Yellow Gathers Latest Crypto Insights at EthBarcelona & EthCC
Our teams visited Barcelona and Paris earlier this month to meet with fellow crypto enthusiasts and Yellowians and see what the blockchain industry is up to these days.
Ethereum, with its revolutionary blockchain technology, has been a game-changer in the world of cryptocurrencies. While Bitcoin paved the way for digital assets and decentralized transactions, Ethereum took it further by introducing smart contracts. Created by visionaries like Vitalik Buterin, Gavin Wood, Charles Hoskinson, Anthony Di Iorio, Joseph Lubin, and others, Ethereum’s history is marked by innovation and collaborative efforts.
In late 2013, Vitalik Buterin published the Ethereum white paper, envisioning a blockchain platform capable of hosting various functionalities for developers. The project gained recognition when Buterin presented it at a Bitcoin conference in 2014 and later conducted its initial coin offering (ICO) to fund its development, raising over $18 million in Bitcoin for ETH tokens.
Since its genesis block, mined in July 2015, Ethereum has undergone significant stages of evolution. It transitioned from Frontier to Homestead, Metropolis, and Serenity. The most significant development was the transition to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, completed on September 15, 2022, known as Merge Day. This update was intended to significantly improve Ethereum’s efficiency and scalability, reducing energy consumption by nearly 99.95%.
Things evolve fast
It has been nearly a year since The Merge, and since then, the Yellow team has been actively growing our collection of POAPs while keeping up with the latest developments in the industry and technology. Recently, we had the opportunity to attend two major events, EthBarcelona and EthCC 2023, which took place in Barcelona and Paris, respectively. These conferences showcased remarkable projects and innovations shaping blockchain technology’s future. We were particularly excited about the cooperation across different chains and the new direction in decentralized social networking.
EthBarcelona provided a global platform for developers, industry experts, and enthusiasts to collaborate in an inclusive environment. The event focused on the SolarPunk and LunarPunk movements aimed to inspire attendees to envision a future where technology promotes sustainability and ethical progress. The conference was a true celebration of innovation spiced with an energizing & collaborative spirit, all aligned with the core principles of Ethereum.
At EthBarcelona, we were captivated by the vibrant atmosphere and world-class speakers, including Kevin Owocki, Amanda Keleher, Marc Johnson, Lena Hierzi, Andrea Berry, Adam Gagol, Pedro Gomes, Kyler Wander, and Alon Murdoch. Their valuable insights emphasized blockchain’s potential to transform industries and create positive social impact, emphasizing sustainability, green practices, privacy preservation, and decentralized coordination.
Yellow was honored to sponsor breakfast on Demo Day for the 200 hackers participating in the EthBarcelona Hackathon. Witnessing the solutions they built during the closing ceremony and all the prizes awarded to the winning participants was genuinely inspiring, especially knowing that most of these hackers were building ‘for good.’
The Biggest European Blockchain Event
Next, we journeyed to EthCC 2023 in Paris, where we had the opportunity to explore many innovative projects leading the change toward a decentralized future. Among them, Lens Protocol’s V2 update stood out as a game-changer, dedicated to enhancing platform interactivity and interoperability by implementing Web3 apps.
This transformative update redefined NFT ownership, associating it with user profiles complete with photos, unlocking exciting potential in the metaverse for users to program their land, manage their Lens profile image, and foster social interactions among landowners.
Additionally, we discovered Solang, a cutting-edge compiler by Solana Labs, simplifying the transition of Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) developers to the Solana ecosystem, facilitating interchain cooperation and developer access.
We also had the opportunity to learn about the successful mainnet release of Chainlink Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) which supports multiple blockchains and has been gaining significant attention from institutions, individuals, and asset managers. Jesse Pollak, Coinbase’s director and head of protocols, shared insights on the decentralized future of layer-2 blockchains, emphasizing the need for simplified product development and broader adoption. Once again, we were mind blown at the fast developments in the space and thrilled at the future of blockchain.
As the blockchain ecosystem continues to evolve, attending these events and listening to all these thought leaders reinforced our belief in the transformative power of decentralized technologies. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the organizers for putting together such enriching and inspiring conferences.
The Yellow team left EthBarcelona and EthCC 2023 feeling inspired and motivated, eager to continue contributing to the transformative journey toward a decentralized tomorrow. We embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead, knowing we can create a world where blockchain-powered solutions drive positive change and shape a more inclusive and sustainable future. As the decentralized revolution continues, we are committed to making a lasting impact and being at the forefront of innovation in this exciting and evolving landscape.
