The technology wasn’t the first thing that caught my attention when I entered the Vancouver Convention Centre. The sound was the cause. Founders discussing ideas over coffee, investors conversing quietly by glass walls with a view of the harbor, and engineers bent over laptops updating dashboards that likely tracked something worth millions of dollars were just a few of the thousands of conversations that layered over each other. Vancouver, which has long been appreciated for its views of the mountains and ocean, felt completely different all of a sudden.
With over 15,700 visitors from 117 nations, the city became a temporary hub for blockchain aspirations. Badges flashing names from Singapore, Berlin, São Paulo, and Seoul hung from necks like credentials to a secret economy as people walked along the waterfront outside the conference halls. It seems like these gatherings are more than just conferences these days. They are indicators of potential future flows of funds and attention.
Vancouver Blockchain Festival — Key Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Vancouver, Canada |
| Major Event | Web Summit Vancouver |
| Attendance | 15,727+ attendees |
| Countries Represented | 117+ |
| Participating Startups | 1,108 startups |
| Investors | 681 global investors |
| Speakers | 345 |
| Focus Areas | Blockchain, AI, fintech, sustainability |
| Reference | https://vancouver.websummit.com |
Although it was rarely used alone, blockchain was present everywhere. Debates about artificial intelligence spilled over into panels discussing decentralized finance. Prototypes on tablets were displayed by startup founders, who described systems intended to tokenize everything from real estate to carbon credits. Occasionally, attentive investors nodded without disclosing much. Some of the most significant transactions might have taken place in quiet corners in between sessions rather than on stage at all.
Over 1,100 startups participated, which is a remarkably high number for an inaugural event. Their booths, which were merely folding tables with ideas for completely new financial systems, created a labyrinth of ambition. Some of the founders appeared to have just graduated from college. Others exuded the composed assurance of those who had done this before.
As you watch them, it seems like blockchain has moved into a new stage. Ten years ago, these events had an experimental, fringe vibe. Now, big investors from companies like 500 Global and Thiel Capital were walking the same floors and paying close attention. Investors appear to think that businesses that are still small enough to fit inside exhibition booths could produce the next wave of digital wealth.
Vancouver itself was a minor character in the story outside the convention center. Visitors were taken straight to the city’s financial center as seaplanes gently touched down on the harbor. Between meetings, founders were frantically typing in cafés. In the background, the mountains stood serene and unconcerned, while below, billions of dollars in possible investments subtly changed course.
Compared to many cities in North America, Vancouver is located nearer Asia on the Pacific coast. It appears that geography matters. According to entrepreneurs from South Korea, Japan, and Singapore, Vancouver is a natural bridge that facilitates the easy transfer of ideas between continents. Although the city’s ability to fully transform this attention into long-term dominance is still uncertain, the opportunity is clear.
Another noteworthy aspect of the founders was their diversity. Women founded nearly half of the exhibiting startups, which is a remarkably high percentage in a traditionally male-dominated field. It became evident as we walked through the exhibition hall that blockchain’s next chapter might not look like its previous one. Although it’s unclear if it alters the deeper dynamics of the industry, that change feels significant.
Not all of the conversations were hopeful. A few attendees silently questioned whether the promise and reality of blockchain technology still aligned. Skepticism remains despite years of hype, token failures, and high-profile fraud cases. Investors posed more challenging queries. The founders were more circumspect in their word choice.
In fact, that prudence might be a sign of maturity. This event felt more grounded than previous cryptocurrency gatherings that were full of wild predictions. Discussions centered on real-world uses, such as financial infrastructure, digital identity, and energy trading. Not as much revolution. More performance.
The Web Summit started out as a small event in Ireland in 2009. Its Vancouver debut is now garnering international attention, bolstering Canada’s expanding technological leadership. Walking through the halls, local leaders characterized the event as a chance to highlight the talent in the area, and it didn’t seem overly dramatic.
However, the future is still up in the air. Within a few years, some of the startups that are showcasing here will vanish. Others might stealthily emerge as the next financial behemoths. Both thrilling and unnerving, that uncertainty is a part of the atmosphere.
Every evening, as the conference came to an end, participants poured out into the streets of Vancouver, carrying on discussions in hotel bars and restaurants. Over drinks, deals were discussed. informal partnerships. There was a sense of possibility in the city itself.
Crowds started to thin out by the last day. Booths were taken down. Laptops are put away.
