WEBTHREEPEDIA RESEARCH

EthCC[9] Cannes BD Intelligence Brief

Event Intelligence Agent|May 20, 2026|Event Intel

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

EthCC[9] runs March 28 – April 4, 2026 in Cannes, France, with creating Europe's largest Ethereum networking week. Key themes dominate: (RWA tokenization, stablecoins), (L2s, wallets, privacy), **AI x Crypto co...

Executive Summary

EthCC[9] runs March 28 – April 4, 2026 in Cannes, France, with 201 curated side events creating Europe's largest Ethereum networking week. Key themes dominate: DeFi institutional adoption (RWA tokenization, stablecoins), infrastructure scaling (L2s, wallets, privacy), AI x Crypto convergence, and regulatory compliance (MiCA, institutional onboarding).

Strategic Focus: This is THE event for institutional BD—major announcements from Aave (v4 launch targeting $1T+ TVL), Starknet (Bitcoin DeFi bridge), MetaMask (USDC stablecoin integration), and Chainlink (DTCC $114T collateral platform). Family offices managing $800B+ are hosting private summits.

Registration Status: Successfully registered for 4 high-priority events, 4 pending approval. Two premium events require paid tickets ($100-170).

Registration Status

| Event | Date | Time | Status | Action Required | |-------|------|------|--------|-----------------| | DeFi Day | Mon 3/30 | 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM | ✅ Confirmed | Check ric@staex.io for confirmation | | Quantum Qafe Coffee Meetup | Mon 3/30 | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | ✅ Confirmed | Check ric@staex.io for confirmation | | WalletCon Cannes 2026 | Tue 3/31 | 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM | ✅ Confirmed | Check ric@staex.io for confirmation | | 🇫🇷 ETHCC Château Happy Hour 🥂 | Mon 3/30 | 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM | ✅ Confirmed | Verified registration | | Starknet Party | Tue 3/31 | 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM | ⏳ Pending | Monitor email for approval | | Trader Summit by Kickoff.fun | Wed 4/1 | 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM | ⏳ Pending | Monitor email for approval | | Wine & Web3 Growth | Mon 3/30 | 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM | ⏳ Pending | Monitor email for approval | | Private Garden Party | Thu 4/2 | 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM | ⏳ Pending | Monitor email for approval | | Builder Nights Cannes | Mon 3/30 | 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM | ❌ Failed | Try day-of walk-up (71 attendees) | | Founder x VC Happy Hour | Mon 3/30 | 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM | ❌ Failed | Try day-of walk-up (41 attendees) | | Quantstamp x Zircuit Secret Garden | Tue 3/31 | 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM | ❌ Failed | Reach out directly to organizers | | Family Offices & Investors Summit | Mon 3/30 | 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM | 💰 Paid Event | $100 ticket - consider ROI | | Proof of Liquidity | Mon 3/30 | 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM | 💰 Paid Event | $170 ticket - HIGH VALUE for BD | | TokenizeThis Cannes | Mon 3/30 | 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM | 💰 Paid Event | $29 ticket - RECOMMENDED | | DeFi in the Sky 3.0 | Wed 4/1 | 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM | 🚫 Sold Out | Waitlist or network for +1 |

Day-by-Day Intelligence

Day 1: Saturday, March 28

Status: Warm-up day. Main conference hasn't started—focus on technical/builder events.

Priority Events:

| Time | Event | Tier | Registration | Why Go | |------|-------|------|--------------|---------| | 11:30 AM - 7:00 PM | 👹 BEAST MODE - zkEVM/Ethproofs | B | Open | Privacy tech deep-dive; good for technical BD if your tech stack uses ZK | | 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Rayls Hackathon | C | Open | RWA/Institutional focus; small group (20), early relationship building |

Recommendation: Arrive in Cannes, settle in, scout venues for Mon-Wed. Use Saturday for informal coffee meetings if contacts are in town early. Otherwise, rest up—Monday is the critical day.

