Kartik Talwar, Simona Pop

ETHGlobal · Sep 9, 2026

In a live HUMAN Protocol podcast recording, host Simona Pop interviews ETHGlobal Co-Founder and CEO Kartik Talwar about the invisible work behind a durable developer community. Talwar reflects on ETHGlobal’s history, its early Ethereum Foundation support, and the standards learned from organizing events at global scale. Community quality, he explains, depends on thousands of decisions that participants rarely see: reviewing every applicant, helping teams find the right environment, gathering feedback at high volume, and creating clear pathways from a first hackathon to a serious company. Pop asks how ETHGlobal defines quality when event size, application volume, and the surrounding market continue to change. Talwar describes maintaining a consistent bar by reviewing applicants individually and creating an environment where builders can compare themselves with exceptional peers. The conversation follows projects and people from early experiments through products that shaped the Ethereum ecosystem, showing how trusted communities compound over time. Talwar discusses staying close to builders, recognizing what “good” looks like, surviving uncertainty, and expanding without abandoning careful curation. He also considers open source, software-driven business infrastructure, and the falling cost of building every layer of a business, which creates new demands for developer platforms and community operators. The central lesson is that community is not an audience metric: it is ongoing operational labor that helps talented people meet, test ideas, learn faster, and continue building through changing market cycles. They also discuss the difficult years between visible successes. ETHGlobal benefited from early timing and Ethereum Foundation support, but endurance required careful curation, staying close to builders, and continuing to serve developers through difficult market cycles. 00:00 Introduction and Live HUMAN Podcast 01:43 Kartik Talwar’s Academic Background 03:57 From University to Open Source Software 04:45 Learning Startups at SV Angel 06:40 Learning What Great Founders Look Like 08:44 Why the Hackathon Format Matters 10:51 Giving Builders Access to New Technology 11:47 Hack the North and Practical Education 13:32 Feedback Loops for Developer Platforms 14:25 Measuring Time to First Project 15:30 Hackathon Feedback Improves Products 17:22 Giving Builders More of Thirty-Six Hours 18:20 When Local Nodes Took Hours to Sync 19:27 From Better Tooling to Better Products 20:46 CryptoKitties and the First NFTs 22:09 Gitcoin Founders Meet at a Hackathon 22:53 A MetaMask Bug Fixed in the Room 23:19 How 1inch Emerged From Hackathons 26:38 Building Through Every Bear Market 28:03 Reviewing Every ETHGlobal Applicant 29:17 Helping Builders Find Their Peers 29:38 Playing the Seven-Year Community Game 30:38 Showing Real Work During Bear Markets 33:05 Reviewing Every Project and Trend 35:00 Early Ethereum Foundation Support 37:20 Scaling Events After COVID 40:33 The Clash Between Ideals and Reality 42:05 Open Source and Community Compounding 42:36 Supporting Every Layer of a Business 45:01 The Opportunity in Crypto Infrastructure 46:18 Faster Experiments and Product Feedback 48:28 Patterns Across Hundreds of Companies 49:36 Open Source as a Community Model 50:01 Why Closed Ecosystems Backfire 51:42 Competing in the Same Room 53:04 Short-Term KPIs Create Silos 53:53 Long-Term Foundations Versus Easy Wins 55:01 Final Thanks and Podcast Sign-Off _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇵🇹 *Pragma Lisbon 2026* Pragma Lisbon 2026 was held on June 25th at the Carlos Lopes Pavillion in Lisbon, Portugal and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma Lisbon 2026 YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMxB4xW8JYdk ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Simona Pop X: https://x.com/Sim_Pop ✅ Follow Human Protocol X: http://x.com/_humanprotocol ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Aug 9, 2026

