Paris Blockchain week (PBW) 2025, hosted at the Carrousel du Louvre, was quite the spectacle. Over 9,600 attendees from 95 countries, a speaker lineup boasting names like Charles Hoskinson and Monica Long, and even a partnership announcement between PSG and Matchain – it all screams global. Let’s face it — how global was it, honestly.

Southeast Asia's Web3 Innovation Ignored?

While the halls of the Louvre echoed with discussions on DeFi, RWA tokenization, and the ever-present meme coin frenzy, a vital narrative was conspicuously absent: the vibrant, burgeoning Web3 scene in Southeast Asia. It was like going to a world music festival where only Western musicians were allowed to perform.

I'm not saying PBW is intentionally exclusionary. The lack of representation from the Southeast Asia’s innovators hit particularly hard. It’s painful to watch a place full of promise passed by. We're talking about a part of the world where blockchain isn't just a buzzword, it's a lifeline, a tool for empowerment, and a catalyst for cultural preservation. Are we seriously overlooking this?

From Rice Fields to Revolutionizing Finance

Southeast Asia isn't just catching up to the West in Web3. In many ways, it's leapfrogging ahead. Think about it: countries with limited access to traditional financial systems are embracing DeFi and crypto with open arms. As artists and musicians are increasingly finding ways to use NFTs to avoid exploitative gallery systems and connect with their audiences directly, communities are creating DAOs as flexible tools to govern shared resources and democratically decide how to act.

Here are just a few examples that should have been front and center at PBW:

  • Agricultural Traceability: Blockchain solutions for tracking and verifying the origin of agricultural products, ensuring fair prices for farmers and combating fraud.
  • Microfinance Platforms: Decentralized lending platforms providing access to capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs in underserved communities.
  • NFT-Based Art Collectives: Empowering local artists and preserving cultural heritage through the creation and sale of unique digital assets.

These are not just arcane theories, these are concrete applications making a real difference in people’s lives. And yet, they were all but exclusive from the PBW discussion. Instead, we found ourselves swimming in a new wave of speculative mania fueled by meme coins. No, really—seriously! We discussed the regulatory environment in the US versus the EU. Important, yes, but a far cry from the deeply transformative promise that Web3 could offer.

Time to Build Bridges, Not Walls

The lack of Southeast Asian voices at PBW this year was not only a missed opportunity, it was a strategic blunder. The Web3 revolution is meant to be a paradigm of decentralization, of democratizing access to technology and opportunity. To disregard the contributions and perspectives of an entire region subverts that very principle.

Just imagine the mind-blowing wonder if PBW were to debut a project leveraging blockchain tech to help preserve endangered languages in the Philippines. Now, picture the inspiration of hearing from that Cambodian entrepreneur—who’s building a decentralized healthcare platform on top of Ethereum. Picture this — the delight of finding a Vietnamese crypto artist who is funding social impact projects through his creation and dissemination of non-fungible tokens.

This isn’t only a diversity checkbox for “inclusive” optics. Frogs as the future The future of Web3 is being shaped by different ideas and different perspectives. Creative approaches are rising and gaining traction on every continent. By ignoring Southeast Asia, PBW loses an amazing chance to access this dynamic and potentially disruptive ecosystem of talent and creativity. This lack of oversight further perpetuates a Western-centric narrative, alienating and erasing large communities in the process.

We can’t afford to make the same mistakes from the past. Instead, let’s embrace the true spirit of decentralization. Let’s work together to build a Web3 future that is truly global, inclusive, and transformative for everyone. The artist is there, the creativity is there. All that’s lacking is the acknowledgement. Let's make sure Paris Blockchain Week 2026 doesn't make the same mistake. Let's amplify the forgotten voices and tap into the untapped potential of Southeast Asia's Web3 boom.

  • Scholarships & Travel Grants: Make it financially feasible for Southeast Asian developers, artists, and entrepreneurs to attend future events.
  • Regional Panels & Workshops: Dedicate specific sessions to showcasing the unique challenges and opportunities in the Southeast Asian Web3 ecosystem.
  • Partnerships with Local Organizations: Collaborate with Southeast Asian blockchain communities and organizations to amplify their voices and projects.

Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past. Let's embrace the true spirit of decentralization and build a Web3 future that is truly global, truly inclusive, and truly transformative for everyone. The talent is there, the innovation is there; all that's missing is the recognition. Let's make sure Paris Blockchain Week 2026 doesn't make the same mistake. Let's amplify the forgotten voices and unleash the untapped potential of Southeast Asia's Web3 boom.