Day 2: Sunday, March 29

Status: Side events ramp up. Evening networking intensifies.

Priority Events:

| Time | Event | Tier | Registration | Why Go | |------|-------|------|--------------|---------| | 2:00 PM - 12:00 AM | Institutions Onchain | A | Open (26 attendees) | DeFi + Institutional focus. Perfect BD positioning. | | 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM | The Gate [CANNES] | A | Open | Tori, Delphi Ventures & RockawayX—top-tier VC networking | | 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM | Investors Meetup by Hybrid Capital | A+ | Open (26 attendees) | Pure VC/Institutional—HIGH BD PRIORITY | | 10:00 PM - 1:00 AM | The Cannes Digital Assets House | B | Open (24 attendees) | RWA-focused late-night networking |

Key People to Meet:

Representatives from Delphi Ventures — One of crypto's most active VCs. Recent: Led rounds in L2 infrastructure. Talking point: Ask about their thesis on L2 liquidity fragmentation vs. Aave v4's Hub-and-Spoke model.
Tori (Event Host) — Well-connected in European crypto circles. Talking point: Discuss regulatory clarity post-MiCA and institutional onboarding playbooks.
Hybrid Capital Team — Institutional allocators. Talking point: Reference Chainlink's DTCC integration ($114T collateral platform Q4 2026 launch)—how are they positioning for tokenized collateral?

Schedule Recommendation:

Afternoon (2:00 PM): Attend Institutions Onchain—arrive early, work the room
Evening (7:00 PM): Hit The Gate for VC introductions
Night (8:00 PM): Pivot to Investors Meetup (overlap OK—most critical event of Sunday)
Late (10:00 PM+): If energy remains, swing by Digital Assets House for RWA conversations

Day 3: Monday, March 30 — CRITICAL DAY

Status: Main conference begins. Highest concentration of decision-makers. 8+ premium networking events.

Priority Events:

| Time | Event | Tier | Registration | Why Go | |------|-------|------|--------------|---------| | 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM | TokenizeThis Cannes | A+ | Paid ($29) | MUST ATTEND. RWA Summit by RedStone. Speakers from Fidelity, Apollo, Franklin Templeton. | | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Quantum Qafe Coffee Meetup | B+ | ✅ Registered | 35 attendees—casual, high-value intros | | 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM | DeFi Day | A+ | ✅ Registered | Aave-hosted @ Palais des Festivals. JPMorgan, Circle, Mastercard speakers. CRITICAL. | | 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Family Offices Summit + Michelin Dinner | A+ | Paid ($100) | 80 family offices, $800B AUM, $100M+ minimum. Consider strongly. | | 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM | Proof of Liquidity | A+ | Paid ($170) | Yield Network x INK. Institutional deal flow. $170M+ TVL deployments. HIGHEST BD ROI. | | 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM | Builder Nights Cannes | A | ❌ Walk-up | MetaMask, Linea, Pudgy, LiFi. 71 attendees—massive. Try walk-up. | | 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM | Founder x VC Happy Hour | A+ | ❌ Walk-up | 41 attendees. Prime VC networking. Try walk-up or reach out for +1. | | 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM | 🇫🇷 ETHCC Château Happy Hour | B+ | ✅ Registered | Security-focused, 33 attendees. Good for technical BD. | | 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM | Wine & Web3 Growth | A | ⏳ Pending | VC + Other topics, 31 attendees. Pending approval. | | 9:00 PM - 12:00 AM | The Privacy Table | B+ | Open | Dinner—Privacy/Security/Institutional. 25 attendees. Intimate setting. |

Key People to Meet:

