The Ethereum Community Conference (EthCC), which took place in Brussels from July 8-11 this year, was the focal point of blockchain innovation, attracting industry leaders, developers, and crypto enthusiasts from all over the globe.
The event on Wednesday was a resounding success, with a whole house in attendance. Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, and Joseph Lubin, the co-founder of Ethereum and CEO of Consensys, engaged in critical discussions.
Lubin’s unwavering support for layer 2 solutions fueled by zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs was one of the most notable aspects of EthCC. He emphasized the transformative potential of ZK proofs in the scaling of Ethereum.
Lubin remarked on the early days of Ethereum, stating that “the elections in the US have opened things up” about regulation.
In his keynote address, Buterin, the primary luminary of the Ethereum community, articulated his vision and apprehensions about the future of Ethereum. At the same time, he is acknowledging the progress achieved with layer 2 solutions.
Ethereum’s potential as a base layer has yet to be realized entirely due to the substantial challenges that remain, as advised by Buterin. He emphasizes that the robustness and security of the fundamental Layer 1 are critical to the success of Ethereum’s Layer 2-centric approach.
10-Year Anniversary of Ethereum
The agenda and attendance were noteworthy. Samantha Yap, the founder and CEO of YAP Global, stated that EthCC 7 attracted over 6,500 attendees, once again elevating the threshold.
Yap also explains that it was a “monumental event” because it is nearly the 10th anniversary of Ethereum. Joe Lubin, Gavin Wood, and Vitalik Buterin, the co-founders of Ethereum, reunited on stage momentously.
Burnt Banksy, a core contributor to XION, revealed to CryptoNews that he had low expectations for EthCC due to Brussels’ reputation as a city with a small crypto community. However, he was favorably surprised by the many core crypto community members who attended.
“The World Cup was also a prominent topic, adding a new dimension to networking discussions at events and even allowing us to forget about the current low market sentiment in the industry,” stated Banksy.
Side Events Distracted Attention From EthCC 7
The main stage was significantly distracted by side events at EthCC 7, as attendees eagerly dispersed to investigate the more minor, specialized gatherings.
The side events provided a more intimate environment for in-depth discussions, collaborations, and networking opportunities. As a result, many participants chose to attend these “other events” rather than the more comprehensive main-stage presentations.
“It is intriguing that side events were given precedence.” Although there is some criticism regarding the excessive number of side events, many were just as informative as the primary event. According to Banksy, the primary highlights were the significant emphasis on chain abstraction, modularity, fragmentation, and user experience.
Another attendee observed that EthCC was “different” this year, not only due to the relocation. Paris is typically the location of the biennial Ethereum event.
“This year’s EthCC was distinct.” Although a more significant number of individuals attended the side events, the primary event was attended by fewer individuals. According to Shyam Duraiswami, CEO of Provably, a company developing ZK for data analytics, the advantage was that numerous presenters were more accessible for discussions following their presentations at EthCC.
“I also observed that a significant number of discussions emphasized iterative enhancements at the margin rather than transformational ones.” This indicates that numerous significant disputes, including modularity and the function of ZK, have been resolved significantly. Duraiswami stated, “Currently, the focus is on the development and maturation of the crypto stack.”
According to Ran Hammer, the Vice President of Business Development at Orbs, numerous DeFi individuals were in attendance, including those who are doxxed and those who typically maintain anonymity. Hammer reported that there were “bullish vibes.”
Cool Merch, Festival Vibes, and Tacos!!
The enjoyable portion is now underway.
EthCC 7 was characterized by a festival-like atmosphere, which included a “Street Fair” that provided beers, sandwiches, tacos, and coffee. Polygon’s merchandise was particularly noteworthy among the merch stands, as they distributed Nike-branded caps that proved successful.
The burger and taco stand was a distinct favorite on the culinary front, serving up flavorful, freshly made tacos that delighted everyone. The conference was enhanced by this lively environment’s distinctive, celebratory atmosphere.
Bettina Boon Falleur, the organizer of EthCC, stated to Protechbro that this year’s event was the largest yet, transitioning from a traditional conference to a blockchain festival that attracted loved ones, friends, the most talented presenters, companies, and projects.
The merchandise was primarily free t-shirts, caps, and decals at numerous stands, which elicited some criticism.