InnoBlock 2024 successfully concluded: Leading a new height in the Web3 innovation process

From September 16 to 17, 2024, the highly anticipated InnoBlock 2024 summit successfully concluded at the Singapore Expo Hall 3. This conference was co-hosted by ABGA and BBS, with Imagine Creation Combinator (ICC), DePIN X, Parasail, and Metis as co-organizers, focusing on Web3 technological innovation and comprehensively addressing the future transformation trends of Web3 applications. The summit gathered blockchain leaders from over 20 countries, with more than 150 prominent figures from the Web3 industry, including public chains, VCs, exchanges, media communities, and well-known projects, engaging in high-level dialogues and in-depth exchanges. The summit's theme was "Builder-centered Innovation," covering a wide range of topics from macro industry trends to the development and construction of the Web3 ecosystem, aiming to explore the future development direction of Web3, propose new strategic ideas and technological tools, and provide strong momentum for innovation and progress in the industry.

According to statistics, the summit attracted over 6,500 attendees, making InnoBlock 2024 one of the most popular side events during Token2049. It had a profound impact on discussions and developments in the Web3 industry, with elite representatives from various fields gathering to deliver rich and diverse keynote speeches and roundtable discussions, deeply analyzing Web3, decentralized technologies, and AI-driven innovative transformations.

The summit featured two main stages and one open stage. The two-day agenda included 23 keynote speeches, 26 roundtable discussions, and 3 fireside chats, covering popular fields such as Web3, AI, GameFi, and DePIN. Below is a highlight of the two-day agenda.

Highlights of the Agenda on September 16

Keynote Highlights:

• MetaY CEO and Founder Robin Duan shared how Generative AI and DePIN are transforming the gaming industry in "GenAI Games & DePIN," particularly emphasizing the potential and scalability of AI-driven game development, highlighting how MetaY is leveraging these technologies to create a more immersive and decentralized gaming experience.

• Safepal Co-founder and CEO Veronica Wong explored the evolving trends in Web3 user demands in "Understanding Web3 Users in 2024: Evolving to Fuel Industry Adoption," pointing out the increasing user demands for usability and convenience, and introducing Safepal's innovative solutions that have rapidly grown into a leading global platform through a multi-chain wallet.

• StepN/Find Satoshi Lab Co-founder Yawn deeply analyzed the reasons behind the fluctuations in the NFT craze in the speech "Make NFT Great Again, from STEPN to STEPN GO," emphasizing the important role of NFTs in connecting Web2 users and enhancing the user experience of Web3 projects, showcasing the potential of NFTs through the successful case of STEPN GO.

• LingoAI Founder and CEO Una Wang introduced how LingoAI is protecting endangered languages by building a multilingual AI corpus in "Harnessing AI from Global Majority with DePIN and Web3.0," enabling cross-language real-time communication while ensuring data privacy and user benefits.

• Privasea CEO David Jiao emphasized the importance of ensuring user privacy through fully homomorphic encryption technology in "Build Trustless Humanity by Fighting the Bots." He demonstrated how Privasea enhances Web3 security through encrypted biometric verification and expands its partner ecosystem.

• Nesa Founder Patrick Colangelo discussed the advantages of decentralized AI infrastructure in "The Future of Decentralized AI," introducing how Nesa is committed to building a secure, private, and decentralized future for AI through Layer-1 blockchain technology.

• ABGA Executive President and ICC Co-founder Kevin Shao explored how to enhance user experience for Web3 applications in "How to Develop the Dedicated Incubator for Web Applications," highlighting the important initiatives of ABGA and ICC accelerators in promoting innovation in Web3 gaming.

• IXO Protocol CEO and Co-founder Justin Z pointed out that BeFi can promote the mass adoption of DeFi in "BeFi Meets DeFi: How Behavioral Finance Drives Mass Adoption in DeFi," stating that IXO Protocol aims to create a human-centered financial system.

• MetaEra CEO Jessica shared how to customize marketing and growth strategies for Web3 enterprises in "The Innovative Solutions for Growth in Web3.0 Era," emphasizing MetaEra's unique advantages in responding to changes in the Web3 industry.

• AEON CEO Eddie Li showcased AEON's efforts to redefine crypto payments on TON in "Key to Enabling Web3 Game Monetization and Mass Adoption on TON," introducing how seamless payment integration expands the user experience and application scenarios of Web3 games.