Stani Kulechov (Aave CEO) — Will be at DeFi Day. Recent: Announced Aave v4 (Hub-and-Spoke liquidity unification targeting $1T+ TVL), Horizon (RWA tokenization for institutions), and Aave App (mass onboarding). Talking point: "Saw your v4 announcement—how are you thinking about the Hub-and-Spoke model's impact on cross-chain liquidity? We're building [your product] and see huge synergy with Horizon's institutional RWA collateral."
Circle Representatives — At DeFi Day. Recent: Strategic partnerships with FIS, DSRV, OSL Group, Hyperliquid. MetaMask USD stablecoin launching on Ethereum/Linea. Talking point: "Circle's USDC partnerships with SWIFT pilots (JPMorgan, HSBC) are game-changing. How do you see stablecoin settlement evolving under MiCA compliance?"
RedStone Team (TokenizeThis organizers) — Recent: Acquired STM.co and TokenizeThis brand; publishing Tokenization & RWA Standards Report 2026 with Credora, Gauntlet & Dune. Talking point: "Your RWA Standards Report is essential reading. What do you see as the biggest gap between TradFi expectations and DeFi infrastructure for tokenized assets?"
Yield Network & INK Founders (Proof of Liquidity) — Recent: Yield Network orchestrated $170M+ TVL deployments; INK Chain (Kraken's L2) scaled to $500M+ TVL since Dec 2024 launch. Talking point: "Proof of Liquidity's Capital Formation Summit model is brilliant. How are you structuring liquidity deals between allocators and L2s/RWAs? We're exploring treasury management solutions."

Schedule Recommendation (CRITICAL ROUTING):

11:00 AM: Start at TokenizeThis (RWA Summit)—stay until 1:00 PM, focus on Fidelity/Apollo/Franklin Templeton reps
12:00 PM: Swing by Quantum Qafe for quick coffee intros (12:00-12:30), then return to TokenizeThis
1:00 PM: Transition to DeFi Day @ Palais des Festivals—this is your anchor event until 5:00 PM
- Target Stani Kulechov, Circle team, JPMorgan/Mastercard speakers
4:00-5:00 PM: Decision point:
- Option A (RECOMMENDED): If BD pipeline justifies $170, attend Proof of Liquidity (5:00 PM start). This is THE institutional capital event.
- Option B: If budget-conscious, attend Family Offices Summit (4:00 PM, $100) for 1 hour, then pivot to Proof of Liquidity at 5:00 PM (buy ticket day-of if needed).
8:00 PM: You have 4 overlapping events—prioritize Founder x VC Happy Hour (try walk-up) OR Builder Nights (71 attendees, MetaMask/Linea heavy). If neither works, fall back to Château Happy Hour (confirmed).
9:00 PM+: If energy remains, The Privacy Table dinner is intimate (25 people)—excellent for deep BD conversations.

Day 4: Tuesday, March 31

Status: Main conference continues. Wallet/infrastructure focus. Major evening parties.

Priority Events:

| Time | Event | Tier | Registration | Why Go | |------|-------|------|--------------|---------| | 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM | Real-World Asset Summit Cannes | A | Open (27 attendees) | Full-day RWA conference. Complement to TokenizeThis. | | 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM | WalletCon Cannes 2026 | A+ | ✅ Registered | WalletConnect-hosted. Payments infrastructure. Circle, Ledger, Stellar speakers. | | 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Lido Day | A | Open (26 attendees) | Staking protocol conference—good for infrastructure BD | | 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Quantstamp x Zircuit Secret Garden | A | ❌ Reach out | AI + Security + DeFi. 30 attendees. Try direct outreach to organizers. | | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | ETHCC Networking Mixer (Fabric Ventures & NextBlock) | A+ | Open (28 attendees) | AI + VC + DeFi focus. Prime VC networking. | | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Private SunDAO: Investors Speed Dating | A+ | Open (12 attendees) | VC + Institutional speed dating. Small, curated. HIGH ROI. | | 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM | SunDAO: Investors & Builders Mixer | A | Open (20 attendees) | Follow-up to speed dating. VC focus. | | 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM | Starknet Party | A | ⏳ Pending | 41 attendees. Major L2 networking. Monitor approval email. | | 10:00 PM - 2:00 AM | Palme de DeFi (Octav, DefiLlama, Trezor) | B+ | Open (24 attendees) | DeFi + Infrastructure—late-night casual networking |

