Paris Blockchain Week 2025, one of the biggest and most prestigious events on the blockchain calendar, just recently celebrated concluding its newest edition – on April 10. This event further confirmed its status as Europe’s leading gathering place for blockchain and Web3 enthusiasts. This year’s conference took place in Paris from April 8-10 at the Carrousel du Louvre. As a result, it attracted more than 9,600 participants from 95 countries, setting a new record with global participation. The event featured over 400 speakers, including notable figures like Charles Hoskinson from IOHK and Monica Long from Ripple, attracting over 400 journalists from top global outlets.
The conference connected community leaders, industry inventors, and disruptors. It breathed fire into vigorous debates and teamwork that will decide the fate of blockchain technology and its applications. Paris Blockchain Week 2025 was just as impressive, drawing an astounding 67% C-suite decision-makers from its audience! This strong turnout reaffirmed the event’s importance as the nation’s leading venue for high-level networking and strategic collaboration. The entire week was filled with cutting-edge presentations and illuminating panel discussions. Attendees had fun at many side events, including AgentX, Bitcoin Investors Day, and a private VIP dinner held under the historic Louvre Pyramid.
Keynote Speakers and Industry Insights
One of the truly exciting things about Paris Blockchain Week 2025 was the incredible keynotes we got to hear from industry legends. Charles Hoskinson, known for his work with Cardano, and Monica Long, President of Ripple, both emphasized the foundational role of blockchain in reshaping future financial systems. Their perspectives provided a deep and broad perspective on the state of play. They painted a picture of how blockchain technology could transform industry after industry.
The two day event featured engaging and exciting speakers. Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz and Socios.com, and Mark Jennings, head of European market at Gemini, were just two of them. Our speakers represented a truly amazing mix of backgrounds and experiences. They covered an impressive breadth of subjects from sport and entertainment to regulatory hurdles and market potentials. Their participation served to underscore both the breadth of their applications and the maturity of the blockchain ecosystem that has clearly grown up around them.
The expertise shared by these leaders offered attendees valuable insights into navigating the complexities of the blockchain space and capitalizing on emerging trends. Important players packed into Paris Blockchain Week, making that week the clear top platform for leadership of thought. This key event leads the industry forward and ignites serious, productive discussions.
"Start in Block" Pitch Competition
The “Start in Block” pitch competition was one of the highlights at Paris Blockchain Week 2025. It drew the interest of entrepreneurs, newly showered in capital, and venture capitalists. The Mikey Awards competition to celebrate these social entrepreneurs attracted more than 1,000 startups looking to compete for funding. Over €10 million was pledged by more than 400 investors to fund the best ideas! This initiative provided a unique opportunity for emerging blockchain companies to showcase their innovative ideas and gain access to crucial resources for growth.
The "Start in Block" competition is a testament to Paris Blockchain Week's commitment to innovation. It works to foster the next generation of blockchain entrepreneurs. The ten-day event culminates with a Shark Tank-style Main Event that brings together startups looking for investment and peaked interested investors. This dynamic drives the creation and implementation of cutting-edge blockchain technology. That friendly competition is helping to stoke rapid growth for the startups across both cohorts. It makes the overall dynamism and competitiveness of the whole blockchain industry.
The significant $100 million in funding available through the competition is an indication of the interest and investment in blockchain technology hitting a new high this year. That $1.43 billion capital injection is poised to help spark the kinds of innovation we need. It will facilitate the creation of transformative, new use cases in every industry.
Matchain's Innovation Award
Adding to the week's highlights, Petrix Barbosa, CEO of Matchain, announced a significant initiative and celebrated Matchain's prestigious award for Innovation of the Year. This recognition highlights Matchain’s achievements to date and deep-rooted dedication to advancing the blockchain space and continuing in our efforts to further expand the realms of technological advancement. The award recognizes the company’s innovative solutions and its transformative effect on the larger industry.
Barbosa’s announcement was met with rapturous cheers from the conference’s attendees, a reminder that innovation is critical to continuing to push the evolution of blockchain technology forward. Matchain’s success encourages other companies in the industry to follow suit. It inspires them to dream big and seek out key, cutting-edge concepts and novel solutions. The event opened an opportunity for Matchain to demonstrate what they considered as their ground-breaking achievements and to meet with potential partners and investors.
Paris Blockchain Week’s reputation receives a significant upgrade with their Innovation of the Year award. It spotlights the event as the premier destination for discovering and celebrating innovation and excellence in the blockchain industry. By showcasing innovative companies like Matchain, the event contributes to a culture of creativity and progress within the blockchain community.
