What Was Paris Blockchain Week 2024?
Paris Blockchain Week 2024 was the 5th edition of Europe's most significant blockchain and Web3 conference, held at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris from 9 to 11 April 2024. Organized as the successor to the highly successful 2023 edition (which drew 8,500+ participants), the 2024 edition drew over 10,000 attendees from 85+ countries, 500+ speakers, 400 journalists, and 300 partners. Details sat on the official Paris Blockchain Week website. Running at the Louvre's iconic underground shopping gallery — with the glass pyramid visible overhead — gave this edition a location as legendary as its speaker list.
The event was bookended by a weekend hackathon (April 5–7) and a week of side events, making it a full 10-day blockchain week for Paris. To follow similar shows, check CoinGabbar's crypto conferences list and the crypto events calendar.
Key Themes and Event Highlights
The 5th edition covered open finance, AI, regulation, CBDCs, tokenization, and gaming, with 70%+ C-suite attendance making it one of the most institutionally focused blockchain events in the world.
Event Highlights
- Richard Teng (CEO, Binance) delivered a keynote on blockchain's role in global finance and Paris as a hub for innovation.
- Jeremy Allaire (Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO, Circle) spoke on USDC, stablecoins, and the future of fiat-backed digital currencies.
- Tim Draper (Founder, Draper Associates) headlined the Investors & Founders Day on April 11 and served as a jury member for the Start-in-Block startup competition.
- Brad Garlinghouse (CEO, Ripple), David Marcus (CEO, Lightspark), Mo Shaikh (CEO, Aptos), Paolo Ardoino (CEO, Tether & Bitfinex), Eric Anziani (President and COO, Crypto.com), and Ryan Selkis (CEO, Messari) rounded out a marquee speaker list.
- Fireside chat at the Louvre: Daniela Barbosa (Hyperledger Foundation) and David Cunningham (Global Head of Strategy, Digital Assets, Citi Treasury and Trade Solutions) discussed the future of money and how blockchain is reshaping global trade finance.
- Marina Ferrari (French Secretary of State for Digital Affairs) represented the French government on stage — extending the tradition of French government engagement with the blockchain industry.
- Kingsley Coman (French football star and crypto ambassador) participated in a Day 3 fireside chat on sports and Web3.
- VIP Dinner at the Louvre Pyramid: An exclusive evening event with Louvre views and attendees including the industry's most influential executives.
- Paris Blockchain Week Hackathon (April 5–7): 250+ hackers built at ECE Eiffel Campus. Tracks sponsored by Solana Foundation, XRPL Commons, Casper, and Sia. Winning team: Credential (Solana track) — a platform putting student certifications and diplomas on-chain as non-transferable NFTs. Winners were awarded €4,500 cash plus main stage pitching slots.
- Start-in-Block competition: Web3's largest startup competition with $10M+ in prizes and Tim Draper on the jury, culminating on April 11.
How Blockchain and Web3 Are Growing in France
France was Europe's blockchain pioneer with the PACTE Act in 2019, registering 100+ DASPs through the AMF. Under MiCA (fully applicable from 30 December 2024), existing DASPs can continue under transitional provisions until 1 July 2026. The AMF is regarded as one of Europe's most rigorous MiCA regulators. Bpifrance's Web3 fund supports French blockchain startups. And Paris Blockchain Week itself is a key reason the global blockchain community views Paris as Europe's leading blockchain city. For more shows, see CoinGabbar's crypto conferences list.
Impact of the Event on the Global Blockchain Ecosystem
The 2024 edition was described by attendees as the edition where the industry stopped promising and started proving. Panels moved from theory to concrete pilots: tokenized real estate, carbon credit frameworks, and custody roadmaps. With 70%+ C-suite attendance, Paris Blockchain Week had firmly established itself as the boardroom of the global blockchain industry — not a crypto festival but a forum for decision-makers.
Why Sponsors, Exhibitors and Projects Should Join
- Blockchain protocols and L1s: headline in front of 10,000+ executives and decision-makers who control institutional capital flows.
- DeFi and stablecoin projects: engage with Circle, Tether, and the institutional world exploring USD-pegged settlement rails.
- Startups: compete in Start-in-Block for $10M+ in prizes and Tim Draper's investment attention.
- Enterprise and TradFi firms: present tokenization and RWA use cases to an audience actively deploying capital into digital assets.
To get involved, list a crypto event or email event@coingabbar.io.
Why KOLs, Media and Influencers Attend
Paris Blockchain Week generates significant global media coverage. With 400 journalists on site and the world's top blockchain names on stage, KOLs and media get access to a high-density week of news. Coverage can spread through the crypto press release network.
Why Builders and Participants Join
Builders come for the hackathon, the networking, and the Start-in-Block competition. Investors come to meet the founders who will define the next generation of blockchain applications. With 70% C-suite attendance, every conversation in the room counts.
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 partnership options.
How the Event Concluded and What Came Next
The conference closed on April 11 with the Start-in-Block finals, Tim Draper on stage, and a full house at the Carrousel du Louvre. The hackathon winner Credential had already pitched on the main stage. The industry left Paris with partnerships formed, deals started, and conviction that blockchain's institutional moment had arrived. The 2025 edition continued at the Louvre with even stronger tokenization and RWA content. Track upcoming shows on the crypto events calendar and our crypto conferences page.
Glossary of Key Terms
- Carrousel du Louvre: the underground shopping gallery beneath the Louvre Museum's iconic glass pyramid, the venue for Paris Blockchain Week 2024.
- Start-in-Block: Paris Blockchain Week's annual startup competition, offering $10M+ in prizes, mentorship, and investment exposure.
- RWA (Real-World Asset): a traditional asset like property, bonds, or carbon credits that is tokenized on a blockchain.
- Credential: the 2024 hackathon winning project — a platform that issues student certifications and diplomas as non-transferable NFTs on-chain.
- MiCA: EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, fully applicable from 30 December 2024, which governs crypto asset service providers across all 27 EU member states.
Disclaimer
This page is for general information only. It is not financial, legal, or investment advice. The event described was held in April 2024; future dates and details may differ. Verify with the official source and do your own research. Crypto assets are volatile.