In this welcome and opening ceremony, Kartik Talwar, co-founder of ETHGlobal, opens ETHGlobal New York 2026, stressing that this is not a conference but a hackathon whose mission is to onboard thousands of developers into the web3 ecosystem. He explains what makes ETHGlobal events different: a focus on builders, a place to learn and grow, and the belief that showing beats telling, so on Sunday everyone demos what they built. He traces ETHGlobal's history from a small 2017 hackathon (where NFTs were invented) through global expansion across six continents, noting that counting the recent ETHConf, they have run over 331 events in eight and a half years, hosted 165,000 people from 156 countries, produced 18,000+ hackathon projects, and seen projects raise over $500 million. This weekend brings almost 700 attendees (close to 500 hackers, 30% new to web3), plus supporting staff, 17 mentors, 20 recorded workshops, zero talks, over $200,000 in prizes, and 16 sponsors. Kartik walks through key logistics and rule changes. Hacking begins immediately, teams can have up to five members, and submissions are due Sunday at 9am. On AI, he encourages using tools like Cursor, Claude Code, and Codex but warns from thousands of data points not to use AI to generate or validate your idea (crypto bias is real), to keep a human in the loop, to reference-check SDK integrations, to commit plan files, and to always know what your codebase does. He introduces the new continuity track, letting hackers build from scratch, extend an open source project, or ship a feature into existing or private code, as long as new work stays open source and traceable via the GitHub API, with track-specific prizes. He covers venue security, Wi-Fi etiquette, the website as source of truth, Discord support, four spotlight teams (Aquazero, CodeQuil, Pompalo, Railbridge), and judging: partner-prize demos plus an add-on finalist track for the top 10 teams (up to seven scratch, three continuity) requiring an auditable open source repo, a live deployed site, and a video demo, with finalist perks including ETHGlobal Plus, $1,000 per member, travel, and developer credits. He closes by bringing on partners Tanner from 1inch (Aqua self-custodial AMMs), Gotham from Google Cloud Web3 (ERC-8004 data track), and Greg from ENS (naming as universal pointers), before telling everyone to get hacking. 00:00 Introduction 00:40 What Makes ETHGlobal Events Different 01:03 The History From 2017 to Today 01:49 Expanding Across Six Continents 02:18 The Numbers: 331 Events and Counting 02:44 18,000 Projects and $500 Million Raised 03:47 Mentors, Workshops, and Sponsors 04:27 Thanking the Sponsors 05:01 Logistics: Hacking Begins Now 05:19 The New Rules: Teams and Timing 05:37 Guidance on Using AI to Build 06:12 Explaining Your Contribution vs Delegation 07:11 Why Not to Use AI to Generate Ideas 07:38 Why Not to Use AI to Value Your Idea 08:33 Why Not to Blindly Delegate SDK Integrations 08:56 Always Know What Your Codebase Does 09:43 Introducing the Continuity Track 10:49 The Three Paths You Can Take 11:28 How Extending Open Source Works 12:43 Adding Features to Your Own Project 13:27 Adding a Module to Private Code 14:58 Why Prizes Are Track Specific 15:44 Venue Security and Wristbands 16:39 Wi-Fi 7 and Why Not to Use Hotspots 17:52 The Website and Discord Support 18:53 Food, Activities, and Swag 19:26 The Four Spotlight Teams 20:13 Judging and the Prize Structure 21:03 The Partner Prize Track 21:22 The Finalist Track for the Top 10 21:45 Finalist Perks and Requirements 23:45 Splitting Finalists Across Tracks 24:14 Submission Logistics and Timing 25:54 Why a Better Submission Wins 26:57 Where to Get Help From Mentors 27:40 Code of Conduct and IP Ownership 28:51 Tanner From 1inch on Aqua 31:00 Gotham From Google Cloud on ERC-8004 33:19 Greg From ENS on Naming 35:41 Summarizing the Prizes 36:23 Final Advice and Let's Get Hacking _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHGlobal New York 2026* This workshop is specifically for ETHGlobal New York 2026, a 3-day hackathon held June 12-14 at the Metropolitan Pavilion, bringing together the most skilled web3 developers, designers and product builders from all around the globe for a weekend-long adventure to advance the Ethereum ecosystem! Watch the full ETHGlobal New York 2026 playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh7MZ8T-ict6YshkFDw9WJCu _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Aug 9, 2026

In this welcome and opening ceremony, Kartik Talwar, co-founder of ETHGlobal, opens ETHGlobal Lisbon 2026, stressing that this is not a conference but a hackathon whose mission is to onboard thousands of developers into the web3 ecosystem. He explains what makes ETHGlobal events different: a focus on builders trying out ideas, learning new skills and protocols, and the belief that showing beats telling, so on Sunday everyone demos what they built to judges, partners, and each other. He traces ETHGlobal's history from the first 2017 event in Waterloo through global expansion across six continents, notes the 2026 events in Cannes and last month's New York, and welcomes everyone back to Lisbon for the second time. This weekend brings over 518 attendees (380 hackers, 26% coming from web2), from 116 cities, 47 countries, and six continents, plus 43 partners, 16 technical mentors, eight workshops, zero talks, and $100,000 in prizes across eight partners: 1inch, 0G, Hedera, Sui, The Graph, Uniswap Foundation, World, and ENS. Kartik walks through key logistics and rule changes. Hacking has begun, teams can have up to five members, and submissions are due Sunday at 9am. He encourages using LLMs and AI coding tools like Codex and Claude Code but recommends committing plan markdown files and frequent descriptive commits so work is traceable, sharing SDK feedback with partners, and avoiding four AI pitfalls (do not use AI-generated ideas, get real human feedback, do not just delegate, and always understand your own code). He introduces the continuity track, letting hackers extend a past project, fix an open source bug, or ship an open source module into private code, with track-specific prizes. He covers venue security, Wi-Fi etiquette, Discord support, food, a tile-painting activity, swag, and four spotlight teams. On judging, he explains the partner track (apply to up to three of the eight partners) versus the finalist track (top 10 teams demoing live on stage) with an auditable repo, live deployment, and video demo required, and finalist perks like ETHGlobal Plus, $1,000 cash, flight credits, and AWS credits. He brings on Matt from 1inch, who shares that 1inch began at a 2019 hackathon and has since done over $800 billion in volume, and introduces the $7,000 in bounties for building Aqua apps, a liquidity provision method that keeps tokens in the LP's wallet. 00:00 Introduction 00:11 Welcome: This Is a Hackathon, Not a Conference 00:37 What Makes ETHGlobal Events Different 00:54 Why Showing Beats Telling 01:18 The History From 2017 to Today 02:25 Back in Lisbon for the Second Time 02:31 Who Is Here This Weekend 03:05 Partners, Mentors, and Workshops 03:27 $100,000 in Prizes and the Eight Partners 04:28 The Hackathon Has Begun 05:07 Team Rules and Submission Timing 05:42 Using LLMs and AI Coding Tools 06:25 Committing Plan Files and Sharing Feedback 07:24 The Four AI Pitfalls to Avoid 07:47 Why Not to Use AI-Generated Ideas 08:23 Why to Get Real Human Feedback 08:42 Why Not to Just Delegate 09:33 Introducing the Continuity Track 09:55 How to Continue a Past Project 10:55 Extending Open Source and Private Projects 12:08 How to Select Your Track 12:59 Venue Security and Badges 14:05 Wi-Fi Etiquette and No Hotspots 15:00 The Website and Discord 16:29 Venue Layout and Pragma 17:02 Food and Activities 17:53 Swag and Giveaways 18:40 The Four Spotlight Teams 19:54 Judging and Prizes: The Two Tracks 20:19 The Partner Track 20:57 The Finalist Track 21:55 Why Become a Finalist 22:32 The Requirements to Be a Finalist 23:50 Demoing Live to Judges 24:47 The Finalist Demo Format 25:09 Why Not to Record Your Video Last Minute 26:28 How First-Come Judging Works 27:32 The Mentors Who Can Help 28:29 Rules, Respect, and IP Ownership 29:42 Bringing On Matt From 1inch 30:55 Introducing the Aqua Protocol 32:00 The 1inch Bounties 33:39 Recapping the Prizes and Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇵🇹 *ETHGlobal Lisbon 2026* This workshop is specifically for ETHGlobal Lisbon 2026, a 3-day hackathon held July 24-26 at the Carlos Lopes Pavillion, bringing together the most skilled web3 developers, designers and product builders from all around the globe for a weekend-long adventure to advance the Ethereum ecosystem! Watch the full ETHGlobal Lisbon 2026 playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWgAODGnD_is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Jul 9, 2026

