{"version":1,"id":"istanbul-blockchain-week","title":"Istanbul Blockchain Week","summary":"Istanbul Blockchain Week is an annual Web3 conference and exposition in Istanbul, Türkiye, bringing together industry participants for talks, workshops, exhibitions, and networking.","content":"**Istanbul Blockchain Week** (IBW) is an annual [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3) conference and exposition held in Istanbul, Türkiye. Launched in 2020, it was created by Erhan Korhaliller, founder and chief executive officer of EAK Digital, the agency that organizes the event. IBW brings together companies, developers, investors, policymakers, regulators, and other participants for talks, exhibitions, workshops, and networking, with a stated aim of raising Türkiye’s profile in the global Web3 ecosystem.[\\[1\\]](#cite-id-3v450kvw2r)​[\\[2\\]](#cite-id-vvrbee3aco)​\n\nIstanbul’s position between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia is central to IBW’s regional focus. Organizers present the event as a meeting point for Türkiye’s blockchain community and international Web3 businesses, while describing the country as an active market for [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) and digital assets.[\\[3\\]](#cite-id-zp5xrjsa2n)​[\\[4\\]](#cite-id-u7j6fnvjrn)​\n\n## History\n\n### Launch and the 2022 Edition\n\nIBW’s 2022 flagship event, IstanBlock, was held November 15–16 at the Hilton Bomonti Hotel. Its two-day conference included talks, panels, fireside chats, debates, workshops, and networking on [decentralized finance (DeFi)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/defi), trading, regulation, [mining](https://iq.wiki/wiki/mining), and venture capital. Organizers also promoted IBW22 as Turkey’s first [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) week.[[5]](#cite-id-sqxzl60uff)[[6]](#cite-id-6aay8jsyhe)\n\nThe wider 2022 program included an NFT Day on November 14, with sessions on the [metaverse](https://iq.wiki/wiki/metaverse), digital identity, fashion, NFT utility, gaming, entertainment, and sport. IstanDAO, held November 15–16, brought together participants to discuss decentralized autonomous organizations and their possible role in [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3); the program also included a pitch contest for early-stage Web3 projects.[[5]](#cite-id-sqxzl60uff)\n\nWorkshops and community events covered subjects including app-chain development, wallets, decentralized trading, smart-contract tokens, and privacy. On November 17, the W3E Championships Tournament took place at ESA Esports Arena, with finals, an interactive game zone, and games across several genres. Other side events included meetups for Turkish blockchain communities and local projects.[[5]](#cite-id-sqxzl60uff)\n\nIBW’s 2022 and 2023 editions together drew more than 8,000 attendees and featured over 180 Turkish and international speakers, according to reporting ahead of the 2024 edition. Speakers named from those editions included Changpeng Zhao, Ziya Altunyaldız, Yoshihisa Hashimoto, and Şant Manukyan.[[7]](#cite-id-31t9wpthfv)\n\n### 2024 Program\n\nThe 2024 edition was announced for August 13–14 at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center. Its planned IstanBlock program covered artificial intelligence (AI), real-world assets (RWAs), decentralized physical infrastructure networks, DeFi, regulation, gaming, [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3) culture, and venture capital. Announced speakers included [Yat Siu](https://iq.wiki/wiki/yat-siu) of [Animoca Brands](https://iq.wiki/wiki/animoca), [Sergej Kunz](https://iq.wiki/wiki/sergej-kunz) of 1inch, Mastercard vice president Eren Ozkan, and [Circle](https://iq.wiki/wiki/circle) ecosystem director Cem Arcan.[[7]](#cite-id-31t9wpthfv)\n\nThe announced program also included IstanHack, a hackathon intended to bring developers together to build [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) applications, and W3Expo, a Web3 gaming exhibition with playable games and esports. Planned IstanBlock areas included an AI Zone, a venture-capital and startup pavilion, and a Creator Zone for influencers and key opinion leaders.[[7]](#cite-id-31t9wpthfv)\n\n### 2025 Edition\n\nThe fourth edition took place June 26–27, 2025, at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel. Its program combined keynote sessions, panels, roundtables, workshops, networking, and announcements, with discussions of [stablecoins](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin), RWAs, exchanges, investment, [AI agents](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ai-agents), gaming, and regulation. The edition added DefaiCon Istanbul and the RWA Builders Summit, as well as an AI-agent-led music experience associated with BlockDown Festival.