What Was NFT Paris 2023?
NFT Paris 2023 was Europe's largest NFT and Web3 conference, held at the Grand Palais éphémère at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, on 24 to 25 February 2023. The second edition of the annual event saw extraordinary growth — surging from around 500 attendees in 2022 to over 18,000 visitors in 2023. Designed to bridge traditional industries with the NFT and Web3 ecosystem, the two-day conference brought together NFT collectors, artists, brand executives, government officials, and blockchain founders. Details sat on the official NFT Paris website. Paris's cultural prestige and France's early blockchain framework made it the natural home for Europe's flagship NFT summit.
To follow similar shows, check CoinGabbar's NFT events hub and the crypto events calendar.
Key Themes and Event Highlights
The agenda blended art, culture, brand strategy, and Web3 technology across two packed days.
Event Highlights
- Scale and reach: Over 18,000 visitors attended — 36× the 2022 edition — from collectors and artists to executives of multinational brands and French government officials. The growth signalled NFT Paris had become a true mainstream event.
- Brigitte Macron (First Lady of France) attended, alongside Jean-Noël Barrot (Minister Delegate for Digital Affairs), marking one of the highest-profile government endorsements of an NFT event in European history.
- Speakers: Greg Solano (Co-Founder, Yuga Labs / Bored Ape Yacht Club), Julian Holguin (CEO, Doodles), Sandeep Nailwal (Co-Founder, Polygon), Stani Kulechov (Founder, Aave), Yat Siu (CEO, Animoca Brands), Sébastien Borget (Co-Founder and COO, The Sandbox), Matt Medved (CEO, NFT Now), Ivan Soto-Wright (CEO, MoonPay), and Sandy Carter among others.
- Corporate brands present: LVMH, L'Oréal, Volkswagen, Shopify, Salesforce, and more brought enterprise-level NFT conversations to the main stage.
- Art exhibitions: The World of Women (WoW), MakersPlace, The Fabricant, and Eyes of Fashion staged a 52-screen digital art exhibition at the NFT Factory, celebrating women and non-binary artists in Web3. The Art Blocks × Ledger exhibition featured generative NFT artworks on 51 screens.
- Notable launches: Tom Sachs: Rocket Factory launched its booth at the main event. KnownOrigin and DeadFellaz staged an immersive exhibition and afterparty. Arianee hosted Lens Protocol to introduce attendees to social Web3.
- Side events: A packed week of side events ran from February 22–25, including the DeGods × Pudgy Penguins Boat Party, WoW community meetup, and Axie Infinity Happy Hour.
How NFTs and Web3 Are Growing in France
France was a Web3 pioneer with the PACTE Act in 2019, registering over 100 Digital Asset Service Providers (DASPs) through the AMF. Under MiCA, which became fully applicable on 30 December 2024, France's AMF is regarded as one of Europe's most rigorous regulators. The transitional period for existing DASPs runs to 1 July 2026. Bpifrance runs a dedicated Web3 fund for blockchain startups. Paris Blockchain Week and this event itself make Paris the city where European NFT and blockchain culture converges. For more French shows, see CoinGabbar's NFT events page.
Impact of the Event on the European NFT Ecosystem
The 2023 event transformed NFT Paris from a community gathering into a mainstream industry summit. Brigitte Macron's attendance and Jean-Noël Barrot's participation gave the NFT sector government legitimacy in Europe's largest creator economy. The 36× growth in attendance proved that NFT interest was expanding rapidly beyond native crypto audiences. The event helped accelerate brand and enterprise adoption of NFTs across luxury, fashion, and entertainment sectors.
Why Sponsors, Exhibitors and Projects Should Join
- NFT projects and blue-chip collections: reach Europe's largest NFT-native audience in the world's most culturally resonant city.
- Consumer brands and luxury houses: explore NFT loyalty, phygital products, and fan engagement with Europe's NFT community.
- Blockchains and L2s: showcase developer tools and win NFT studios to your ecosystem.
- Art platforms and galleries: connect with collectors and institutions in a city with unmatched cultural infrastructure.
To get involved, list a crypto event or email event@coingabbar.io.
Why KOLs, Media and Influencers Attend
Paris generates great content naturally — add the world's largest NFT crowd and you have a week of stories. KOLs and media meet global project founders, brand strategists, and government officials. Coverage can spread through the crypto press release network.
Why Artists and Participants Join
Artists come to meet collectors, get featured in exhibitions, and connect with platforms looking for their next creative partnerships. Collectors discover new projects and artists. Founders meet enterprise brand buyers in a single city.
Tickets and PR Offers With CoinGabbar
CoinGabbar offers ticket discounts at partner events and free or discounted press release publishing. Email event@coingabbar.io for details.
How the Event Concluded and What Came Next
The event closed with two extraordinary days that put European NFT culture on the global map. The week's side events, exhibitions, and parties extended the energy across Paris. NFT Paris 2023 set the standard for how mainstream an NFT event could be, with government officials and luxury brands sharing stages with Yuga Labs and Animoca. It paved the way for the 2024 edition and cemented Paris as the NFT capital of Europe. Track upcoming shows on the crypto events calendar and our NFT events page.
Glossary of Key Terms
- Yuga Labs: the company behind Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), one of the world's most famous NFT collections; co-founder Greg Solano spoke at the event.
- PACTE Act: France's 2019 law that established the first formal framework for crypto service providers in Europe.
- Phygital: a product or experience that exists both physically and digitally, often using NFTs to represent the digital twin.
- Generative art: digital art created through an algorithm or code, often minted as NFTs on platforms like Art Blocks.
- AMF: France's Autorité des Marchés Financiers, the financial markets regulator and the MiCA competent authority for CASPs in France.
Disclaimer
This page is for general information only. It is not financial, legal, or investment advice. The event described was held in February 2023; future dates and details may differ. Verify with the official source and do your own research. NFT and crypto assets are volatile.
