The venue for this, the first time it was held in Dubai, was Madinat Jumeirah, located in the souk of a luxury resort. It is a complex that includes a general store that recreates a traditional Middle Eastern market, restaurants, and a five-star hotel.
The Burj Arab, a 7-star hotel, can be seen from the terrace with a beautiful water view, and it is also a famous photo spot.
To tell you about my history in TOKEN2049, this is my third time counting from my first participation in 2022. Participating in the event held in Singapore every September has become an annual event.
During this time, the F1 Singapore Plum Festival is also being held, but hotel prices have jumped to about three times the normal price.
However, for those in the industry, TOKEN2049 is an event that offers more value than the high hotel fees.
There are various things you can learn by participating in events
Some ways to enjoy the event include getting the latest information from the speakers' speeches, researching popular projects and products at the booth, and meeting up with business partners you wouldn't normally meet as people gather from all over the world, and networking to find clients and partners. , a wide range of projects and community-sponsored afterparties, and a very intense time will be concentrated in this one week.
Arisa Toyosaki of Cega Finance, whom I interviewed for the Crypto Journey issue released in January of this year, started talking to me after she gave a speech at the event in Singapore last year.
After a speech about a project that is attracting attention, there is always a line to get to the speaker. Even after Mr. Toyosaki's speech last year, there was a long line, so I was unable to speak to him.
To participate in TOKEN2049, you need to buy a ticket. When you go to the official website purchase page, you will see a super early bird price, which means it is better to buy early.
Each ticket costs about $500, but the price increases as the deadline approaches. When I participated in the race in 2022, reservations were made at the last minute, so I remember purchasing one ticket for 150,000 yen.
Not the resale price. Official price. The price will be surprising to the general public.
This time, it will be held in Dubai, which is also my home, so of course there is no reason not to go. The high expectations can be seen from the fact that the 10,000 tickets sold out two weeks ago.
Everyone probably has an image of Dubai that is favorable toward crypto assets, but when I live there, I find that crypto asset-related businesses find it difficult to open a bank account and have difficulty getting a license for crypto assets. Although it is very difficult to apply to VARA (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority), the issuing regulatory authority, and it is possible to pay for real estate, cars, etc. with crypto assets, crypto assets are still not pervasive in everyday life. I haven't. In fact, there are some areas where I still feel that there is still strong opposition.
In neighboring Qatar, it is taboo for experts to even discuss crypto assets. On the other hand, the NFT community is thriving in Saudi Arabia, and there are some areas where users are feeling the initial urge to respond to rumors of the lifting of the ban on crypto assets.
VR artist Aimi Sekiguchi is expanding her range of activities by collaborating with embassies in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, airlines, and more.
The impact that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market will have on the crypto asset industry, which is highly sensitive to the latest technology and has a population of over 500 million people, will be immeasurable.
That's why we established our company in Dubai last year. Crypto assets are common all over the world, and BTC is not cheaper in Japan than in the United States.
Whether it's India, France, or Brazil, BTC is BTC. I think the most important point of crypto assets is that they are a global domain from the beginning. That's all.
Holding TOKEN2049 in the Middle East, where the industry has the potential for further development and maturity, has become more meaningful than ever.
At the venue, you will register in advance using the QR code attached to your email and receive a name plate and wristband. This nameplate also has the company name written on it and can serve as a business card for networking. Once you step inside, you'll be surprised by the excitement of the venue.
The event booths are lined up like food stalls, and the crowd of people coming and going makes it look like a festival. I'm sure you'll be excited about the future prospects of crypto assets.
Some of the booths include a blockchain game project with an amusement park-inspired punching machine and basketball games, a space where you can smoke shisha in a Middle Eastern style, and each area has its own characteristics, from snacks and drinks to music and camels. It feels like visiting a theme park.
Last year in Singapore, there was a barber shop in the booth, and I was surprised to see that they actually cut hair. This is my third time participating in the competition, and I feel that the number of companies opening stores has increased significantly compared to 2022.
I believe that the excitement of these booths is also an important indicator for "seeing" the industry, and clearly represents trends and ecosystems in each field.
The big miscalculation this time was that Dubai was hit by massive flooding due to record heavy rains. Most roads were flooded after a year's worth of rain fell in one day.