[[2]](#cite-id-vvrbee3aco)\n\nSpeakers included [OKX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/okx) TR chairman Mehmet Çamır, TRON chief executive [Justin Sun](https://iq.wiki/wiki/justin-sun), HeyAnon and WAGMI chief executive Daniele Sestagalli, Garanti BBVA [Digital Assets](https://iq.wiki/wiki/digital-assets) chief executive Onur Güven, [Mythical Games](https://iq.wiki/wiki/mythical-games) chief executive John Linden, and Tether vice president [Marco Dal Lago](https://iq.wiki/wiki/marco-dal-lago). The event also drew startup founders, developers, investors, cryptocurrency-law specialists, and influencers.[[2]](#cite-id-vvrbee3aco)\n\nDefaiCon focused on DeFi and autonomous AI agents. Sestagalli presented HeyAnon as an AI agent for automating DeFi strategies and discussed HUD, an AI-powered trading assistant designed to provide wallet-behavior insights, technical analysis, and context-based trading strategies. Other sessions considered agent networks and emerging DeFi protocols.[[2]](#cite-id-vvrbee3aco)\n\nThe RWA Builders Summit addressed intellectual property, tokenized gold and other precious metals, real estate, stablecoins, and institutional uses of RWAs. Its discussions considered how ownership and [tokenization](https://iq.wiki/wiki/tokenization) could relate to practical uses such as community, distribution, and digital identity.[[2]](#cite-id-vvrbee3aco)\n\nBlockDown Festival opened the week with programming around technology, music, and digital culture. The event release described it as an AI-agent-led festival held in collaboration with [Pudgy Penguins](https://iq.wiki/wiki/pudgy-penguins). IBW also hosted Dealflow Den, where selected startups pitched to investors and founders could take part in one-to-one meetings. At the Capital Markets Board’s sessions, executive vice chairman Ali İhsan Güngör discussed a planned e-investor platform for querying crypto-asset holdings across regulated institutions and the treatment of NFTs outside capital-market regulation.[[2]](#cite-id-vvrbee3aco)\n\n### 2026 Edition\n\nIBW’s fifth edition ran for two days on June 2–3, 2026, at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel & Conference Center. The event organization reported more than 200 speakers, 160 talks, and over 8.6 million organic impressions across X, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Its stages included a Main Stage and a Community Stage, alongside the closed-door Istanbul Institutional Markets Summit.[[3]](#cite-id-zp5xrjsa2n)[[8]](#cite-id-05a3d1h3q9)[[9]](#cite-id-xiggibc5eq)\n\nIBW’s report identified five prominent themes: regulation as a source of growth; [stablecoins](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin) becoming financial infrastructure; [tokenization](https://iq.wiki/wiki/tokenization) moving toward deployment; increasing institutional participation; and the convergence of AI and [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) around agents, data, and automation. The event’s account also highlighted talks by [Bankless](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bankless) Ventures’ Ben Lakoff on questions founders should consider before raising venture capital, Sigma Capital’s [Vineet Budki](https://iq.wiki/wiki/vineet-budki) on equity and token ownership, and Tether chief executive [Paolo Ardoino](https://iq.wiki/wiki/paolo-ardoino) on financial inclusion, AI, and user data.[[8]](#cite-id-05a3d1h3q9)[[9]](#cite-id-xiggibc5eq)\n\nBy August 10, 2026, the event organization said preparations for IBW 2027 were underway.[[8]](#cite-id-05a3d1h3q9)\n\n## Program and Format\n\n### IstanBlock\n\nIstanBlock is IBW’s flagship conference. Its format includes keynotes, panels, fireside chats, debates, exhibitions, and opportunities for networking among Turkish and international [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) participants. [Across](https://iq.wiki/wiki/across) editions, its subjects have included DeFi, trading, regulation, [mining](https://iq.wiki/wiki/mining), venture capital, AI, gaming, and [tokenization](https://iq.wiki/wiki/tokenization).