What Was Next Block Expo 2023?
Next Block Expo 2023 was held in Berlin, Germany, on 4 and 5 December 2023. It brought together blockchain founders, DeFi builders, NFT creators, and venture investors to explore the state of Web3 across Germany and wider Europe, closing out the year with sessions spanning infrastructure, decentralised finance, and digital ownership. The official page sat on the Next Block Expo site. As a dedicated blockchain conference in one of Europe's most established startup capitals, it added to Berlin's reputation as a serious Web3 hub beyond Germany's traditional industrial economy.
Berlin's deep startup ecosystem and relatively affordable cost of living compared to London or Zurich have made it a magnet for European crypto talent. To follow similar events, check the crypto events calendar and our crypto expos list.
Key Themes at Next Block Expo
The agenda spanned the European Web3 landscape:
- DeFi protocols and decentralised markets.
- NFTs and digital ownership.
- Blockchain infrastructure and scaling.
- European venture capital and funding trends.
The year-end timing gave the conference a natural retrospective and forward-looking character. Many guests also tracked broader blockchain events through CoinGabbar.
How Web3 Is Growing in Germany
Germany maintains one of Europe's most thoughtful crypto regulatory environments. BaFin, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, has licensed crypto custody since 2020 under a dedicated national framework that predated MiCA, and Germany notably exempts crypto held for over one year from capital gains tax for individual investors, a policy that has made the country genuinely attractive for long-term Bitcoin and crypto holders. As MiCA became fully applicable from December 2024, BaFin transitioned into the role of national competent authority under the EU-wide framework.
Berlin specifically carries an additional layer of significance: the city's early Bitcoin-friendly culture in the 2010s, combined with its broader reputation as continental Europe's startup capital, created fertile ground for blockchain founders and developers to settle. Next Block Expo reflected this maturity, drawing both German-rooted projects and the wider community of European builders who have made Berlin home. For more shows, see CoinGabbar's crypto conferences page.
Impact of Next Block Expo on Germany's Web3 Ecosystem
A dedicated blockchain conference in Berlin advanced Germany's broader Web3 ecosystem. It connected German-based founders with European capital. It surfaced BaFin's regulatory approach as MiCA's full implementation approached. And it reinforced Berlin's standing as a genuine European Web3 hub alongside its broader startup reputation. Each edition deepened that local ecosystem.
Why Sponsors, Exhibitors and Partners Should Join
Next Block Expo reached Germany's broader crypto and startup community. Strong fits included:
- DeFi protocols: engage German and European builders.
- NFT and digital ownership platforms: reach Berlin's creative tech scene.
- BaFin-licensed custody providers: showcase compliant infrastructure.
- European venture funds: source German Web3 deal flow.
- Blockchain infrastructure firms: recruit Berlin-based developers.
To get involved, you can list your event with the CoinGabbar team.
Why KOLs, Media and Influencers Attend
Berlin's blend of Bitcoin heritage and startup-capital energy makes for a distinctive Web3 story. Creators met German and European builders shaping the continent's broader blockchain conversation. Coverage can spread through the press release network.
Why Builders and Participants Join
For Web3 founders and developers in Germany and Europe, Next Block Expo offered a home-turf gathering with genuine European depth. You met DeFi and NFT builders from across the continent, explored Germany's favourable long-term crypto tax treatment with peers navigating the same rules, and connected with Berlin's broader startup and venture capital ecosystem. Many left with European partnerships and a clearer year-end view of where the industry stood heading into 2024.
Tickets and PR Offers With CoinGabbar
Building Web3 products for the German or European market? CoinGabbar offers ticket discounts at partner events and free or discounted press release publishing for projects booked through us. To sponsor or add your event to our digital asset events list, email event@coingabbar.io.
How the Event Concluded and What Came Next
Next Block Expo 2023 closed out the year with DeFi, NFT, and infrastructure sessions, leaving Germany's Web3 community well-connected heading into 2024's spot ETF approval and broader market recovery. BaFin's MiCA transition continued unfolding in the following year. By hosting the conference in Berlin, it reinforced the city's role as continental Europe's blend of Bitcoin heritage and startup energy. To follow what came next, see CoinGabbar's crypto summits page and our Web3 tech events list.
Glossary of Key Terms
- BaFin: Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, licensing crypto custody since 2020.
- MiCA: the EU's unified crypto rulebook, fully applicable across Germany from December 2024.
- Long-term capital gains exemption: Germany's policy exempting crypto held over one year from capital gains tax for individuals.
- DeFi: decentralised finance, financial services on Ethereum and other blockchains without traditional intermediaries.
- Crypto custody: the regulated, safe storage and management of crypto assets on behalf of clients.
Disclaimer
This page is for general information only. It is not financial, legal, or tax advice. This is a Web3 conference that took place in December 2023; future dates and details may differ. German and EU crypto rules may change; always check current BaFin guidance. Please confirm with the official source and do your own research. Crypto assets are volatile and can lose value.