Key People to Meet:

Jess Houlgrave (CEO, WalletConnect) — Recent: Announced WalletConnect Pay. Talking point: "WalletConnect Pay's merchant integration is a huge unlock. How are you thinking about on-chain payments vs. traditional rails under MiCA?"
Riaz Bordie (CTO, WalletConnect) & Ignacio Rivera (Head of Product) — Both speaking at WalletCon. Talking point: "Your Payments Stack panel with Circle/Rootstock/Stacks is perfect for our BD focus. What's the biggest friction point in wallet-to-merchant payments today?"
Starknet Core Team — Recent: Announced Shinobi upgrade (native privacy April 2026), strkBTC (1:1 Bitcoin-backed asset with ZK privacy), Bitcoin DeFi bridge with Alpen (Glock verifier). Talking point: "The Bitcoin DeFi bridge is massive. With strkBTC and native privacy launching, how are you positioning Starknet for institutional Bitcoin liquidity?"
Fabric Ventures & NextBlock Partners — Top European VCs. Talking point: Reference Aave's $885M fees this year ($50T abundance assets vision by 2050). Ask: "What's your thesis on DeFi's institutional breakout—RWAs, stablecoins, or novel primitives?"

Schedule Recommendation:

12:00 PM: Start at WalletCon—stay until 3:00 PM
- Target Jess Houlgrave, Circle's Corey Cooper, Ledger's Laurent Castillo
3:00 PM: If you can access Quantstamp Secret Garden, prioritize it (AI + Security is hot). Otherwise, stay at WalletCon or pivot to RWA Summit.
6:00 PM: CRITICAL DECISION:
- Option A (RECOMMENDED): Attend Private SunDAO Investors Speed Dating (6:00-8:00 PM)—12 curated VCs/institutions, structured intros
- Option B: Attend ETHCC Networking Mixer (Fabric Ventures)—28 attendees, AI/VC/DeFi focus
- Pro Tip: Do speed dating 6:00-7:30, then pivot to Networking Mixer at 7:30 PM
7:00-8:00 PM: Transition to SunDAO Builders Mixer (follow-up to speed dating)
9:00 PM: If Starknet Party approval comes through, GO. 41 attendees, major L2 networking.
10:00 PM+: Wind down at Palme de DeFi (DefiLlama, Trezor)—casual, late-night connections

Day 5: Wednesday, April 1

Status: Mid-week pivot—fewer conferences, more intimate dinners/parties. AI x Crypto focus intensifies.

Priority Events:

| Time | Event | Tier | Registration | Why Go | |------|-------|------|--------------|---------| | 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM | Hack Seasons Conference Cannes | B+ | Open (16 attendees) | RWA + DeFi + VC. Small, curated. | | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM | THE LOCAL: Rooftop Brunch for Founders/Funders | A+ | Open (27 attendees) | VC + Community. Perfect BD setting. | | 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM | OpenClaw Cannes Meetup | B+ | Open (30 attendees) | AI + DeFi + Infrastructure. Hot topic. | | 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM | DeFi in the Sky 3.0 | A+ | 🚫 SOLD OUT | 36 attendees. DeFi + Infrastructure + RWA. Try waitlist/network for +1. | | 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM | Trader Summit by Kickoff.fun | A | ⏳ Pending | 40 attendees. Markets focus. Monitor approval. | | 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM | Proof of Liquidity: VIP Dinner (Yield Network, INK, Funders) | A+ | Open (20 attendees) | HIGHEST BD PRIORITY. Follow-up to Mon's Proof of Liquidity. | | 9:00 PM - 12:00 AM | Cannes After Hours: Builders + Security | B+ | Open (15 attendees) | AI + DeFi + Security—intimate group |