The unprecedented event caused havoc in an area where it only rains a few times a year and even normal rain can paralyze transportation.
Many of them arrived in Dubai the day before the event, but were forced to wait for a long time to get off the plane, some were unable to catch a taxi and walked for a long time, getting soaked to their hotels, and some were unable to return home.
It usually takes about 20 minutes by taxi from my home to the venue, but on the day of the event, it took an hour and a half.
At the same time, my schedule was chaotic, and by the second day I had 10 appointments from morning until night, and by the time I got home I was so exhausted that I had completely stopped thinking.
However, this time I had a much more satisfying time than last time. In my case, it was a very meaningful opportunity to gather the pieces necessary for our company's services, such as meet-ups with business partners such as funds and business negotiations with new business partners.
Although online meetings have become mainstream due to the coronavirus, the act of meeting face-to-face is still very important. I was able to reconfirm that face-to-face interaction is an opportunity to create future connections.
Relationships with people you connect with through local encounters
If you need anything during your interactions, they will support you and give you support. When I see how people from different countries, languages, and cultural backgrounds connect around the single theme of cryptography, and how dots become lines and surfaces that take shape as products, I can't help but feel the potential of this field. I can't do it. That's why crypto is interesting.
As I was walking around the venue, I encountered a Japanese person. This is Joe Takayama, a crypto asset Youtuber that everyone knows.
This time, he came to the venue to have a meetup with a project he has invested in. Soon after, I spotted a lovely woman wearing a yukata. This is Noroi-chan, a KOL (Key Opinion Leader). I can't call him properly, so I call him Noroi-san, but Noroi-san was also there at a meetup for a new project.
While I was standing and talking with Noroi-san, a cheerful woman approached me. This is Leila from Coin Post. She introduced me to the XRP team. This casual interaction is very important, and it's interesting because we don't know when, where, or how we will connect.
Next, let's introduce how to enjoy side events. During the week of the event, side events are held somewhere every day.
Since the ticket price for TOKEN2049 itself is high, there have been many young people in Singapore and elsewhere who come to the venue to participate in side events. Twice in the past, I gave taxi rides to young Japanese people who were attending the event.
These side events are introduced on TOKEN2049's official website, etc., and they generally require advance registration and are often free of charge. It would be a good idea to check out this list and go to the event you are looking for. I attended the Binance VIP afterparty on the second night.
I usually go alone, so it's very lonely, but when I'm wandering around with champagne in hand, I somehow end up striking up a conversation with someone.
At times like these, being able to meet face-to-face with the person in charge is of great significance. The next night I attended the Bybit VIP gala party.
This place had a dress code, was seated, had a show, and had a course meal, so I was very satisfied. I had a meaningful time talking with Ben, the CEO of Bybit.
Due to the limited number of characters that can be expressed in writing, it is a pity that I cannot tell you everything, but if you have even the slightest interest, please come to an event like this and learn about the diverse industries in various countries. We recommend that you interact with people.
You can definitely see the future of crypto. However, do not forget that English is mandatory.
There is good news for those who find it difficult to participate in overseas events. WebX, Japan's largest Web 3.0 conference, will be held at Tokyo Prince Hotel Park Tower on August 28-29 this year.
Our company will also have a booth as a platinum sponsor. If you are interested, please come and visit us.
Profile
◉Hiroki Nagatomo
JADE VENTURES Founder
J-CAM MIDDLE EAST COO
Born in 1988. Started his own business while attending Yokohama City University. We have developed multiple businesses, including temporary staffing companies and restaurants, with a focus on sales promotion for major telecommunications carriers. After transferring the business in 2018, he has traveled to more than 30 countries, mainly in Europe. Through repeated cultural exchanges such as gourmet food, lifestyle, and social interaction, he learned that wealthy overseas people are paying attention to crypto assets. Later, after meeting Mr. Niitsu, the representative of J-CAM, he launched "BitLending", an asset formation platform for the Web 3.0 era in 2022. With innovative ideas that overturn common sense, he has raised the standard of the crypto lending industry and has gained support from many users. Currently residing in Dubai, he uses his unique network and footwork to contribute to many businesses in the BizDev field of global companies, while also reporting on industry celebrities as a columnist.
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