Panel Highlights:

• The roundtable discussion "Navigating the Global Regulatory Landscape: Aligning Policies for Crypto Innovation and Compliance" was hosted by Nicholas Khoo, Chairman of N Prime Partners and Digital Media Investment Committee at N Prime Partners Capital, with guests including Dan Dimitriu, Junior Partner at Deutsche Telekom Consulting, Alex, Compliance Solution Director at Beosin, Krishna Ramachandra, Founder of Legal Insights, and George Yu, President of Uweb. The discussion deeply analyzed the differences in cryptocurrency regulation across different regions globally, exploring how to promote innovation and business expansion in a complex compliance environment, as well as the impact of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and stablecoins regulation on industry innovation.

• The roundtable discussion "Bitcoin ETFs and Traditional Finance: Bridging the Gap" was hosted by Alma Li, Founder and Partner of Techub News, with guests including Xu Yang, Global Partner at Tiger Brokers, Thomas Zhu, Digital Asset Director at Huaxia Fund (Hong Kong), Michael Chen, Director at HashKey Wealth, and Jess Lo, Co-founder of SoSoValue. The discussion explored the role of Bitcoin ETFs in promoting institutional investment and enhancing Bitcoin's position in the traditional financial system, while also addressing regulatory challenges and the future development prospects of financial products based on crypto assets.

• The roundtable discussion "When AI Embraces Web3 for Humanity" was hosted by Professor Feida Zhu from Singapore Management University, with guests including Jessie Chan, Vice President of Marketing at ParallelChain Lab, Nicholas La Noce, CEO of Aladdin, Glenn Tan, Partner at Blockchain for Good Alliance, and Eva Chen, Growth Lead at d.id. The discussion showcased how the combination of AI and Web3 drives social progress, promotes sustainable development, and addresses global challenges, emphasizing the immense potential of technological innovation to create a positive impact for humanity's future.

• The roundtable discussion "Building the Backbone of Bitcoin: Evolving Infrastructure for Scalability and Security" was hosted by Enes, CMO of Castrum Capital, with guests including Jonathan, Head of BD and Partnership at Merlin Chain, Hakan Sezikli, Co-founder of BEVM, Yuchen, COO of Bouncebit, and Dylan Kawalec, DevRel Lead at GOAT Network. The discussion focused on the evolution of Bitcoin infrastructure, exploring how innovative technologies can address current scalability and security challenges, promoting the widespread application and future development of Bitcoin.

• The roundtable discussion "Fortifying Digital Assets: Best Practices for Secure Management and Custody" was hosted by Linda Ang, Co-lead of Allstarswomen DAO Singapore Chapter, with guests including Isabella Yu, BD Director at Cobo, Blue, CTO of SlowMist, Robert McCracken, Ecosystem Lead at Alchemy Pay, and Spencer Yang, Core Contributor at Fractal. This roundtable deeply analyzed security practices for digital asset management in 2024, covering risk management for hacking, staking, and DeFi projects, and exploring the role of blockchain technology in enhancing digital asset protection.

• The roundtable discussion "Global Crypto Markets Overview: Navigating Regulatory Policies, Market Trends, and Investment Opportunities" was hosted by Glenn Tan, Partner at Blockchain for Good Alliance, with guests including Edward Wong, Partner at CGV, James Zhang, CEO of Jambo, Louis, Core Team Member at BBS, and Gary Yang, Founding Partner at Eureka Group. The discussion shared trends and regulatory policies in the global crypto market, exploring regional market differentiation, experiences of successful projects, and strategies for coping with cross-border regulation.

• The roundtable discussion "AI from Global Majority" was hosted by Dr. James Ong, Founder and MD of Artificial Intelligence International Institute, with guests including Dr. Eric Tan from Infocomm Media Development Authority, Brandan Ong from AI Singapore, Dr. Jun Zhao from NTU, and Henry Wang, Founder of SmartMesh/World Web3 Alliance. The guests discussed the imbalance in AI technology development and pointed out the potential of Web3 in bridging the digital divide and benefiting the global majority, calling for the democratization of technological resources and inclusive development.

• The roundtable discussion "The Convergence of AI and Crypto: Unlocking New Frontiers in Decentralized Intelligence" was hosted by Tianyi Wu, Editor of Dethings, with guests including Calanthia Mei, Co-founder of MASA, David Jiao, CEO of Privasea, Jimmy, CEO and Co-founder of ZBX/GhostDrive, and Dr. Harry Yang, Founder of Nesa. The discussion focused on how the combination of AI and blockchain enhances transparency and compliance, looking ahead to future development trends of decentralized technologies.

