Istanbul Blockchain Week 2025 Breaks Records with Global Web3 Leaders, AI Agents, and RWA Innovation

Istanbul Blockchain Week 2025 Breaks Records in Web3 and AI

On July 25, in Istanbul, Turkiye, Crypto marketing, PR, and Events agency, Eak Digital, successfully organized the fourth and biggest edition of its flagship event, Istanbul Blockchain Week.

At the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel, on June 26-27, 2025, the two-day conference gathered thousands of world Web3 leaders for top-level debates, major reveals, and networking, solidifying Türkiye's emerging place in the next wave of blockchain innovation.

From panel discussions and keynote sessions to roundtables and workshops, the current year's edition was full of active participation and serious discussion on issues ranging from stablecoins, real-world assets, exchanges, AI Agents, and gaming to regulations, investments, and many more.

Some of the key speakers were Mehmet Çamır, OKX TR Chairman, 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), Marco Dal Lago, VP of Global Expansion at Tether, etc.

Executives at leading venture capital companies, blockchain startup founders, cryptocurrency regulations legal experts, developers, and influencers also attended.

On the event, Erhan Korhaliller, CEO at EAK Digital and organizer of Istanbul Blockchain Week, commented:

"By uniting a worldwide community of thousands of builders and creators defining the future of Web3, Istanbul Blockchain Week 2025 produced an experience truly not to be forgotten. The two-day conference demonstrated how the ecosystem is not only expanding but also evolving with intention. We are honored to have produced a platform that produces tangible impact and marks the next generation of technological progress.".

“The fourth and largest edition of Istanbul Blockchain Week so far, with some fresh additions to last year's event, including the RWA Builders Summit, DefaiCon Istanbul, with a fresh change on the OG Web3 event, BlockDown Festival, where the AI-Agent driven music experience was launched”.

(Erhan Korhaliller, CEO at EAK Digital and organizer of Istanbul Blockchain Week, gives the welcome speech, officially opening up the event)

Highlights from the event

Justin Sun shared his vision for Tron's global dominance in stablecoin tech, pointing to major compliance steps, partnerships with institutions, and practical adoption, with Turkiye as a Key focus.

Mehmet Çamır, Chairman of OKX TR, emphasized the increasing significance of regulation in developing markets like Türkiye where there are presently around 14 million retail customers investing in cryptocurrencies.

Turkiye's Capital Market Board Executive Vice Chairman, Ali Ihsan Gungor, announced an MKK-linked e-investor platform to help investors monitor their crypto holdings more transparently. holdings in various regulated institutions using e-Government, providing them with more legal security and regulators with transparent data.

Gungor clarified that NFTs currently fall outside the scope of Turkey's capital market regulations. NFT services offering platforms should make it clear to customers that NFTs are unregulated and provide them in an isolated market.

Christian Thompson, Managing Director at Sui Foundation for the first time during Istanbul Blockchain Week, announced a boot camp initiative to educate 2,000 to 4,000 developers in Türkiye within 12 to 18 months.

"I think Türkiye specifically produces a lot of engineers and they are excellent. There is a tremendous amount of innovation that occurs on the entrepreneurial side. With many investors who are here as well. The majority of those developers are Web2. And in all honesty, we need them in Web3," Thompson stated.

John Linden, CEO of Mythical Games, shared his thoughts on Istanbul Blockchain Week and the growing crypto scene in Turkiye, stating:

"The Turkish market is changing into a gaming powerhouse overall. With some very good companies emerging here. We have a new FIFA game, and the Turkish market is per Mobile gamefectly suitable for that. s, and some football fans out here, are a green market.".

At Istanbul Blockchain Week, the atmosphere is charged. It's full. It's truly well organized. The stage looks stunning. We are very delighted to be a part of it."

Kostas Chalkias, Co-founder and Chief Cryptographer at Mysten Labs, presented new applications like misinformation detection, smart contract auditing powered by AI, and blockchain-authenticated identity systems, which are at the crossroads of AI and blockchain.

Daniele Sestagalli, WAGMI, and HeyAnon CEO showed how HeyAnon - an automated DeFi agent- upends the conventional manner in which individuals interact with decentralized systems, enabling users to carry out complex DeFi strategies.

Daniele discussed HUD, an AI trading assistant that is meant to provide users with real-time wallet behavior analytics, automated technical analysis, and entry and exit strategies under user context. He underlined a fundamental tenet of AI: simplifying life with seamless AI and human interaction that does not require users to change software.

Headlining DefaiCon Istanbul, Daniele delved into the intersection of DeFi and autonomous AI agents was Daniele.

Industry leaders such as Vader, CEO of Vader AI; Michael Heinrich, Co-Founder and CEO of OG Labs; and Alberto Fernandez shared insights on next-generation DeFi protocols and intelligent agent networks, Ecosystem and Partnerships Manager at Qubic, among others.

Exploring the edge of Web3 and AI development

BlockDown Festival, the world's first AI-Agent-driven festival and partner of Pudgy Penguins, initiated Istanbul Blockchain Week by concluding its first day with a memorable party.

The festival featured Web3 culture, innovative interactive AI components, and international-grade DJs who explored technology, music, and digital culture.

The main venture capital, Dealflow Den, is a matchmaking event of Istanbul Blockchain Week that had leading venture capitals such as Animoca Brands, Sigma Fund, Coinbase Ventures, Big Brain Holdings, and NewTribe Capital, among others. Shortlisted startups attended an elite pitch session on June 27, while founders witnessed networking activities, such as 1:1 meetings and VC After Hours.

On June 27, the RWA Builders Summit discussed important subjects, which involve tokenized precious metals and gold,  stablecoins, intellectual property, the institutional future of RWAs, and real estate. Stage presentations and panel discussions made it evident in the direction they pointed: with expanding infrastructure and increasing market demand, RWAs are set to release unmatched liquidity and expand investor access.

The CEO of Mythical Games, Herman Narula, CEO of Improbable and Co-Founder of Somnia,  John Linden, the CEO of Mythical Games, Aaron Teng, CEO of Igloo Asia (Pudgy Penguins), John Linden, and Garen Mehrabian, Public Masterpiece Co-Founder and COO, discussed IP and RWA ownership in Web3.

Teng pointed out that at its core, crypto is all about genuine ownership. The panelists touched on the need for IPs' practical utility, community, distribution, and digital identity over pure tokenization.

What's next?

Prepare yourselves for Istanbul Blockchain Week 2026, coming back even stronger than before next year.

Look out for even more future-defining innovations, private networking, and engaging experiences that continue to redefine Web3. Follow the official social media channels for the newest information and details about next year's edition!

About ESstanbul Blockchain Week

This year, Istanbul Blockchain Week is the Web3 event everyone's watching. When the world's crypto enthusiasts gather in one of the world's most legendary and culturally vibrant cities for a week of unparalleled innovation, networking, and celebration. With headline events such as DefaiCon, IstanHack, and the RWA Builders Summit, IBW delves deeply into the hottest stories that are redefining the future of finance and real-world asset tokenization.

From high-energy panels and blockbuster project announcements to side events, VIP yacht parties, and an inaugural AI Agent Music Festival, IBW combines business with blockchain and the heart of Istanbul. Founder, builder, investor, or degen, this is where Web3 is making history. Grab your spot before it's too late.

To learn more, check out istanbulblockchainweek.com.