[[6]](#cite-id-6aay8jsyhe)[[7]](#cite-id-31t9wpthfv)\n\n### Institutional Markets Summit\n\nThe Istanbul Institutional Markets Summit is a closed-door forum for policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, asset managers, exchanges, and infrastructure providers. Its agenda addresses digital-asset market structure, liquidity, capital formation, custody, compliance, and the integration of digital assets into existing financial and capital-markets infrastructure. At the 2026 edition, regulators, bank executives, and institutional leaders discussed compliance, custody, [tokenization](https://iq.wiki/wiki/tokenization), and digital-asset infrastructure.[[3]](#cite-id-zp5xrjsa2n)[[8]](#cite-id-05a3d1h3q9)\n\n### Startup and Community Events\n\nIBW’s associated programming has included hackathons, workshops, gaming events, investor meetings, and community gatherings. The Endeavour competition, held in partnership with Endeavor Türkiye, gives [Web3](https://iq.wiki/wiki/web3) and emerging-technology startups an opportunity to pitch to investors, venture-capital firms, ecosystem leaders, and industry decision-makers. It is intended to increase founder visibility and create opportunities for funding, partnerships, and market growth.[[3]](#cite-id-zp5xrjsa2n)\n\nOther editions have included IstanHack, the gaming exhibition and esports programming of W3E, the investment-focused Dealflow Den, and community meetups. This format combines the flagship conference with specialized forums and side events for developers, founders, investors, and other Web3 participants.[[7]](#cite-id-31t9wpthfv)[[2]](#cite-id-vvrbee3aco)[[5]](#cite-id-sqxzl60uff)","categories":[{"id":"events","title":"events"}],"tags":[{"id":"Conference"}],"images":[{"id":"QmXLUEriYESceWqVSK4m1qkuGL2sWbnw78rLFP5yy8oDNx","type":"image/jpeg, image/png"}],"media":[],"metadata":[{"id":"rootdata_profile","value":"https://www.rootdata.com/Projects/detail/Istanbul Blockchain Week?k=MjA1Mjg="},{"id":"website","value":"https://istanbulblockchainweek.com/"},{"id":"twitter_profile","value":"https://x.com/istanbulblockwk"},{"id":"linkedin_profile","value":"https://www.linkedin.com/company/istanbul-blockchain-week/?viewAsMember=true%20"},{"id":"youtube_profile","value":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaFajCQSwkczLwKkdrQYP8g"},{"id":"instagram_profile","value":"https://www.instagram.com/istanbulblockchainweek/"},{"id":"telegram_profile","value":"https://t.me/IstanbulBlockchainWeek"},{"id":"references","value":"[{\"id\":\"3v450kvw2r\",\"url\":\"https://istanbulblockchainweek.com/about-us/\",\"description\":\"About Istanbul Blockchain Week\",\"timestamp\":1791858604672},{\"id\":\"vvrbee3aco\",\"url\":\"https://decrypt.co/329563/istanbul-blockchain-week-2025-breaks-records-with-global-web3-leaders-ai-agents-and-rwa-innovation\",\"description\":\"Coverage of the 2025 edition\",\"timestamp\":1791858604672},{\"id\":\"zp5xrjsa2n\",\"description\":\"Event Link\",\"timestamp\":1791865381496,\"url\":\"https://istanbulblockchainweek.com/\"},{\"id\":\"u7j6fnvjrn\",\"url\":\"https://www.geekmetaverse.com/istanbul-blockchain-week-returns-in-june-2026-amid-surging-crypto-adoption-in-turkiye/\",\"description\":\"Coverage of the 2026 edition\",\"timestamp\":1791858604672},{\"id\":\"sqxzl60uff\",\"url\":\"https://istanbulblockchainweek.com/events/\",\"description\":\"IBW events and side-program listings\",\"timestamp\":1791858604672},{\"id\":\"6aay8jsyhe\",\"url\":\"https://istanbulblockchainweek.com/istanblock/\",\"description\":\"IstanBlock program\",\"timestamp\":1791858604672},{\"id\":\"31t9wpthfv\",\"url\":\"https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2024/06/26/istanbul-blockchain-week-2024-returns-showing-turkey-as-a-rising-star-in-web3-adoption/\",\"description\":\"Report on the 2024 edition\",\"timestamp\":1791858604672},{\"id\":\"05a3d1h3q9\",\"url\":\"https://www.linkedin.com/posts/istanbul-blockchain-week_ibw2027-ibw2026-blockchain-activity-7492519452320649216-EAE6\",\"description\":\"IBW 2026 event report\",\"timestamp\":1791858604672},{\"id\":\"xiggibc5eq\",\"url\":\"https://x.com/IstanbulBlockWk?lang=en\",\"description\":\"IBW account posts\",\"timestamp\":1791858604672}]"},{"id":"main-image-origin","value":"{\"imageId\":\"QmXLUEriYESceWqVSK4m1qkuGL2sWbnw78rLFP5yy8oDNx\",\"originalId\":\"QmXLUEriYESceWqVSK4m1qkuGL2sWbnw78rLFP5yy8oDNx\"}"},{"id":"commit-message","value":"Add Istanbul Blockchain Week wiki"}],"events":[{"title":"Istanbul Blockchain Week 2020 (Launch)","date":"2020-01-01","type":"MULTIDATE","description":"Istanbul Blockchain Week launched in 2020; 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