• The roundtable discussion "Assets and Infrastructure: Exploring the Intersection of DePIN and Real-World Assets in Web3" was hosted by Ray Li, Director of XPIN, with guests including Kingsley Advani, Founder and CEO of ALLO, David Tang, Global Director of ATT, Sharlok, Co-founder of DepinMall, and Lee Kai Yang, CEO of DMZ. The discussion focused on the application of Web3 technology in the tokenization and management of real assets, exploring the technical challenges of the DePIN network and its potential impact on traditional markets, delving into the key factors driving the broader application of Web3 technology.

• The roundtable discussion "Bridging CeFi and DeFi: Opportunities and Challenges in CeDeFi Integration" was hosted by Justin Wu, CMO of Anzen Finance, with guests including Han Liu, CEO of BitFi, Calvin Ng, Partner at Plutus.VC, Gary, Founding Partner at Eureka Group, and Veronica Buron, BD Lead at Eclipse. The discussion deeply analyzed the opportunities and challenges of integrating CeFi and DeFi, covering how CeDeFi combines traditional finance and decentralized innovation, and the key considerations regarding regulation, user experience, and security, providing a clear direction for the future development of the financial ecosystem.

• The roundtable discussion "Unlocking the Potential of the TON Ecosystem" was hosted by Cyber Young, Co-founder of Copilot Venture Studio, with guests including Ricky Wong, Co-founder of Catizen, Yuki, Lead of Ton Society HK Hub, and Daniel, CEO of OpenAD Protocol. The guests explored the future development potential of the TON ecosystem, especially in the context of liquidity management, price discovery, and global regulatory changes. The discussion also emphasized the challenges users face in different regions and the importance of localization strategies for the development of TON.

• The roundtable discussion "Challenges and Strategies for Leading Crypto Exchanges" was hosted by Adel, Co-founder of Pika, with guests including Tim, Investment Director at Gate Labs, Forest Bai, Founder of Foresight Ventures, Jason Liu, VP of Listing at HashKey Group, and Robert MacDonald, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Bybit. The discussion deeply explored the strategies that cryptocurrency exchanges adopt in response to liquidity management, global regulatory changes, and security challenges, while looking ahead to the key role exchanges will play in the future development of the crypto market.

Fireside Chat Highlights:

• The dialogue "Charting the Course in the Age of Web3" was hosted by Professor Feida Zhu from Singapore Management University, with guest Siwei Shen, Senior Engineering Director of Coinbase Blockchain Platform. They discussed Coinbase's role in the Web3 ecosystem, analyzing the challenges of blockchain platform expansion and exploring innovative solutions to promote the future development of decentralized technologies.

• The dialogue "Web3 + Gaming = 1 Billion Crypto Users" was hosted by Gareth Jenkinson, Managing Editor of Cointelegraph, with guest Yat Siu, Co-founder and Chairman of Animoca Brands. Yat Siu shared insights into the evolution of Web3 gaming and the current market state, focusing on how innovations such as gaming economies, decentralized ownership, and NFTs can drive the realization of 1 billion crypto users and reshape the gaming industry and user experience.

Highlights of the Agenda on September 17

Metis & ABGA Collaboration: GameFi Quantum Leap Accelerator Program in Partnership with Google Cloud Launch Ceremony:

On September 17 at 10:50 AM, the GameFi Quantum Leap, a Web3 gaming startup accelerator jointly initiated by Metis, ABGA, and Google Cloud, was officially launched at the InnoBlock 2024 summit. During the launch ceremony, Metis CEO Tom, ABGA Executive President Kevin Shao, and Google Cloud Web3 Solution Architect Eefy Lin witnessed this important milestone together.

The GameFi Quantum Leap accelerator program lasts 6-12 months and plans to incubate 12 startup projects, providing comprehensive services from technical support to market strategy. The program aims to help experienced Web2 teams smoothly enter the blockchain and GameFi fields, offering strategic guidance, core resources, and up to tens of millions of dollars in special funds to promote innovation and long-term success of projects in the Web3 space.

Keynote Highlights:

• GhostDrive Founder Roma Nebo introduced how GhostDrive enhances data privacy and security through decentralized storage on the Filecoin network in "Redefining Data Privacy with Decentralized Storage - GhostDrive," while increasing user engagement.

• Sky Mavis/Ronin Co-founder and COO Aleksander Larsen analyzed the advantages of Ronin in supporting blockchain game development in "Why Ronin Network is the Ideal Place to Launch a Blockchain Game," showcasing the scalable solutions it offers for game designers and developers.

• InitVerse COO Nicolas discussed the trend of shifting from blockchain protocols to user experience-centered applications in "Fat Protocols to Fat Apps," introducing how InitVerse simplifies the development and deployment of DApps for Web3 enterprises, promoting the development of mainstream applications.