In this talk, Lindsay Fraser, who leads policy at the Blockchain Association, explains what the Clarity Act means for developers. The Blockchain Association is a nonprofit that advocates for the digital asset industry in Washington DC with over 100 member companies. She notes the timeliness: the day before, the association brought over 30 member companies to DC and met with 52 different Senate offices amid active negotiations. The Clarity Act is the current name for market structure legislation moving through the US Senate, the result of years of bipartisan effort dating back to 2020. At a high level it does three things: establishes token classification, trading, and market rules (fixing the impossibility of building in the US without clear rules during the Gary Gensler era at the SEC); sets registration requirements and consumer protections for intermediaries across the SEC and CFTC; and defines developer rules and protections outlining what software builders are and are not regulated for, the crux of the current debate. Lindsay explains why clarity matters: for years developers lacked answers to whether publishing code, operating a front-end, or participating in governance are regulated activities, and regulation by enforcement drove developers offshore. She walks through the process: the House passed it last June with 294 votes including 78 Democrats, the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its portion 12 to 11 on party lines, and the Senate Banking Committee recently voted its portion out with a bipartisan outcome, with the two bills now to be combined and reach 60 votes to bypass the filibuster before November midterms complicate things. She details three developer protections: Section 601 clarifies the 1933 and 1934 Acts so non-custodial developers are not intermediaries needing to register as exchanges, brokers, or dealers; Section 207 does the same under the Commodity Exchange Act for the CFTC; and Section 604, the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA), shields non-custodial developers from Bank Secrecy Act obligations and prosecution under Section 1960 for unlicensed money transmission. She frames the BRCA as a codification of 2019 FinCEN guidance, counters law enforcement opposition as a mischaracterization (noting titles 2 and 3 strengthen prosecutors), and cites a letter from 160 officials plus 60+ CEOs, closing that developer protections must remain intact. 00:00 Introduction 00:11 Who the Blockchain Association Is 00:40 Meeting 52 Senate Offices in One Day 01:24 What the Clarity Act Aims to Do 01:50 The Three Buckets of the Bill 01:57 Token Classification and the Gensler Era 02:22 Requirements for Intermediaries 02:44 Developer Rules and Protections 03:09 Why Clarity Matters for Developers 03:34 The Unanswered Questions Builders Face 03:56 How Regulation Drove Developers Offshore 04:22 Drawing a Line Between Software and Intermediaries 04:51 Where We Are in the Process 05:13 The Overwhelming House Vote 05:35 The Senate Agriculture Committee Vote 05:58 The Bipartisan Senate Banking Vote 06:19 Combining the Bills and the 60-Vote Threshold 06:45 Why the Midterms Add Urgency 07:06 The Three Core Developer Protections 07:24 Section 601 and the 1933 and 1934 Acts 07:46 Protecting Non-Custodial Developers 08:36 Section 207 and the Commodity Exchange Act 08:50 The Key Line of Custody and Control 09:10 Section 604: The Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act 09:41 The Threat of Section 1960 Prosecution 10:28 The Cost of Investigations on Founders 10:59 Why the BRCA Must Not Be Watered Down 11:22 A Codification of 2019 FinCEN Guidance 11:57 The Bipartisan History of the BRCA 12:53 The Opposition From Law Enforcement Groups 13:22 Why the Opposition Mischaracterizes the BRCA 13:52 How Titles 2 and 3 Strengthen Prosecutors 14:38 The Letter From 160 Law Enforcement Officials 15:50 The Industry Letter From 60 CEOs 16:16 Why Developer Protections Must Be a Priority 16:49 A Call to Share Developer Stories 17:48 Closing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ *ETHConf 2026* ETHConf is a 3 day event for founders, industry leaders, and builders who are excited about the possibilities of building on top of Ethereum. Connect with 2,000+ top innovators in crypto, finance, technology, and policy at our inaugural three-day event packed with showcases, demos, partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of the global economy. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow ETHConf* X: https://x.com/ethconf Website: https://ethconf.com _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎟️ Get your early bird tickets for ETHConf 2027: https://ethconf.com/2027#tickets 🎤 View the full ETHConf 2026 Speaker Schedule: https://ethconf.com/schedule _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Austin Griffith, Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Nov 9, 2025

