights, glitchy visuals, and a hacker atmosphere straight out of Blade Runner set the scene for Ethereum’s future. If you love tech dystopia minus the dystopia, this was your place.

We laid the basis of making Sofia the crypto capital of Eastern Europe, gathered enthusiasts from all over the world and showcased the best projects currently shaping the global Web3 scene. This was just the beginning.

Lyn Alden’s Deep Dive into Money & Crypto

Lyn Alden, author of ‘Broken Money’, took the stage to break down how digital assets fit into the broader financial system. Whether you were a DeFi degen or an ETH maxi, her insights on macroeconomics and crypto’s role in global markets left everyone questioning everything they thought they knew.

Binance, NEXO & MANTRA Went All In

Some of the biggest players took center stage. Binance’s David Prinçay, NEXO’s Elenor Genova and Dimitar Stalimirov, and MANTRA’s Nicholas Krapels dropped alpha on DeFi, RWAs, and cross-chain liquidity, proving that multi-chain reality is coming faster than most expect.

High-Signal Talks with Zero-Knowledge Fluff

Throughout the two-day conference, attendees enjoyed a series of insightful panel discussions. ETHSofia stood out as one of the few events to feature a dedicated Web3 marketing panel discussion, a fundamental driver of blockchain adoption worldwide, together with experts from Serotonin, Bybit, Input, and BeInCrypto.

We also explored the emerging intersection between Web3 and AI way before AI agents became the hot topic they are today. We welcomed Decentralized AI OGs from Chainbase, Internet Computer, Extropy, and ORA, and we can’t wait to dive even deeper in 2025.

These represent a very small portion of all the fascinating talks we had at the ETHSofia stage, so you better check our YouTube channel to watch all recordings.

The Open Stage

The Open Stage at ETHSofia 2024 featured 15 speakers covering key topics across security audits, NFT use cases, ZK proofs, Layer-2 solutions, and decentralized AI. The sessions delivered valuable insights and sparked discussions on the latest trends and challenges in Web3. Discover the Open Stage Playlist to learn more.

The Expo Zone

Along with the two conference stages, ETHSofia offered a large and lively exhibition area to serve as the meeting point of various types of attendees. Our Expo Zone fostered invaluable networking and collaboration opportunities, creating the perfect environment for meaningful connections. Industry leaders and top companies, including Binance, NEXO, Ambire, MANTRA, Internet Computer, Swarm, and more, showcased their latest developments, offering hands-on experiences and insights into the future of decentralization.

10 Side Events & an Unforgettable Closing Party

If you thought ETHSofia was just about the conference, you were wrong.

During the week of ETHSofia, our beautiful capital city became the go-to place for networking, thoughtful conversations, and partying like there’s no tomorrow. Across the city, our partners hosted 10+ side events focused around various aspects of blockchain innovation in the Balkan region, each one bringing together builders, investors, and innovators pushing the space forward.

And then, there was the legendary closing party at EXE Club. The music was loud, the vibes were wild, and the stories? Well… IYKYK :)