Southeast Asia Blockchain Week Concludes Its Inaugural Edition, Showcasing Web3 Innovation and Adoption in the Region
Bangkok, Thailand, May 8th, 2024, Chainwire
Southeast Asia Blockchain Week (SEABW), a premier blockchain conference exploring the evolving landscape of Web3 in the Southeast Asia region, is delighted to share that its inaugural edition has been a roaring success. Held in Bangkok, Thailand between April 22-28, the event brought together over 3,000 attendees, 40 sponsors, and 110 partners to explore the future of Web3 in the region.
The event featured more than 200 visionary speakers, including industry leaders such as Vitalik Buterin from Ethereum and Yat Siu from Animoca Brands, who shared their insights on the rapidly evolving Web3 landscape. The event’s panels covered a wide range of topics, from scaling Ethereum with Layer 2 solutions and navigating the Web3 startup investment landscape to building communities with NFTs and exploring the role of guilds in the future of Web3 gaming. Other notable discussions included enterprise blockchain adoption, real-world asset tokenization, modular blockchain for builders, and paving the payment pathway for the unbanked population in Southeast Asia.
SEABW2024 offered a wide range of activities, including the Main Conference, where the future of blockchain and Web3 was discussed from various perspectives, and an impressive array of booths from industry players. Notable participants included SCBX, one of the largest financial institutions in Thailand, providing insights on blockchain for financial services; ShardLab, a Web3 company focused on researching new blockchain technologies and promoting the ecosystem in Southeast Asia; and Hashed, a Web3 venture capital and ecosystem builder headquartered in Seoul, Korea. It presented the attendees with unparalleled opportunities for networking, collaboration, and discussion.
“Southeast Asia accounts for 8% of the global population and about 6% of GDP, but in the Web3 market, it has 12% of global users and 9% of DeFi TVL (Total Value Locked). This means that Southeast Asia has more than 50% higher importance compared to the Web2 market,” said Hojin Kim, CEO of ShardLab. “As a result, Southeast Asia boasts a cryptocurrency penetration rate that is three times higher than the global average, indicating that the growth potential of blockchain and Web3 in the region is significant.”
Dr. Arak Sutivong, Deputy CEO of SCBX believes that we are currently emerging from a “crypto winter,” which represents a rebirth for blockchain and Web3. The industry is starting to see more real-world applications of these technologies, along with increased regulatory clarity from relevant authorities. Real-world asset tokenization is one of the trending applications, with examples such as tokenizing condominiums for investment and fundraising purposes.
Seojun Kim, CEO of Hashed, stated, “The high proportion of young and unbanked population in Southeast Asia is a great driving force for the explosive growth of blockchain technology.” He added, “Through partnerships with various local large corporations and financial companies formed through SEABW such as SCBX and Siam Piwat, we plan to actively support the entry of global Web3 companies into the local market.”
One of the most notable collaborations at SEABW was with zkSync, which showcased a blockchain-based application that implemented zk-powered decentralized identity (DID) and distributed NFT-based vouchers. These vouchers provided discounts at Thailand’s premier shopping mall, ICON SIAM, demonstrating the real-world potential of blockchain technology.
The event also featured a Game Day co-hosted by YGG and W3GG, introducing leading blockchain games, and a Demo Day where partners like Hashed, SCB 10X, Wintermute, Faction, and Krungsri Finovate shared valuable insights on innovative Web3 projects. SEABW also featured 60 side events, offering builders and users across Southeast Asia a chance to receive advice from industry thought leaders, try out new products, and engage with community members.
As SEABW continues to grow, it aims to provide unique opportunities for builders and users throughout Southeast Asia. The success of this year’s event marks a significant step towards the development and popularization of the Web3 ecosystem in the region. With the increasing adoption of blockchain technology and the growing interest in Web3 solutions, events like SEABW play a crucial role in fostering innovation and collaboration within the industry. Moreover, ShardLab intends to create open programs this year, such as Protocol Camp, a talent program for Korean Web3 builders, to support the development of the Web3 ecosystem in the Southeast Asian region.
“Right now, everyone wants to push for SEA to become one of the regional hubs for blockchain and Web3. What we lack are talented individuals, projects, and intensive incubation programs. We will continue to support the development of this ecosystem within SEA,” Dr. Arak Sutivong concluded, emphasizing the importance of nurturing the Web3 ecosystem in the region.
The event will return for SEABW2025 to discuss and explore the latest trends and developments in blockchain technology, investment opportunities, adoption and use cases, policy and regulations, as well as the unique Web3 landscape in SEA.
About SEABW
Southeast Asia Blockchain Week is the flagship conference for web3 developers, investors, and users. It brings together key figures from across the industry for seven days of panel discussions, keynotes, product demonstrations, and networking. From Web3 Games to RWAs, SEABW illuminates Southeast Asia’s most promising startups and web3 companies.
Learn more: Website | X | Telegram
About ShardLab
ShardLab is the innovation arm of Hashed, a leading global Web3 venture capital firm based in Asia. Beyond ideas, we actively build ecosystems and collaborations to bring innovative disruptions using Web3 technology. Our vision extends to fostering mass adoption of Web3 in Southeast Asia, making technology accessible, and empowering communities in this dynamic digital frontier.
About Hashed
Hashed is a team of blockchain experts and builders based in Seoul, Singapore, Bengaluru, and Silicon Valley. We believe that decentralization can transform not only the global economy but the very fabric of the internet. Our mission is to accelerate the mass adoption of blockchain by investing our resources and empowering a new wave of entrepreneurs and innovators to create this future. We approach this work as builders, not just pickers. We participate as core technical contributors to global infrastructure, and we’ve built a network of projects and people that connect industry pioneers with the knowledge and resources necessary to unlock the potential of blockchain.
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