Istanbul Blockchain Week 2025: Global Web3 Leaders, AI Agents, and RWA Innovations Set Records
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Istanbul Blockchain Week 2025: Global Web3 Leaders, AI Agents, and RWA Innovations Set Records
This event will take place from June 26 to 27, 2025, at the Hilton Bomonti Istanbul.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insights
EAK Digital, a leading crypto marketing, public relations, and events firm, successfully hosted the fourth and largest edition to date of its flagship event, "Istanbul Blockchain Week."
Held from June 26–27, 2025, at the Hilton Bomonti Istanbul, the event brought together thousands of global Web3 leaders for high-level discussions, major announcements, and networking, reinforcing Turkey’s growing role in the future of blockchain innovation.
From keynote speeches and panel discussions to roundtables and workshops, this year’s program was packed with active engagement and meaningful conversations covering stablecoins, real-world assets (RWA), exchanges, investment, AI agents, gaming, regulation, and more.
Featured speakers included Mehmet Çamır, Chairman of OKX TR; Justin Sun, CEO of Tron; Daniele Sestagalli, CEO of HeyAnon and WAGMI; Onur Güven, CEO of Garanti BBVA Digital Assets; John Linden, CEO of Mythical Games; Aaron Teng, CEO of Igloo Asia (Pudgy Penguins); and Marco Dal Lago, Global Expansion Vice President at Tether. The event also welcomed executives from top venture capital firms, founders of blockchain startups, legal experts on cryptocurrency regulation, developers, and influencers.
Erhan Korhaliller, CEO of EAK Digital and founder of Istanbul Blockchain Week, commented on the event:
"By bringing together thousands of builders and innovators from around the world shaping the future of Web3, Istanbul Blockchain Week 2025 created a truly unforgettable experience. Over two days, we saw not just growth but purposeful maturation across the ecosystem. We are proud to have built a platform that drives real impact and signals the next wave of technological innovation."
"This was the largest Istanbul Blockchain Week yet, featuring many new additions compared to previous years—including DefaiCon Istanbul, the RWA Builders Summit, and the innovative OG Web3 event BlockDown Festival, which introduced an AI agent-driven music experience."
Event Highlights
Justin Sun outlined Tron's global leadership in stablecoin infrastructure and highlighted significant progress in compliance, institutional partnerships, and real-world adoption—particularly in Turkey.
Mehmet Çamır, Chairman of OKX TR, emphasized the increasing importance of regulation in emerging markets like Turkey, where approximately 14 million retail investors are already active in crypto.
Ali İhsan Güngör, Executive Vice Chair of Turkey’s Capital Markets Board (Sermaye Piyasası Kurulu), announced an upcoming digital investor platform that will integrate with the Central Registry Agency (MKK), enabling investors to check their crypto holdings across regulated entities via e-government services—enhancing legal security and providing regulators with clearer data visibility.
Güngör also clarified that NFTs fall outside the scope of capital markets regulations. Platforms offering NFT services must clearly inform customers that NFTs are unregulated and must be offered in separate markets.
Christian Thompson, Managing Director of the Sui Foundation, made his debut announcement at Istanbul Blockchain Week, unveiling a developer bootcamp aimed at training 2,000 to 4,000 Turkish developers over the next 12 to 18 months.
"I feel Turkey particularly nurtures a lot of great engineers. There's a lot of innovation happening on the startup front. And clearly, there are also many investors here. Most developers are still in Web2. Frankly, we need them in Web3," said Thompson.
On the Turkish market and Istanbul Blockchain Week, John Linden, CEO of Mythical Games, said:
"The Turkish market is becoming a strong gaming hub. Some very powerful companies are emerging here. We have a new FIFA game, and the Turkish market is showing strong demand for it. You’ve got mobile gaming enthusiasts and football fans—so it’s a market full of potential."
"At Istanbul Blockchain Week, the energy has been incredible. The foot traffic is massive. The organization is excellent. The stage setup is impressive. We’re really happy to be part of it."
Kostas Chalkias, Co-Founder and Chief Cryptographer at Mysten Labs, presented new use cases at the intersection of AI and blockchain, including disinformation detection, AI-powered smart contract audits, and blockchain-based identity verification systems.
Daniele Sestagalli, CEO of HeyAnon and WAGMI, introduced HeyAnon—an AI agent for DeFi automation—and explained how it disrupts traditional user interactions with decentralized ecosystems by enabling complex DeFi strategies.
Daniele detailed HUD, an AI-powered trading assistant designed to deliver real-time wallet behavior insights, automated technical analysis, and context-aware entry and exit strategies. He emphasized core AI principles: making life easier through seamless human-AI interaction without forcing users to switch platforms.
Exploring the Frontier of Web3 and AI Innovation
The BlockDown Festival—the world’s first AI agent-led music festival—co-hosted with Pudgy Penguins, marked the opening night of Istanbul Blockchain Week with a memorable kickoff party.
The festival introduced interactive AI elements, celebrated Web3 culture, and invited world-class DJs to explore the convergence of technology, music, and digital culture.
Dealflow Den, the marquee investment matchmaking event of Istanbul Blockchain Week, attracted top-tier venture capital firms such as Coinbase Ventures, Big Brain Holdings, Animoca Brands, Sigma Fund, and NewTribe Capital. Selected startups took part in a unique pitch session on June 27, while founders engaged in networking opportunities including one-on-one meetings and a VC dinner.
The RWA Builders Summit, held on June 27, explored key topics including intellectual property, tokenized gold and precious metals, the institutional future of RWAs, stablecoins, and real estate. Panel discussions and presentations revealed a clear trajectory: as infrastructure strengthens and demand grows, RWAs are poised to unlock unprecedented liquidity and broaden investor access.
Aaron Teng, CEO of Igloo Asia (Pudgy Penguins); Herman Narula, CEO of Improbable and Co-Founder of Somnia; John Linden, CEO of Mythical Games; and Garen Mehrabian, Co-Founder and COO of Public Masterpiece, discussed intellectual property and RWA ownership in Web3.
Teng emphasized that crypto’s core promise is true ownership. Panelists discussed the practical utility of IP, community, distribution, and the significance of digital identity beyond mere tokenization.
What’s Next?
Get ready for Istanbul Blockchain Week 2026—bigger and more ambitious than ever before.
Expect even more groundbreaking innovations, exclusive networking opportunities, and immersive experiences as we continue pushing the boundaries of Web3. Stay tuned to official social channels for updates and announcements about upcoming events!
About Istanbul Blockchain Week
Istanbul Blockchain Week is the annual must-attend Web3 experience—where the global crypto community converges in one of the world’s most iconic and culturally rich cities for a week of unforgettable innovation, networking, and celebration. Through marquee programs like DefaiCon, IstanHack, and the RWA Builders Summit, IBW dives deep into the trending narratives shaping the future of finance and real-world asset tokenization.
From high-energy panel discussions and major project launches to exclusive side events, VIP yacht parties, and the world’s first AI agent music festival, IBW blends the business of blockchain with the soul of Istanbul. Whether you're a founder, builder, investor, or enthusiast, this is where Web3 makes history. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it.
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