Key People to Meet:

Kickoff.fun Founders — Markets/trading focus. Talking point: "Trader Summit's timing is perfect—with Hyperliquid's growth ($500M+ TVL), how are decentralized trading venues competing with CEXs on liquidity?"
Yield Network & INK Leadership (VIP Dinner) — Follow-up from Monday's Proof of Liquidity. Talking point: "Proof of Liquidity's model for connecting allocators to L2s/RWAs is exactly what the space needs. What's the typical deal structure—liquidity mining incentives, direct TVL injections, or hybrid?"
OpenClaw Team — AI + DeFi + Infrastructure. Talking point: "AI agents managing DeFi positions are the next frontier. How are you thinking about risk management and autonomous agent capital controls?"

Schedule Recommendation:

1:00 PM: Attend THE LOCAL Rooftop Brunch—VC/Founder networking, arrive early (27 attendees)
6:30 PM: OpenClaw Meetup for AI x DeFi conversations
8:00 PM: If Trader Summit approval comes through, attend. Otherwise, try to get into DeFi in the Sky 3.0 (waitlist/network).
9:00 PM: CRITICAL: Attend Proof of Liquidity VIP Dinner (20 people, invite-required but check walk-up). This is the highest-value institutional BD dinner of the week.
Post-dinner: Swing by Cannes After Hours if energy remains

Day 6: Thursday, April 2

Status: Conference winds down. Smaller, curated events. Focus on follow-ups.

Priority Events:

| Time | Event | Tier | Registration | Why Go | |------|-------|------|--------------|---------| | 11:30 AM - 8:00 PM | Pragma Cannes | A | Open (24 attendees) | Infrastructure + DeFi + Institutional. Oracle/data focus. | | 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Private Garden Party | A+ | ⏳ Pending | 33 attendees. Infrastructure + Privacy. HIGH VALUE. Monitor approval. | | 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM | DeFi Founders Club: Cannes | A | Open (20 attendees) | Curated DeFi founders—excellent for technical BD | | 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM | Pre-afterparty: Cheese & Wine (ChainSecurity & Frankencoin) | B+ | Open (30 attendees) | DeFi + Security + RWA. Relaxed networking. | | 9:30 PM - 12:30 AM | Private DeFi Soirée | A+ | Open (24 attendees) | Invite-only vibe—check if you can access. |

Key People to Meet:

Pragma Team — Oracle/data infrastructure for DeFi. Talking point: "Oracles are the unsung heroes of DeFi. With Chainlink's DTCC integration, how are you positioning Pragma for institutional use cases?"
ChainSecurity & Frankencoin Teams — Security + DeFi + RWA. Talking point: "Security audits are table stakes now. What are you seeing as the biggest smart contract vulnerabilities in RWA protocols?"

Schedule Recommendation:

11:30 AM: Attend Pragma Cannes for oracle/data infrastructure networking
4:00 PM: If Private Garden Party approval comes through, GO (33 attendees, Infrastructure + Privacy—perfect BD mix)
6:00 PM: DeFi Founders Club for founder-to-founder conversations
7:00 PM: Cheese & Wine Pre-afterparty—relaxed, 30 people, good wind-down networking
9:30 PM: Try to access Private DeFi Soirée (24 attendees, exclusive)

Day 7: Friday, April 3

Status: Wind-down day. Most attendees departing. Informal brunches only.

Priority Events:

| Time | Event | Tier | Registration | Why Go | |------|-------|------|--------------|---------| | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | ETHGlobal Finalists & Founders Brunch | B+ | Open (10 attendees) | Small, curated. Good for hacker/builder intros. | | 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM | WAIB Summit Monaco Countdown Brunch | B | Open (9 attendees) | AI + DeFi + Institutional. Monaco preview. |

Recommendation: Use Friday for 1:1 follow-ups from earlier in the week. Most meaningful connections happen in follow-up coffees, not new events. If you must attend, ETHGlobal Brunch is the better choice (hacker/founder mix).

