Istanbul Blockchain Week will be held in Turkey this November

Istanbul Blockchain Week is the premier event for Web3 and digital assets in the Eurasian region, inviting the world to Istanbul, one of the cities with the highest cryptocurrency adoption rates. Istanbul Blockchain Week will kick off on November 14 with NFT Day, featuring a full week of exciting activities, culminating in the main event of the week, "IstanBlock," held at the renowned Hilton Bomonti Hotel.

Istanbul Blockchain Week is gathering a world-class lineup of speakers across Web3, including Sebastian Borget from Sandbox and legendary cryptographer David Chaum, along with top exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, major companies like Mastercard and Vodafone, as well as leading NFT projects and large organizations such as the United Nations.

The gaming talent participating in this event includes former Square Enix CTO Yoshihisa Hashimoto, who personally oversaw the Final Fantasy and Sonic Unleashed brands, leading voices from the gaming/fashion/music/entertainment sectors to celebrate Web3 culture together.

This event will unleash incredible potential, providing attendees with opportunities for panels, events, and discussions on investment, privacy, Metaverse + NFT, and global government policies. The region's leading blockchain event will also be an opportunity to connect with thousands of informed and engaged participants in this historically rich and beautiful city that connects two continents.

The flagship two-day event of Istanbul Blockchain Week, IstanBlock, will open on November 15, featuring a series of exciting content, including educational workshops from some of the top builders in Web3, hackathons, networking areas, VIP dinners, and historic experiences.

A formal gala will be held in Istanbul, a unique and historic venue. Builders and Web3 startups will also have the opportunity to participate in a Pitch Competition, where their projects can be pitched to top investors for funding and mentorship.

Introducing the world's first live Web3 esports championship, W3E

This week will also host the world's first live Web3 esports championship W3E. The event is made by gamers for gamers, aiming to put blockchain-based gaming at the center of the conversation. Our gaming partner will be EV.io, a first-person shooter and one of the most popular games on the Solana blockchain. The competition will take place at the ESA Esports Arena, with multiple teams from Europe and Asia competing for a prize pool of $15,000 and the championship title.

NFT Day on the 14th will be an exciting deep dive into the transformative world of blockchain-based digital collectibles. Panels and events will discuss the role of NFTs in the metaverse, how NFTs will change the future of ownership, and how to discover the most exciting projects that will lead us into the future, among other topics.

If you're interested in seeing some of the most exciting collectibles firsthand, there will also be an NFT gallery for attendees to enjoy. Speakers from top NFT projects like Lazy Lions, Hape, and Kusama Kings have already confirmed their participation, with more to be announced soon.

The future of Web3 begins in Turkey

20% of Turkey's population owns or uses cryptocurrency, and over 25 million Turks still lack bank accounts. Turkey remains one of the most fertile grounds for the development of cryptocurrency and decentralized technology.

Currently, regulations regarding the use of cryptocurrency and blockchain-based digital assets in Turkey are unclear or nonexistent, making it an ideal time to discuss policies in one of the world's leading emerging economies. During times of market turmoil— with a global recession potentially on the horizon— the discussion on transitioning to Web3 and crypto-based finance has never been more important.

"Turkey is the ideal location to gather heavyweight figures in Web3, policymakers, venture capitalists, and large Web2 brands looking to break into Web3," said Erhan Korhaliller, founder of Istanbul Blockchain Week and CEO of blockchain PR agency EAK Digital. "The adoption of Web3 in Turkey is very promising, presenting an exciting opportunity for Turkey to establish itself as a leader in the field. We look forward to showcasing the passion and talent Turkey has to offer to the industry while providing exciting opportunities for international projects to connect, collaborate, and join the Turkish community."