• The Sandbox Co-founder and COO Sebastien shared how brands are deeply interacting with users in the virtual world in "How Brands & Creators Are Co-building the Open Metaverse," showcasing the platform advantages and virtual experience innovations of The Sandbox.

• Infinitar VP Alan Kin shared the current state of development in the Web3 gaming industry in "Infinitar: Creating a New MOBA GameFi Metaverse," showcasing the vision of Infinity World in building an open gaming ecosystem and connecting players with communities.

• Gamp BD Director Shriyank Khobragade shared how Gamp attracts a large number of Web2 players into the Web3 gaming space through innovative platforms in "Unlocking the Potential of Web3 Gaming: Strategies for User Acquisition," addressing the challenges of insufficient Esports infrastructure.

• Yeeha/GGI CEO and Co-founder Nancy Liu explored how Yeeha is building an AI-driven cross-chain gaming ecosystem in "Yeeha!: Building the Epic Games of Web3," helping developers solve technical and operational challenges to promote the popularity of Web3 games.

• Metis Co-founder Elena Sinelnikova introduced the GameFi Quantum Leap Accelerator Program launched in collaboration with Google Cloud in "The Future of GameFi Quantum Leap," showcasing the role of this accelerator program in helping Web2 game developers transition smoothly.

Panel Highlights:

• The roundtable discussion "Transformation of Gaming Guilds" was hosted by Louis, a core team member of BBS, with guests including Beryl, Co-founder of Yield Guild Games, Brendino, Co-founder of Avocado DAO, Zane Nguyen, Core Contributor at Ancient8, and Kit, Co-founder of Zentry. They discussed the transformation path of blockchain gaming guilds, from the early P2E model to the more complex business models today, sharing the importance of collaboration between guilds and game developers, as well as future development trends in the Web3 gaming space.

• The roundtable discussion "Advancing Public Blockchain Infrastructure: Technological Innovations and Strategic Directions" was hosted by Tracy, Co-founder and CMO of Followin, with guests including John, Head of Eco Growth at Neo, Sarah S, BD Lead for BNB Chain Asia Pacific, Kyle Lee, Corporate Development Lead at Kaia, and Mingshi S, DeFi Lead at Soneium. The discussion revolved around technological innovations and strategic directions for public blockchain infrastructure, exploring the balance between Layer 1 and Layer 2 solutions, cross-chain interoperability, and their impact on the future development of blockchain.

• The roundtable discussion "From Bitcoin to Broader Crypto: How VCs are Driving Innovation and Growth in the Blockchain Space" was hosted by Josephine Nguyen, COO of K300, with guests including Jademont, Co-founder of Waterdrip Capital, Leo Deng, Partner at LK Venture, and Lily Zhang, Co-founder of D11-Labs. The discussion deeply analyzed the investment potential of the Bitcoin ecosystem, with guests sharing key evaluation criteria in blockchain investments and exploring how venture capital can drive project innovation and growth through strategic support.

• The roundtable discussion "From Concept to Reality: Key Success Factors for Web3 Gaming Projects in a Competitive Landscape" was hosted by bestselling author and intergovernmental blockchain advisor Anndy, with guests including Arron Goolsbey, COO of Mythical Game, Florence, COO of MataY, Ricky Wong, Co-founder of Catizen, JT, Marketing Lead at Seraph, and Alex S, Eco Growth Lead at GGI. The discussion explored the key success factors for Web3 gaming projects, including team strength, innovative concepts, and economic models, with guests discussing the trends of TON mini-apps in gaming and their impact on user acquisition and retention.

• The roundtable discussion "Navigating Investment Strategies in Web3 Gaming" was hosted by JT, Partner at IVC, with guests including JACL, Head of Game Research at Delphi Digital, FD, Founder and Partner at Gam3Girl Ventures, and Takashi Hayashida, Partner at Taisu Ventures. The discussion analyzed trends and challenges in the Web3 gaming market from the investors' perspective, exploring the importance of token economics and community size on investment decisions, as well as the impact of future trends on investment strategies.

• The roundtable discussion "Building and Scaling Gaming Ecosystems on Public Blockchains: Challenges, Innovations, and Future Directions" was hosted by Alex Cooper, CEO of Footprint Analytics North America, with guests including Dylan Kugle, Ecosystem Lead at Starknet Foundation, Jason Lim, Global Gaming Lead at Sei Foundation, Shubham Bhandari, Ecosystem Lead at Manta, and Malcolm, BD Lead at Immutable. The discussion focused on strategies for building and scaling gaming ecosystems on public blockchains, with guests providing key insights and exploring the impact of blockchain technology advancements on the future development of Web3 gaming.