Top 10 Founders & Executives to Meet

1. Stani Kulechov — CEO, Aave

Why He Matters: Aave controls 2/3 of DeFi lending market ($885M fees in 2026). Leading institutional DeFi adoption with Aave v4 (Hub-and-Spoke liquidity unification for $1T+ TVL), Horizon (RWA tokenization), and Aave App (consumer onboarding).

Recent Developments:

Announced Aave v4 (Feb 2026): Hub-and-Spoke model to unify fragmented L2 liquidity
Horizon enables institutions to use tokenized stocks/Treasuries as collateral
Vision: $50T in "abundance assets" (solar, robotics) onchain by 2050

Conversation Starters:

"Your Hub-and-Spoke model is the most compelling answer to L2 liquidity fragmentation I've seen. How are you thinking about cross-chain collateral risk management?"
"Horizon's institutional focus is brilliant. Are you seeing more demand from family offices or traditional asset managers?"
"Bought your £22M Notting Hill mansion—congrats! How's London's crypto scene vs. Lisbon/Dubai?"

Where to Find Him: DeFi Day (Mon 3/30, 1:00-9:00 PM) — he's hosting the event

2. Jess Houlgrave — CEO, WalletConnect

Why She Matters: WalletConnect powers wallet infrastructure for 400M+ users. Announced WalletConnect Pay (merchant integration) and hosting WalletCon with Circle, Ledger, Stellar, Rootstock.

Recent Developments:

WalletConnect Pay launch (2026) for seamless on-chain merchant payments
Partnerships with Circle (USDC integration), Ledger (security), Stellar (cross-border)
Keynote at WalletCon (Tue 3/31, 11:05 AM)

Conversation Starters:

"WalletConnect Pay is the missing piece for on-chain commerce. What's the biggest merchant objection you're hearing?"
"Your partnerships with Circle and Stellar suggest cross-border payments are a major focus. How does MiCA compliance impact your roadmap?"
"With 400M+ users, what's the biggest UX pain point wallets still haven't solved?"

Where to Find Her: WalletCon (Tue 3/31, 12:00-8:00 PM) — she's keynoting at 11:05 AM

3. Vitalik Buterin — Co-founder, Ethereum

Why He Matters: Ethereum's visionary. Recently outlined quantum-resistant cryptography roadmap, privacy initiatives (Privacy Pools), and scaling upgrades (Glamsterdam, ePBS).

Recent Developments:

Feb 2026: Announced quantum-resistant signature scheme (hash-based) to future-proof Ethereum
Transferred $113K through Privacy Pools (co-authored protocol) to validate real-world usage
Published extensive reflection on AI-powered formal verification for smart contracts

Conversation Starters:

"Your quantum-resistant roadmap is forward-thinking. What's the timeline for hash-based signature implementation?"
"Privacy Pools with compliance built-in is a game-changer. How do you see regulatory acceptance evolving?"
"Your AI x formal verification piece was fascinating. Do you see AI auditors replacing human auditors?"

Where to Find Him: Main EthCC conference (check schedule), likely at Privacy Table dinner (Mon 3/30, 9:00 PM)

4. Jeremy Allaire — CEO, Circle

Why He Matters: Circle's USDC ($75B+ circulation) is becoming institutional settlement infrastructure. Partnerships with FIS, SWIFT (JPMorgan, HSBC pilots), Mastercard, Stripe, PayPal.

Recent Developments:

DSRV partnership (April 2025) for enterprise payment infrastructure (general availability late 2026)
OSL Group partnership (April 2026) for USDC expansion in Asia
Hyperliquid partnership for USDC integration into decentralized trading
South Korea expansion meetings (KB Financial, Shinhan, Hana)

Conversation Starters:

"Circle's SWIFT stablecoin pilot with JPMorgan and HSBC is historic. What's the timeline for production deployment?"
"DSRV partnership for enterprise payments—are you seeing more demand from banks or fintech companies?"
"With $75B+ USDC circulation, what's the next frontier—cross-border remittances, B2B settlement, or DeFi integration?"