In this fireside chat, Austin Griffith discusses developer onboarding, education, and growth in the Ethereum ecosystem, focusing on initiatives like Build Guild and Speedrun Ethereum. He emphasizes the importance of hands-on building, learning through shipping projects, and overcoming the "pit of despair" in blockchain development. The conversation covers the Ethereum Foundation's evolving role in supporting developers, from education to founder support and enterprise connections. Hackathons are highlighted as crucial for fostering innovation, collaboration, and real-world skills, but the ultimate goal is to encourage long-term impact through open source contributions and continuous learning. Austin advises developers to stay curious, build iteratively, contribute to open source, and aim for meaningful impact beyond hackathon prizes, stressing that success is a long-term journey shaped by persistent effort and community engagement. 00:00 Introduction 00:52 Advice for Early-Stage Ethereum Builders 01:39 Developer Journey in Build Guild & Speedrun Ethereum 03:08 Fundamentals vs. Discovery in Learning 05:24 Fostering Innovation and Curiosity 05:52 Ethereum Foundation’s Developer Priorities 07:24 Developer Growth and Ecosystem Support 09:01 Measuring Developer Success & Impact 11:17 The Role and Value of Hackathons 13:43 From Hackathons to Companies and Careers 15:23 Staying Curious & Embracing Challenges 16:26 Simplification, Composability, and Hackathon Strategy 18:31 Open Source Contributions and Long-Term Impact 19:51 Advice for Developers: Building, Pivoting, and Persistence 21:50 Closing Remarks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇮🇳 *Pragma New Delhi* Pragma New Delhi 2025 was held on September 25th at the JW Marriott Hotel in Aerocity New Delhi and was an in-person summit for builders and leaders in the web3 ecosystem. Watch the full Pragma New Delhi YouTube Playlist here: ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Austin Griffith X: https://x.com/austingriffith ✅ Follow Ethereum Foundation X: https://x.com/ethereumfndn ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCfF9ZO8Ug4xk_AJd4aeT5HA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Decaffeth · Nov 9, 2025

In this session, experienced builders and contributors share practical insights, personal experiences, and valuable tips to help you make the most of Devconnect — whether you’re attending this year or planning for future editions. Speakers: Shayan Eskandari – Blockchain & Security Specialist Sina Mahmoodi – Ethereum Core Developer Hosts: Mahdieh Amiri Sohrab Sameni 🎤 Topics Covered: - What are Devconnect and Devcon — and why they matter - Travel & logistics: flights, visas, accommodation, budgeting, scholarships, hacker houses, and volunteering - Navigating side events, using Luma effectively, and networking with purpose - How to join hackathons like ETHGlobal, form teams, manage time, and increase your chances of success Even if you’re not attending Devconnect this year, this session offers actionable insights and global community knowledge for anyone building in Web3. 💜 Come for the stories, stay for the community. 🌐 Learn more: https://decaffeth.com

Matthias Broner, Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Join Matthias Broner, Head of Growth at ZKsync, and Kartik Talwar from ETHGlobal for a deep dive into blockchain adoption strategies and the unique growth of crypto in Latin America. Matthias shares insights on how ZKsync scaled their Layer 2 solution with zero-knowledge technology (ZK), emphasizing real-world applications such as stablecoin usage, decentralized digital identities, and practical blockchain solutions in Argentina and beyond. Discover how ZKsync's elastic chain vision fosters interoperability, the role of government-backed digital identities, and effective strategies for attracting blockchain developers. 00:00 Introduction: Matthias Broner & ZKsync Fireside Chat 00:37 Growing Protocols & Lessons from ZKsync 01:13 What is ZKsync & Yearly Achievements 02:09 Measuring Growth: Key Metrics at ZKsync 03:32 Why Latin America is Key for Crypto Growth 04:53 Crypto Adoption Patterns in Latin America 06:20 Popularity & Use of Stablecoins in LatAm 07:41 Demographics & Crypto Usage Stats in LatAm 09:02 Tips for Success Building Crypto in LatAm 10:29 Insights from Argentina's Crypto Ecosystem 11:56 Beyond Payments: Real-World Blockchain Use Cases 12:23 Digital Identity & Buenos Aires Government Initiative 13:51 Self-Sovereign Identity & ZK Technology 14:46 Local Reaction to Blockchain-Based Identity 16:32 How ZKsync Supports Growth & Adoption in LatAm 17:52 Strategies for Effective Developer Engagement 19:20 Activating Community Through Decentralized Governance 20:10 Conclusion & Takeaways from Matthias Broner _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *Pragma San Francisco* Pragma San Francisco 2024 was a special gathering of founders and builders that took place October 16th and 17th at The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, CA. Pragma San Francisco 2024 was an opportunity discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. Watch the full Pragma San Francisco playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4LcwDpGf_itZrAu7XRNb07&si=3x3y9J3avgNTITUe ETHGlobal's Pragma series takes place in cities around the world, and is designed to be a different kind of event. Pragma is a one-stage conference with founders-only on stage, bringing together a small group of curated attendees and speakers to discuss the future of web3 and reflect on the past. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Mattias Broner* X: https://x.com/BronerMatthias ✅ *Follow ZKsync* X: https://x.com/zksync ✅ *Follow Kartik Talwar* X: https://x.com/therealkartik Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/kartik ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Jesse Pollak

