Leading crypto marketing, public relations, and events company EAK Digital successfully hosted its flagship event, the fourth and largest Istanbul Blockchain Week.
This event will be held from June 26 to 27, 2025, at the Bomonti Hilton in Istanbul, providing global Web3 leaders with high-level discussions, significant announcements, and networking opportunities, solidifying Turkey's increasingly important role in the future of blockchain innovation.
From keynote speeches and panel discussions to roundtables and workshops, this year's event was filled with positive interactions and meaningful dialogues covering a range of topics including stablecoins, real-world assets, exchanges, investments, AI agents, gaming, regulation, and more.
Key speakers included OKX TR Chairman Mehmet Çamır, Tron CEO Justin Sun, HeyAnon and WAGMI CEO Daniele Sestagalli, Garanti BBVA Digital Assets CEO Onur Güven, Mythical Games CEO John Linden, Igloo Asia (Pudgy Penguins) CEO Aaron Teng, Tether Global Expansion VP Marco Dal Lago, among others. In addition, executives from renowned venture capital firms, founders of blockchain startups, legal experts in cryptocurrency regulation, developers, and influencers were also invited.
EAK Digital CEO and founder of Istanbul Blockchain Week, Erhan Korhaliller, commented on the event:
"By bringing together thousands of builders and innovators from around the world to shape the future of Web3, Istanbul Blockchain Week 2025 created a truly unforgettable experience. The two-day event showcased that the ecosystem is not only growing but maturing with purpose. We are proud to have created a platform that can bring about real impact, heralding the next wave of technological innovation."
"This is the largest Istanbul Blockchain Week to date, with many new offerings compared to previous years, including DefaiCon Istanbul, the RWA Builders Summit, and the innovative OG Web3 event BlockDown Festival, which introduced an AI agent-led music experience."
Event Highlights
Justin Sun outlined Tron’s global leadership in stablecoin infrastructure, as well as significant advancements in compliance, institutional partnerships, and real-world adoption, especially in Turkey.
OKX TR Chairman Mehmet Çamır emphasized the increasing importance of regulation in emerging markets like Turkey, where approximately 14 million retail customers are investing in cryptocurrencies.
Ali İhsan Güngör, Executive Vice Chairman of the Turkish Capital Markets Board, announced the upcoming launch of an electronic investor platform that will integrate with the Central Registry Agency (MKK), allowing investors to query their holdings of crypto assets across multiple regulated entities through e-government, ensuring greater legal security and providing clear data for regulators.
Güngör also clarified that NFTs are not subject to capital markets regulations. Platforms offering NFT services must clearly inform clients that NFTs are unregulated and provided in a separate market.
Christian Thompson, Managing Director of the Sui Foundation, announced a training camp at Istanbul Blockchain Week aimed at educating 2,000 to 4,000 Turkish developers over the next 12 to 18 months.
"I think Turkey has nurtured a lot of great engineers. A lot of innovation is happening here in terms of startups. Clearly, there are also many investors here. Most developers are from Web2. Frankly, we need them to move into Web3," Thompson said.
Regarding the Turkish market and Istanbul Blockchain Week, Mythical Games CEO John Linden stated:
"The Turkish market is becoming a powerful gaming hub. There are some very strong companies emerging here. We have a new FIFA game, and the Turkish market is very robust for this game. There are mobile gaming enthusiasts, as well as some football fans. So, this is a market full of potential."
"The atmosphere at Istanbul Blockchain Week is very high-energy. The crowd is overwhelming. It's very well organized. The stage is very glamorous. We are very excited to be part of it."
Kostas Chalkias, co-founder and chief cryptographer of Mysten Labs, showcased new use cases at the intersection of AI and blockchain, such as misinformation detection, AI-driven smart contract audits, and blockchain-verified identity systems.
Daniele Sestagalli, CEO of HeyAnon and WAGMI, introduced HeyAnon—an AI agent for DeFi automation, which disrupts traditional interactions with decentralized ecosystems, enabling users to execute complex DeFi strategies.
Daniele provided a detailed introduction to HUD, an AI-driven trading assistant designed to offer real-time wallet behavior insights, automated technical analysis, and entry and exit strategies based on user context. He emphasized the core principle of AI: making life easier through seamless interaction between AI and humans, without forcing users to switch software.
Exploring the forefront of Web3 and AI innovation
The BlockDown Festival is the world's first AI agent-led festival, concluding the first day of Istanbul Blockchain Week with an unforgettable opening party in collaboration with Pudgy Penguins.
The festival introduced interactive AI elements, showcasing Web3 culture and inviting world-class DJs to explore the intersection of technology, music, and digital culture.
Dealflow Den is the flagship investment matchmaking event of Istanbul Blockchain Week, attracting top venture capital firms such as Coinbase Ventures, Big Brain Holdings, Animoca Brands, Sigma Fund, NewTribe Capital, and more. Selected startups participated in a unique pitch session on June 27, while founders engaged in networking opportunities, including one-on-one meetings and VC dinners.
The RWA Builders Summit held on June 27 discussed key topics including intellectual property, tokenized gold and precious metals, the institutional future of RWA, stablecoins, and real estate. Panel discussions and presentations on stage revealed a clear direction: as infrastructure continues to strengthen and market demand rises, RWA is expected to unlock unprecedented liquidity and broaden access for investors.
Aaron Teng, CEO of Igloo Asia (Pudgy Penguins), Herman Narula, CEO of Improbable and co-founder of Somnia, John Linden, CEO of Mythical Games, and Garen Mehrabian, co-founder and COO of Public Masterpiece discussed intellectual property and RWA ownership in Web3.
Teng emphasized that the core promise of crypto is true ownership. Panel members discussed the practical utility of intellectual property, the importance of community, distribution, and digital identity, going beyond mere tokenization.
What's next?
Get ready for Istanbul Blockchain Week 2026—next year will be bigger than ever.
Look forward to more groundbreaking innovations, exclusive networking opportunities, and immersive experiences that continue to push the boundaries of Web3. Stay tuned to official social channels for the latest updates and announcements on upcoming events!
About Istanbul Blockchain Week
Istanbul Blockchain Week is an annual must-attend Web3 experience—where the global crypto community gathers in one of the world's most iconic and culturally rich cities for a week of unforgettable innovation, networking, and celebration. Through flagship events like DefaiCon, IstanHack, and the RWA Builders Summit, IBW delves into the hot narratives shaping the future of finance and the tokenization of real-world assets.
From high-energy panel discussions and major project unveilings to exclusive side events, VIP yacht parties, and pioneering AI agent music festivals, IBW merges the business of blockchain with the soul of Istanbul. Whether you are a founder, builder, investor, or enthusiast, this is the place where Web3 makes history. Don't miss the chance to be a part of it.