Hello and welcome to the second of several lists of the best tech events to attend in 2019. These lists are based a great deal on my experience and the experience of friends and associates that attended some of the events that I missed, as well as online reviews from attendees and the news coverage the events received. These lists are not ranked in any particular order though, so if they are on this list at all, consider them tied for the best in their field. Lastly I personally attend mostly blockchain events so I’ve personally attended these events or interviewed someone that has. So here’s what I think are the top 10 blockchain events to attend in 2019 based on their performance last year.
Thank you for reading my list and I hope it helps you spend your time and money wisely in 2019 with the laundry list of tech events one could attend every year.
Consensus ($$$)
May 13–15, 2019 — San Francisco,CA
https://www.coindesk.com/events/consensus-2019
Reason: Consensus became a flagship event in 2018, with the hype from the markets at it’s back the event grew to welcome thousands of attendees and was one of the biggest blockchain events in the USA for the entire year year. However most people that attended this event admitted they were not able to network well, the event was very loud and there were so many people that it was hard to even talk to the sponsors at their booths. That being said it is still one of the best platforms for a sponsor to get massive exposure in north america and the world, so don’t miss the opportunity of you can afford it.
Crypto Invest Summit ($)
April 18–20, 2019 — Los Angeles, CA
https://cryptoinvestsummit.io/
Reason: If you’re looking to meet a lot of people that are in your industry the Crypto invest summit may be worth its price. The summit went an extra mile to attract awesome speakers that hadn’t publicly commented on Blockchain, like the Steve Wozniak for example. The event also had a lot of investors and media present, so this is another great opportunity for spreading the word on your project if you want exposure. Lastly the event did have some great content to inform the masses on the general direction of blockchain technology as well as entertain the audience during some rather interesting panel debates.
CFC — Crypto Finance Conference ($$$$)
January 15–17, 2020 — St. Moritz, Switzerland
https://www.crypto-finance-conference.com/en/
Reason: Switzerland has been leading the world in Blockchain adoption in many ways and It’s also always been known as a international Banking destination for centuries. So to maintain this reputation Switzerland has invested in its own “Crypto Valley” or a place that’s very friendly to Blockchain Technology Firms. So If you’re looking to meet people to move your business to Switzerland this is a good place to make some contacts, or hire some people that can help facilitate the process. The event was very well attended in 2018 and had some great content as well so if you have the desire to go international with your company this is an event you shouldn’t miss. Note that this conference is also doing a north american event in 2019 proper, looks like their main event in St. Moritz has been pushed to 2020, everything can be found on their events tab on their website.
Cryptonite Ventures World Tour ($$$)
September 2019 — TBA
https://cryptoniteventures.com/world-tour-sf/
Reason: Cryptonite Ventures World Tour is not your run of the mill blockchain Event. For one, the organizers hardly advertise the event and for the most part there was very little press coverage at the event. Normally that would not sound like a recipe for success but its organized by Tony Perkins, author of the Internet Bubble and was chief editor of Red Herring Magazine for nearly a decade, which was at the forefront of the dot com boom. They have also hosted their fair share of private events for the movers and shakers that really drive the future so they know how to attract some great speakers.
For this reason if you are lucky enough to attend the event, you are sure to get some of the best content around from some of the most qualified experts on the planet. All while being in a more intimate setting where the audience is encouraged to ask questions and panels of experts explore some more difficult topics than your average blockchain event. Lastly I will also add I can say that this event was the perfect size for people to network and actually meet the speakers, from my experience many speakers take off as quickly as they arrive while also giving little to no time for questions.
SXSW ($$$)
March 8–17 — 2019 Austin, TX
https://www.sxsw.com/conference/blockchain-cryptocurrency/
Reason: South by Southwest is the place to be if your looking to connect to the many blockchain enthusiasts and professionals that live in the mid-west. There are thousands out there that don’t necessarily want to make it out to the coasts so SXSW gets access to a demographic that few other conferences really target. The event also does a great job getting some of the best speakers from around the world to come to town so it’s really one of the best opportunities you can get if you’re looking for great talent or a career in blockchain outside the San Francisco bay area.
Litecoin Summit ($)
September 2019 — TBA
https://litecoinsummit.org/
Reason: If you’re looking to learn about what Litecoin is working on as well as the cryptocurrencies that take themselves seriously in regards to being used as a currency, the Litecoin Summit is a conference you don’t want to miss. In 2018 we got great updated from Charlie Lee, Elizabeth Stark and others that are working to push the the future of cryptocurrencies. Most events in 2018 had a very wide scope of topics in regards to blockchain technology but the Litecoin Foundation has made it their mission to get mainstream acceptance as a crypto currency thus this event is something you should keep on your radar if you want to
D10e Summits ($$$)
Year Round — Global Events
http://d10e.biz/#
Reason: D10e is the perfect conference for the business casual entrepreneur. It’s a great stage to pitch your ideas and an ever greater place to meet your future business partners that may be from all over the world. If you’re looking to network I strongly recommend sticking around for the last day of their Summits which is always committed to being a regional culture day. This is the best time to meet people in a more real way so you can decide how far you can trust your new business acquaintances. Of all the events I’ve reviewed this is the more intimate event for meeting people that could possibly turn into lasting friendships or partnerships.
Unfortunately D10e has not published any plans for any 2019 events at this time, so this too may be an event that’s lost to time despite having what looked like a very successful 2018 Event series.
BLOCKSHOW 2019 ($)
November 2019 — TBA
https://blockshow.com/
Reason: Rumored to be the Flagship event for blockchain innovators in Asia, the Blockshow events did present some great content at all three of their global events. It also provided a great place for Asian blockchain entrepreneurs, investors and enthusiasts to get some perspective from the west without having to leave their home continent. Also if you looking to raise capital, Blockshow can boast that over a billion US dollars has been raised by some of their startup sponsors over the last two years. Last thing to add, their Asia show is one of the best events to meet with Chinese investors and talent.
CoinsBank Blockchain Cruise ($$)
June 9–13, 2019 — Barcelona to Rome
https://coinsbank.com/cruise-europe-result
Reason: If you missed the news on this epic cruise then you won’t want to miss it again, this Blockchain Cruise was a blast for all in attendance. Many of the top talents and thought leaders in the field were present and were able share their ideas more openly than at your average event because they were stuck on board with the press for days on end. So the cruise had great press coverage and attendees said the content was amazing but the absolute best thing was the relationships people were able to create on the 5 day cruise. People left this event feeling rejuvenated, having been to a real vacation that mixed in some great insights into what the experts see in the past, current and future for blockchain technology. So if you can afford it, it’s the most fun you can have at a blockchain event hands down.
Malta Blockchain Summit ($$$)
May 23–24 2019 — Blockchain Island, Malta
https://maltablockchainsummit.com/
Reason: Malta is not letting this tech boom pass them by this time, the small island country has invest large sums to make Malta a good place to start a blockchain business much like Switzerland and Gibraltar has, but they go a step further by hosting an excellence conference twice every year. They get great talent from all over the world, especially North America to come out, and for good reason. This events not just for the investors, attendees and sponsors, its for Malta, they want you to come and they want you to relocate your business there. Go take a visit and you might see and hear some of the reasons why it could be a good idea.
Thanks again for reading I hope you can benefit from my shared insights on blockchain events.