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Join Jesse Pollak, Head of Base at Coinbase, as he shares how to build L2 networks people actually use, drawing from Base’s milestone of 1 billion+ transactions. In this candid talk from Pragma Bangkok, Jesse reveals how strategic developer tools, global marketing, and an “everyone’s a builder” ethos created unstoppable growth. Learn why L2 synergy with Ethereum is vital—not contentious—and how continuous scaling (a target of “Giga-gas” block space), smoother onboarding for developers, and user-friendly wallets can unlock a billion-person onchain economy. Jesse highlights two breakout categories—payments and social—that he predicts will drive exponential adoption. Discover how to merge viral social experiences with integrated payments, stablecoins, and truly inclusive wallet design to bring the next wave of onchain users. 00:00 Intro & Shoutout to Georgios 01:20 Base Reaches 1B Transactions 02:45 Developer Virality & Community 04:40 Coinbase Synergy & Growth 06:30 L2 vs. Ethereum: Synergy, Not Conflict 08:05 Scaling Approach & Long-Term Vision 10:05 Giga-Gas Concept & Weekly Increments 14:10 Future of Wallets & Smart Accounts 18:20 Onchain Identity & Social Graphs 19:45 Payment + Social for Mass Adoption 22:10 2–3 Year Outlook & Closing Remarks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🎤 *Pragma Bankgkok* Pragma Bangkok 2024 closed out a year of exceptional Pragma events held around the world, and offered the global Web3 community a chance to hear from founders and builders as they reflect on the past, and look to the future of Web3. Pragma Bangkok 2024 was held on November 14th at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit in Bangkok, Thailand. Watch the full YouTube Playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4JNkhnsv5F95OqxT_IjCEl&si=6Tv3CvB6vrQIIjBA ETHGlobal's Pragma series, which began in Tokyo in the spring of 2023, has been fostering a curated, global community of individuals who deeply care about web3. You can learn more about Pragma and upcoming events in the series here: https://ethglobal.com/pragma _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ Follow Jesse Pollak X: https://x.com/jessepollak Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/jessepollak Website: https://jesse.xyz ✅ Follow Base X: https://x.com/base Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/base Website: https://www.base.org ✅ Follow Kartik Talwar X: https://x.com/therealkartik Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/kartik ✅ Follow ETHGlobal X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship? 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

Mike Liu, engineering lead at Gemini, presents the Gemini Wallet at a developer-focused workshop. He explains the motivation for building another wallet: to offer a composable, modular, and developer-friendly solution based on industry standards like ERC-4337, ERC-7579, and ERC-7484. The wallet supports both custodial and non-custodial use, integrates with Wagmi and RainbowKit, and is embeddable and portable for seamless dApp integration. Gemini Wallet sponsors gas fees on testnets and major L2s, simplifying development and onboarding for both hackers and end-users. Features include passkey authentication, ENS subdomains, WalletConnect compatibility, and multi-sig support. Liu emphasizes composability, open standards, and ease of use, encouraging developers to build on top of Gemini Wallet rather than creating new wallets. The workshop also highlights Gemini’s commitment to supporting the builder community with bounties and easy integration. 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Why Build Another Wallet? 01:10 About Gemini and Mike Liu 01:53 Security and Developer Focus 02:12 Passkey Authentication & Industry Standards 03:10 Product Overview: keys.gemini.com & onchain.gemini.com 04:10 Gas Sponsorship & Developer Incentives 05:00 Wagmi Integration & Ease of Use 06:02 Supported Networks & Future Plans 07:10 Embeddable & Portable Wallet Features 08:11 User Experience & Embedded Wallets 08:45 Gemini Wallet Core Package & RPC Compatibility 09:24 WalletConnect & Integration Details 09:47 Onboarding New Users & ENS Subdomains 10:38 dApp Integration & Hackathon Opportunities 12:02 Transaction Demo & User Flow 12:53 Wagmi & RainbowKit Connectors 13:46 Gemini’s Onchain Presence & Community Support 14:20 Composability, ERC-7579, and Modular Accounts 15:48 Multi-sig & Module Support 16:20 Bounties, Gas Sponsorship, and Open Source Discussion 17:43 Final Takeaways & Q&A 18:08 Conclusion _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *ETHGlobal New York* This workshop is specifically for ETHGlobal New York, a 3-day hackathon held August 15-17, bringing together the most skilled web3 developers, designers and product builders from all around the globe for a weekend-long adventure to advance the Ethereum ecosystem! Watch the full ETHGlobal New York 2025 playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4Xze0ZeSWCSGsw25clPpvZ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Gemini* X: https://x.com/Gemini ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Kartik Talwar