• The roundtable discussion "Future of Play: Breaking Down Barriers Between Web2 and Web3 Games" was hosted by Avin, Co-founder and CEO of Disco.xyz, with guests including Tom, CEO of Metis, Eefy Lin, Web3 Solution Architect at Google Cloud, Dreamer, President of DeFi Kingdoms, and Ben Jones, Marketing Lead at Arena of Faith. This roundtable discussed the seamless integration of Web2 and Web3 game elements, with guests sharing insights on how collaboration and technological innovation can bring new opportunities to the gaming industry, providing important insights into the potential of future gaming ecosystems.

Fireside Chat Highlights:

• The dialogue "The Origins of Bitcoin: From the Genesis Block to Today's Global Phenomenon" featured Jack Kong, Founder of Nano Labs, and Kevin Shao, Executive President of ABGA. The two Bitcoin pioneers reviewed the extraordinary journey of Bitcoin from the genesis block to becoming a global financial phenomenon, delving into its key development milestones, challenges faced, and how Bitcoin is shaping the future of decentralized finance. This dialogue not only revisited Bitcoin's history but also looked ahead to its ongoing impact on the global financial system.

Airdrop Demoday:

The Airdrop Demoday took place on the 17th at the summit's Open Stage, where 19 participating projects showcased their creative demos and actively interacted with the audience through Airdrop sessions, greatly enhancing attendee engagement and experience. The Demoday not only provided an efficient platform for project promotion but also facilitated precise connections between project teams and investors. Additionally, three VC roundtable discussions were interspersed throughout the event, creating a bridge for attendees to directly communicate with top investment institutions.

Audience Interaction Activities - Miss Universe Singapore Parade and Cosplay Exhibition Area

Notably, the audience interaction segment became a unique highlight of the conference, fully showcasing the innovative integration of Web3 and trendy culture. The stunning parade of Miss Universe Singapore brought a visual feast to the venue, capturing the audience's attention. The Cosplay exhibition area attracted numerous attendees with its creative costumes, becoming a popular spot for interaction and photos. These carefully designed interactive segments not only enriched the overall experience of the conference but also provided more possibilities for the innovative application of the Web3 industry in trendy culture.

With that, the two-day event successfully concluded, with attendees engaging in profound and visionary discussions around Web3 technological innovation, future development, and ecosystem building, sparking countless enlightening moments in the industry. Sincere thanks to all the attendees, speakers, and partners for their strong support; their collective efforts made InnoBlock 2024 a forward-looking and practically significant collaborative platform. ABGA and BBS would like to especially thank the gold sponsors of this summit: Gamp, Seraph, Privasea, GhostDrive, Advertising Time Token (ATT), and Infinitar; silver sponsors: Footprint Analytics, D'islands, InitVerse, XPIN Network, Alchemy Pay, SafePal, MetaY, Seed.Photo, Pika, Allin Exchange, IXO Protocol, JoinCare, AEON, Mumubit, IBIT, Nesa, Moomoo Financial Singapore, XenoBunny, Halfwish, Alien, Beosin, PING, and Mbit Wallet; AI exhibition area sponsors: DeepBrain Chain, DeepLink, DecentralGPT, DRCPad, DBC Capital, and DeepAITalk; strategic partner MetaEra; ecosystem partner Web3Labs; chief media partner Dethings; cloud partner Google Cloud; AI guiding units LingoAI and Web3 Alliance (W3A); supporting partners Polaris Marketing, Eurasia Blockchain, TONSquare, DuckChain, Crydit, Digitalabs, and Artificial Intelligence International Institute (AIII); as well as all media and community partners.

Looking ahead, ABGA and BBS hope that the outcomes of this summit will continue to inject new driving forces into the Web3 field, assisting global innovators and industry leaders in working hand in hand to promote the sustained development of the industry. We look forward to the next summit and to gathering again to celebrate the innovative future of Web3.

About ABGA

ABGA is a pioneering club centered around Web3 gaming, supported by well-known institutions in the Web3 industry. By integrating the collective strength of the Asian gaming industry, we are committed to shaping a hopeful future for the global Web3 gaming field.

About BBS

BBS.NYC is a blockchain conference organization based in New York, focusing on cryptocurrency and cutting-edge technology. We are dedicated to providing an inclusive platform for entrepreneurs, investors, developers, policymakers, media, and industry enthusiasts to share ideas, bridge information gaps, explore potential opportunities, and accelerate global technological advancement.