Roughly 25,000 folks gathered in Colorado for the 2025 ETHDenver convention from Feb. 23 to March 2 — an occasion that included the state’s governor and representatives from many crypto firms and US lawmakers.
The annual Ethereum-focused occasion launched in 2017 kicked off this 12 months with its conventional BUIDLWeek, bringing builders collectively for technical shows, boot camps, networking occasions and socializing. Although some attendees commented on the “gloom and doom” of main token costs falling, the final ambiance appeared optimistic.
Many youngsters attended with their mother and father, seemingly entertained by quite a lot of mascots dancing throughout the venue ground, together with the standard ETHDenver Bufficorn — a mix of a buffalo and unicorn. Adults might additionally discover healthful leisure in poker video games, Dogecoin (DOGE)-branded car giveaways, and spork-themed merch — SporkDAO manages the occasion.
Mascot on the convention. Supply: ETHDenver
Colorado Governor Jared Polis spoke on the opening ceremony of the occasion on Feb. 27, jokingly telling attendees that he helped organize the unseasonably heat climate in Denver — simply above 60 levels Fahrenheit (16º Celsius). Although many panels centered on quite a lot of points within the area, from trolling North Korean hackers to crypto in banking, the occasion additionally featured a stage on Feb. 28 solely for coverage considerations.
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Policymakers like Gov. Polis and others have allowed Colorado residents to ship cryptocurrency for tax funds since 2022. The US state can be one of many solely jurisdictions allowing locals to make use of a digital identification card on their telephones in sure circumstances. These could also be a number of of the the explanation why ETHDenver founder John Paller recommended that the convention wasn’t planning on relocating to a different state anytime quickly.
“We’re central, straightforward to get to, enjoyable, and we’re a middle of innovation,” mentioned Gov. Polis at ETHDenver, referring to Colorado.
Within the shadow of dropped SEC circumstances
Hester Peirce of the US Securities and Change Fee (SEC) spoke at ETHDenver in 2024. Although the commissioner didn’t seem in individual this 12 months, the regulator’s actions appeared to impression the group following the SEC’s Feb. 27 announcement that it might dismiss an enforcement motion in opposition to crypto agency Consensys.
“Like many others locally, we’ve been unshackled not too long ago,” mentioned Consensys CEO Joe Lubin throughout a Feb. 27 panel. “The assaults of the previous SEC are behind us, and we’re excited to step up and resume our loud and energetic advocacy for Ethereum, Metropolitan Ethereum, and the trade as a complete.”
Bo Hines, govt director at President Donald Trump’s crypto working group, canceled his ETHDenver look the day he was scheduled to talk. Hines might be administering a crypto summit on the White Home on March 7, which many digital asset CEOs and leaders are anticipated to attend.
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