ETHGlobal · Oct 9, 2025

ETHGlobal New York 2025 Opening Ceremonies, led by co-founder Kartik Talwar, kicks off a major Web3 hackathon focused on onboarding developers into the blockchain ecosystem. Emphasizing building over talking, the event gathers 950+ attendees (690 hackers) from 51 countries, with 37% new to Web3. ETHGlobal’s growth since 2017 includes 210+ events, 150,000+ participants, and $15M in prizes. The hackathon offers $275,000 in prizes from 27 partners like Coinbase, Flow, and LayerZero, with tracks for partner and finalist prizes. Rules require projects to start from scratch, be open source, and demo live. Resources include 2,700+ educational videos, 22 workshops, 24/7 mentorship, and on-chain wristbands as Ethereum wallets. Logistics cover venue access, security, food, and Discord-based support. Partner reps present their protocols and prize tracks. The event fosters learning, collaboration, and innovation in Ethereum, DeFi, NFTs, and cross-chain development. 00:00 Introduction 00:41 ETHGlobal Mission & History 02:01 Global Growth & Impact 03:33 2025 Event Stats & Attendees 04:37 Partners, Mentors & Workshops 05:48 Hackathon Rules & Submission Guidelines 07:23 Resources & Learning Opportunities 07:59 Venue Logistics & Security 09:09 Internet & Communication 10:15 Schedule & Discord Support 11:10 Venue Layout, Food & Activities 13:18 On-Chain Wristbands & Networking 14:39 Prize Structure & Tracks 17:10 Finalist Criteria & Benefits 18:26 Judging Process 21:42 Submission Best Practices 22:51 Mentorship & Support 23:39 Code of Conduct & IP Rights 24:36 Partner Presentations: Coinbase 26:21 Partner Presentations: Flow 29:12 Partner Presentations: LayerZero 31:41 Additional Prizes & Resources 32:31 Team Building & Event Culture 33:07 Closing Remarks & Happy Hacking _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 🇺🇸 *ETHGlobal New York* This workshop is specifically for ETHGlobal New York, a 3-day hackathon held August 15-17, bringing together the most skilled web3 developers, designers and product builders from all around the globe for a weekend-long adventure to advance the Ethereum ecosystem! Watch the full ETHGlobal New York 2025 playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXzKMXK2aHh4Xze0ZeSWCSGsw25clPpvZ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ✅ *Follow Kartik Talwar* X: https://x.com/TheRealKartik ✅ *Follow ETHGlobal* X: https://x.com/ETHGlobal​ Warpcast: https://warpcast.com/ethglobal Website: https://ethglobal.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ETHGlobal _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Are you interested in Ethereum development and entrepreneurship?_ 👉 Sign up for the next ETHGlobal event: https://ethglobal.com/events 🎁 Get exclusive access and perks with ETHGlobal Plus! https://ethglobal.com/plus 📣 Want us to throw an event in your city? Tell us where! https://ethglobal.com/city

ETHCluj Meetup · Oct 9, 2025

Of course Remix is used by beginners but it is also used by experienced developers to prototype projects. In this talk Rob Stupay will go over more advanced features and along the way will also touch upon features that everyone should know.

ETHCluj Meetup · Oct 9, 2025

We explore the evolving Layer 2 ecosystem that is transforming and scaling Ethereum. This presentation examines how proof systems work, particularly SNARKs and STARKs, to scale Ethereum while maintaining its security and decentralization. With a special focus on Starknet and its Cairo programming language, we analyze how these technologies are addressing the blockchain trilemma and shaping the future of decentralized applications. Speaker: Robert Kodra from Starknet Foundation

ETHCluj Meetup · Oct 9, 2025

The Open Intents Framework (OIF) paired with ERC-7683 is a transformative leap for the blockchain ecosystem. It shifts the paradigm from rigid, transaction-centric processes to a flexible, intent-driven approach where users simply state their desired outcome without being burdened by the intricate details of how that outcome is achieved. By standardizing intent expression and execution, ERC-7683 provides a universal framework that enables seamless cross-chain interoperability, reducing both the operational complexity and gas fees that plague traditional multi-chain interactions. This framework is crucial because it addresses the core problem of blockchain fragmentation. In today’s environment, users and developers face significant challenges when navigating multiple chains with varying protocols, liquidity pools, and execution mechanisms. OIF and ERC-7683 solve this by abstracting these complexities and offering a modular, composable infrastructure that harmonizes disparate systems. The result is a more unified, efficient, and user-friendly experience where developers can build innovative, intent-based applications, and users can enjoy seamless, frictionless interactions across the entire blockchain landscape.

ETHCluj Meetup · Oct 9, 2024

In preparation for designing and working with upgrade-able contracts, we need to first grasp how EVM storage works. Catalin Balut discusses here some of the important aspects around: - Opcodes, gas costs, static, delegate & simple calls - EVM Storage context - A few smart contract examples

ETHCluj Meetup · Oct 9, 2024

As a DApp developer, one of the challenges you may face is how to subsidize gas consumption for your users. In this presentation, Alexandru Males helps us explore the concept of meta-transactions and their role in making Ethereum transactions more accessible. You will learn about the Open GSN network, a decentralized solution for relaying meta-transactions, and how it can be integrated into your DApp. Additionally, we compare it to other solutions on the market. Discover how to make your DApp more user-friendly and reduce the barrier to entry for your users.

