Paris in Flames as Blockchain Week 2023 Sparks Web3 Revolution
Despite Parisian protests, economic Paris Blockchain Week 2023 was vibrant and optimistic. Against the backdrop of riots, protests, and general unrest, Paris Blockchain Week (PBW) will turn 4 in spring 2023.
The $28,232 Bitcoin BTC ticker, virtual currency, and builder of the Web3 room were unfazed by protesters singing and dancing outside the doors of the conference venue.
Key Takeaways
- Against the backdrop of riots, protests, and general unrest.
- Bitcoin was created in response to Lehman Brothers in the 2008 financial crisis.
- Another critical theme throughout the event was the risk of Web2 companies such as Google.
The event came amid ongoing protests in Paris and deteriorating macroeconomic conditions in France. Many attendees expressed concern about the impact of factors on the future of the blockchain crypto industry, especially in Europe.
Still, the overall mood at PBW 2023 was positive, with many attendees citing the recent surge in the Bitcoin price as a sign of technology’s increasing mainstream adoption. Ledger CEO Pascal Gautier explained:
“Bitcoin was designed for that.”
“Bitcoin was created in response to Lehman Brothers in the 2008 financial crisis. It was developed because the central authority was unreliable. It’s not a question of if, the question of when.”
But as demonstrators passed the entrance to Carousel Hill, the basement of the Louvre where the event took place there seemed to be a disconnect between Web3‘s space and reality.
“We can’t seem to see what’s going on with the builders, what’s going on with the protesters,” said Denelle Dixon, CEO of the Stellar Development Foundation and founder of Creator Nations. Nir Kouris said Blockchain Week is “very important,” but talking to people in the mainstream world is essential.
“We must not live in a bubble to accept, accept, empower all these people, outside. We don’t know what blockchain is to use a variety of terms and be able to include them all in the conversation.”
Fires, garbage, and firefighting liquid were seen on the streets of Paris. It was an apocalyptic sight for many tourists visiting France. Gautier, Parisian at heart, shrugged his shoulders in protest. He explained that hitting the streets is part of French culture.
Another key theme throughout the event was the risk of Web2 companies such as Google, Nasdaq, and Facebook, as well as traditional brands such as LVMH and Gucci adopting Web3 vision.
PBW’s headliners included established brand executives from Diesel and Fiat. What will established retail brands do at the crypto conference? Robby Yung, CEO of Animoca Brands, said:
“They have been placed on Web3 because brands themselves are powerful. Whether it’s a gaming brand, a handbag brand, or a luxury watch brand, they resonate with consumers. “Brands resonate with consumers.”
Web3 offers new ways to innovate, explains Yung. Ryan Nix, at Coinbase, agrees. He says Web2 players want to be in action, but he also needs to “hide the problem from users.” Ultimately, Nix said simplifying the somewhat complex cryptographic and blockchain tools could reach a wider audience.
An exciting omission of the 2023 iteration was a notable absence of the crypto exchange Binance.
As the industry evolves, events like PBW 2023 will play an increasingly important role in bringing together key players and driving innovation.