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Beyond expectations: Recapping the London Blockchain Conference 2024

Editorial

Claire Celdran
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I’ve had the opportunity to cover four enterprise blockchain conferences for CoinGeek. What sets this one apart from the others? Firstly, the participants represented a diverse mix of individuals from both within and outside the BSV community. Secondly, startup entrepreneurs from the Block Dojo incubator program left a notable and lasting impression. Lastly, Web3 entrepreneurs arrived not just with business ideas but with tangible businesses demonstrating real-world applications.

ExCel London, the event space where the London Blockchain Conference 2024 was held, exceeded my expectations. Only a few stops on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) from Heathrow, the venue provided just the right amount of space for exhibitors, and the various stages where speaker presentations and panel discussions took place. Networking for all attendees and participants was a breeze, thanks to everything being situated in one compact space. Additionally, there was a spacious area with multiple rooms conveniently adjacent to the exhibition hall for the staff to use.

The CoinGeek booth looked great as always, resembling a set for a TV talk show. What made it even better were the back-to-back insightful interviews filmed at the booth by my colleagues Rebecca Liggero, Jon Southurst and Kurt Wuckert Jr. with their guests.

CoinGeek booth

At this year’s conference, I was tasked with being a roving reporter speaking to the various exhibitors and attendees. My role gave me an ideal vantage point to survey the entire scene. That being said, I’d like to highlight a few interesting conversations from the individuals I interviewed.

Exhibitors

Two authors particularly caught my attention among the exhibitors I interviewed at the conference. They stood out not only because they were showcasing their literary work but also because they were newcomers to the BSV scene.

In an engaging conversation with Mario Davis, the founder of Symbol Comics, he shared insights about his comic book “Snailsman,” which imparts valuable lessons about sales to children. The story follows a snail who aims to be the best salesman despite challenges, discovering his slowness is his secret strength.

Since we were at a blockchain conference, I naturally asked how his book relates to blockchain. His response was surprisingly intriguing. He introduced me to a character named Catoshi Nakameowto in the book, described as “the greatest business cat in the world.” This character explores blockchain technology through the creation of the first purr-to-purr electronic catnip system. While the book primarily focuses on sales, it also delves into the technological aspects appealing to the blockchain community.

I also had the opportunity to speak with Staffan Nordstrand, author of “Scammers.” He explained that the book revolves around two individuals working in the banking industry at the London Stock Exchange who decided to venture into their own business, initially adhering to rules and regulations. However, greed eventually takes over, leading them to discover widespread corruption among certain banks, which sets the stage for the unfolding narrative.

When I asked him about the key takeaway for readers, he offered a memorable piece of advice: “Don’t do it, if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.”

Block Dojo Cohorts

A standout feature of the conference is the substantial presence of startup entrepreneurs from the Block Dojo incubator program. I had the opportunity to engage with several entrepreneurs and learn about their businesses and backgrounds.

One particularly noteworthy conversation was with Francisco Cordoba, founder of Zote. Zote aims to democratize recruitment through a multi-level bounty system, where sharing job links among networks earn rewards when someone lands the job.

Cordoba’s journey began with a remittance startup that earned him recognition as an MIT Innovator under 35. He is also the author of “Beat the Robots,” offering strategies for navigating automation’s impact on jobs, and “Changing the Game,” which explores disruptive approaches to industries through technology and entrepreneurship.

When asked about his experience with BSV technology, Cordoba highlighted two key benefits. He emphasized the speed of transactions and the efficiency of deploying projects without financial strain. Unlike past experiences launching expensive projects that required extensive tweaking, he says BSV allows him to swiftly conceptualize and implement ideas.

“I think it’s two elements. One is the speed, and second, it’s how fast I can deploy things without getting broke because it has happened to me in the past that I just launched projects, and they’re so expensive, and I need to tweak things, and it takes me a lot of time. With BSV, I think about an idea, and I launch it.”

I had another notable conversation with Michael Olagunju, founder of ExamSolutions and a Dojo Alumni whom I featured in an article in December 2022. ExamSolutions, according to Olagunju, serves as an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered personal tutor that empowers both students and teachers to reach their educational goals.

Meeting him in person was a pleasure, especially learning about his company’s progress since joining the Block Dojo program. Olagunju updated me on their significant advancements, mentioning that they have evolved considerably since joining. He highlighted their recent achievements, including the launch of an AI SaaS platform that currently boasts over 15,000 beta users and a notable partnership with Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and OpenAI.

CoinGeek Booth

In an interview with David Almirol at the CoinGeek booth, the Undersecretary of E-governance at the Philippines Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), discussed the importance of showcasing practical, implementable blockchain use cases to educate both the public and lawmakers about its benefits. Almirol stands out as a key government figure in the Philippines, renowned for championing technology to streamline processes and promote financial inclusion.

“You need to come up with an implementable use case. A use case that could help Filipinos. A use case that could simplify processes. A use case that empower financial inclusion within the people. I think once we have that primary policy, people will be able to understand, including our lawmakers.”

Feedback on LBC 2024

I also gathered feedback from exhibitor participants and attendees about their thoughts on the conference.

Jaskanwar Singh, CEO & Co-founder of Uno Re DAO, expressed fascination with how BSV approaches Bitcoin scaling and the innovative use cases they are developing.

During our interview, he said, “I’m not a BSV or an nChain guy; I’m more in the ETH ecosystem. So it’s very interesting to hear the panels about how the BSV people are thinking about scaling Bitcoin and what they’ve been doing over the last seven, eight years. All the new use cases that are coming up.”

When asked if he would explore BSV further, he replied, “Yeah I will. I’ll go home and I’m going to download the wallet and try to understand how to transact there. What are the ecosystem apps that are building and I will take it from there.”

For Ali Beydoun, Founder and CEO of Manufact, this year’s London Blockchain Conference reflects a shift in focus from quantity to quality. 

“I’ve observed that the London Blockchain Conference has slightly reduced in size, but there’s been a significant increase in quality. Participants are more focused on delivering solutions rather than just presenting ideas,” he said.

Michaela Beksson and Pavel Georgiev from Coinify shared their thoughts on their conference experience, emphasizing networking and partnership opportunities.

As Beksson told me, “We talked to a lot of people. We saw the great power of networking at the event, and obviously we speak the same language. It’s the language of blockchain, crypto, and this is what we do at Coinify.”

Ivan Lminaric, Senior Software Engineer at HandCash, commented on this year’s conference, noting increased participation from Web3 enthusiasts outside the BSV ecosystem.

“Before, it was a more niche event centered around BSV. Now, it’s attracting participants from other blockchains and companies. It’s been great to see new faces, meet new people, and explore new topics,” he said.

Overall, my experience at this year’s London Blockchain Conference has been reinvigorating. I had the opportunity to engage with new people in the blockchain space, each bringing unique perspectives and innovative ideas to the table. The insights gained from my interviews shed light on emerging trends, reaffirming the BSV blockchain’s transformative potential.

As I reflect on the discussions and connections made, I am inspired by the collaborative spirit and forward-thinking mindset of the exhibitors and attendees. The London Blockchain Conference has once again proven to be a pivotal event in shaping the future of blockchain technology.

Watch: Day One Summary at the London Blockchain Conference 2024

Day Two Highlights at the London Blockchain Conference 2024

Day Three Highlights at the London Blockchain Conference 2024

New to blockchain? Check out CoinGeek’s Blockchain for Beginners section, the ultimate resource guide to learn more about blockchain technology.