ETHCluj Meetup · Oct 9, 2024

In this session presented by Alexandru Males we take a look at source code and parts of Ethereum node architecture that are related to staking. Besides the technical curiosity, you might be interested to actually stake ETH as a validator. But then, if you do not have the 32 ETH required to run a validator and prefer using protocols like Rocket Pool, it still helps a lot to educate yourself and understand how the Proof Of Stake was designed to work by default on Ethereum.

ETHCluj Meetup · Oct 9, 2024

In this presentation Alexandru Titieni is taking everyone through what Rocket Pool is and how it enables staking. Tired of being discouraged from wanting to participate in Ethereum's consensus because of validator infrastructure requirements or maybe the high 32 ETH stake? Look no further, Rocket Pool is the exact solution that solves both these problems while contributing to the core ethos of decentralization. Find out how you can be a part of it all starting with as little as 0.01 ETH.

ETHCluj Meetup · Oct 9, 2024

In this presenation Corches Sergiu & Catalin Balut are covering the following subjects: ➡ How to leverage the potential of events in smart contracts ➡ Exploring the potential of Loki.code & the Remix.ide killer that have revolutionized the Ethereum development

ETHCluj Meetup · Oct 9, 2024

This presentation is focused around the design pattern for clones with immutable args for creating efficient smart contracts or loans. Ionut Gingu elaborates on the use of proxies to make contracts upgradeable, the importance of immutable variables and the process of deploying a contract with immutable parameters. The discussion also covers potential issues and mitigation strategies, as well as optimal storage of the total supply in an ERC20 clone.

ETHCluj Meetup · Oct 9, 2024

Blockchain code is lightweight, public and handles high amounts of tokens, making it a perfect target. In this video Raoul Schaffranek & Andrei Vacaru talk about what formal verification and symbolic execution are, how we can leverage them to increase the odds of discovering security risks and the tools we make for auditors and developers.

ETHCluj Meetup · Oct 9, 2024

In this video presenters Adegbenga Ogungbeje & Gabi Vasile discuss Account Abstraction and dive into the evolution of blockchain user interactions. Account Abstraction enhances user experience by enabling programmable account behaviours beyond the limitations of traditional wallet addresses. By embedding smart contract capabilities directly into user accounts, this approach allows for customizable security measures, automated transactions, gas-less transactions and more, delivering a seamless web2-like experience for web3 applications. We also touch upon several key EIPs and ERCs related to Account Abstraction and explore the ultimate goals of this innovative concept.

ETHTokyo · Sep 21, 2024

Talk Session by Techfund. This video features a representative from a tech fund discussing the security aspects of the Web3 industry, including recent hacking cases and the overall trends in the sector. The speaker introduces their company, which has been supporting startups since 2014 and entered the blockchain space around 2016. They focus on security audits and have partnered with a Ukrainian security firm to stay at the forefront of vulnerability research. The presentation covers composability in blockchain, smart contract verification, and how these factors contribute to the growth and convenience of blockchain services. The speaker also addresses the increasing importance of security audits in protecting against threats and hacking incidents. They note that despite audits, about half of the projects that experienced leaks had been audited, highlighting the need for more robust security measures. The speaker encourages viewers to consider various audit companies and tools available, including their own tool that integrates multiple tools for comprehensive smart contract analysis. Finally, they mention their recent participation in a conference and invite attendees to consult with them at their booth for more information on their services and current promotions.

ETHTokyo · Sep 21, 2024

Talk Session by Scroll. The video features RH, who introduces updates and future visions for the Scroll ecosystem in a relaxed, engaging manner. He begins with an overview of Scroll's recent achievements, noting its high ranking in total value locked (TVL) and significant growth since October 2023. He highlights the Darwin upgrade that reduced gas fees by 34% through proof recursion and mentions various ecosystem partners. RH then discusses Scroll Level Up, a public goods platform created by Scroll to facilitate learning about blockchain development and Solidity. The platform includes hackathons and educational content, aiming to support developers' growth within the Web3 space. He also touches on community aspects like meetups and Telegram groups that foster engagement. Finally, RH introduces the Level Up grants program with two tracks for applicants—start track and launch track—although he notes that applications are currently closed. The talk concludes with RH providing resources for further information on Scroll and inviting questions if time allows.

ETHTokyo · Sep 20, 2024

Talk Session by Nero The video discusses Nero, a blockchain platform that aims to empower applications by providing modularity at the application layer. The speaker identifies the problem of one-dimensional fees and inefficient markets in current blockchain systems, which leads to a lack of utility for application tokens. Nero addresses fee volatility and the Goldilocks problem of finding the optimal fee level by allowing applications to customize their own paymaster, which can set gas tokens, markup fees, and sponsor gas costs. This system is designed to increase demand for an application's token, create new revenue streams, and attract users. Nero's key breakthroughs include parametric pricing, fee sharing with applications, consignment block space that reduces risk for developers, and the option for applications to select their own transaction bundlers. The platform also plans to offer abstract wallet management for users, improving account recovery and creating a more satisfying experience. Overall, Nero positions itself as a solution that gives economic power back to applications by allowing them to set their own rules within the ecosystem while attracting new users and fostering growth.

ETHTokyo · Sep 20, 2024

Talk Session by Neo-X Steven, the head of development for Neo Blockchain, introduces NeoX, an EVM compatible sidechain designed to attract more EVM developers to the Neo ecosystem. Launched in July, NeoX offers full EVM compatibility, allowing existing DApps to integrate seamlessly. The platform emphasizes its anti-MEV features to protect transactions from front-running through encrypted transactions that only consensus nodes can decrypt. Additionally, NeoX maintains the original two-token model with Neo and GAS tokens and retains the DBFT consensus algorithm for one block finality. A native bridge is available for token transfers between Neo N3 and NeoX. Steven also mentions an Elevates program aimed at encouraging more Ethereum developers to join their ecosystem and invites contributors to get involved.

ETHTokyo · Sep 18, 2024

We delve into two innovative strategies to maximize the advantages of parallel I/O. EIP-7650 (Programmable Access Lists) and Intelligent I/O Preloading. The video features a co-developer of QuackChain and a co-author of an EIP discussing the enhancement of blockchain technology to build a world supercomputer by improving computing, storage, and access. The focus is on parallel EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) and its ability to increase performance by executing transactions simultaneously and reducing IO (input/output) bottlenecks. Two strategies are proposed for optimizing EVM: programmable access lists, which allow smart contracts to specify the data they need preloaded, thereby reducing latency; and intelligent IO pre-loading, which automatically identifies common access patterns for efficient data retrieval. The talk also covers the potential of parallel IO strategies to significantly reduce gas costs for transactions and improve overall execution speed. The speaker suggests that programmable access lists are easier to implement than intelligent IO pre-loading due to the latter's reliance on more innovative approaches like AI. The video concludes with a Q&A session addressing questions about the feasibility and implementation challenges of these strategies.

ETHTokyo · Sep 18, 2024

This talk will propose a new zk-EVM type that compromises between existing zk-rollups and optimistic rollups. The video features a speaker introducing a new development approach to GKE rollups, focusing on Layer 2 solutions for scaling improvements over Layer 1. The discussion will cover the concepts of GKP and SNARKs in defining rollups, as well as sharing the vision and future of GKP. The video appears to contain repeated content, possibly due to an error in the text provided.

ETHTokyo · Sep 18, 2024

This talk will discuss constructing a VDF-based on-chain Distributed Random Beacon (DRB), introduce two VDF mechanisms, share optimization techniques, and compare applications of Commit-Reveal schemes enhanced by VDF, noting the challenges in blockchain environments. The video discusses the development of a distributed random beacon (DRV) for an L2 blockchain due to the lack of support from existing oracle services. The DRV is essential for applications that require secure random numbers, such as leader elections and lotteries. The presenter emphasizes the importance of liveness in DRVs, which ensures that random numbers are generated even if some participants disrupt the process. They introduce the commit-reveal-recover scheme using VDF (Verifiable Delay Function) as a solution to achieve strong liveness, allowing recovery of random numbers if the process is interrupted. The challenges of implementing VDF on Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) are addressed, focusing on verifying VDF evaluations within smart contracts. Two types of VDFs, Pitchfork and Wesolowski's, are compared in terms of gas costs and implementation complexity. The video also touches on the concept of hash-to-prime functions. Finally, strategies for implementing these VDFs are discussed, with insights into optimizing gas usage by balancing protocol repetitions and modular exponentiation checks on EVM for Pitchfork VDF implementation.

ETHTokyo · Sep 18, 2024

This talk will explore how applications built on Dev Protocol have supported various tokenized projects that are viable in the real life, including creators, stores, and social infrastructure. The video features a team that is developing blockchain protocols across Japan, Switzerland, and India. The speaker, who typically resides in Tokyo and enjoys watching anime daily, introduces the concept that 97% of the world's population does not use blockchain. The video appears to discuss the impact of blockchain technology on those who do use it, potentially including perspectives from various sectors such as public sector professionals and business owners.

ETHTokyo · Sep 18, 2024

This talk with introduce a decentralized way for all users to access Ethereum in a resource efficient way, but still maintain full access to the state. The video discusses the challenges of accessing Ethereum in a decentralized manner due to the high requirements for running a full node, such as significant storage, constant operation, and technical knowledge. The speaker introduces the portal network as a solution that allows nodes to store only the data they need, reducing the burden on individual nodes while maintaining access to necessary information. The portal network operates on a peer-to-peer protocol and utilizes distributed hash tables for data storage, ensuring that data remains accessible and isn't flushed from the network. The incentive model for the portal network is based on low participation costs with high data value. The speaker outlines various networks within the portal framework, including ones dedicated to history, state, and transactions, and explains how data validation works using accumulators and Merkle-Patricia trees. The timeline for launching different components of the portal network is discussed, with some parts already operational. Portal integration could significantly reduce storage requirements for running a validator or full node. The speaker mentions upcoming improvements like vercal tries and an EIP that would allow offloading old blocks. They also highlight that participation in the portal network requires minimal resources. Various teams are building clients compatible with the portal network, including an Ethereum Foundation team working on a Rust client called Trim. The video concludes with an invitation to learn