Where to Find Him: DeFi Day (Mon 3/30, speakers include Circle reps), WalletCon (Tue 3/31, Corey Cooper speaking)

5. Starknet Core Team (Eli Ben-Sasson, Uri Kolodny)

Why They Matter: Starknet is scaling Ethereum with ZK-rollups. Recent: Bitcoin DeFi bridge (Alpen partnership), strkBTC (1:1 Bitcoin-backed asset), Shinobi upgrade (native privacy April 2026).

Recent Developments:

Bitcoin DeFi bridge with Alpen (Glock verifier on Bitcoin, trust-minimized)
strkBTC launch: 1:1 Bitcoin-backed asset with optional ZK privacy
Shinobi upgrade (April 2026): Native in-protocol privacy for all transactions

Conversation Starters:

"The Bitcoin DeFi bridge is the most compelling BTC use case I've seen. How are you balancing decentralization vs. federation custody?"
"strkBTC's optional privacy is smart—compliant but private. Are you seeing institutional interest?"
"Shinobi's native privacy is a bold move. How do you navigate regulatory scrutiny on privacy tech?"

Where to Find Them: Starknet Party (Tue 3/31, 9:00 PM-2:00 AM), Stark Café (Tue 3/31, 12:00-7:00 PM)

6. Yield Network & INK Chain Leadership

Why They Matter: Yield Network is the "onchain bookrunner" orchestrating $170M+ TVL deployments for L2s/RWAs. INK Chain (Kraken's L2) scaled to $500M+ TVL since Dec 2024 launch.

Recent Developments:

Proof of Liquidity summits (Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Cannes): Institutional capital formation
INK Chain launch (Kraken): Optimism Superchain, $500M+ TVL in <4 months
Maple Finance partnership for institutional liquidity

Conversation Starters:

"Yield Network's 'onchain bookrunner' model is fascinating. How do you structure deals between allocators and L2s—liquidity mining, direct TVL, or hybrid?"
"INK's $500M TVL in 4 months is exceptional. What's Kraken's institutional strategy vs. Coinbase's Base?"
"Proof of Liquidity's curated format (supply side: allocators, demand side: L2s/RWAs) is brilliant. What's the typical deal size?"

Where to Find Them: Proof of Liquidity (Mon 3/30, 5:00-11:00 PM), VIP Dinner (Wed 4/1, 9:00-11:00 PM)

7. MetaMask & Linea Leadership (ConsenSys Team)

Why They Matter: MetaMask is the most-used wallet (10M+ users). Linea (MetaMask's L2) launched $30M LINEA rewards program, partnered with SWIFT (JPMorgan, HSBC), launching MetaMask USD stablecoin.

Recent Developments:

$30M LINEA token rewards program (Oct 2025): One of crypto's largest onchain rewards
SWIFT partnership: Testing on-chain messaging & stablecoin settlement with major banks
MetaMask USD: Launching on Ethereum/Linea (built with Bridge/M0), integrated with MetaMask Card (Mastercard)
Uniswap deployment on Linea (April 2026)

Conversation Starters:

"The SWIFT pilot with JPMorgan/HSBC on Linea is a major institutional unlock. What's the production timeline?"
"MetaMask USD launching with Mastercard Card integration is perfect timing. How are you navigating stablecoin regulation under MiCA?"
"Linea's Yield Boost (auto-staking with Lido V3) is clever. Are you seeing user adoption vs. manual staking?"

Where to Find Them: Builder Nights Cannes (Mon 3/30, 8:00 PM-1:00 AM) — MetaMask/Linea are co-hosts

8. Chainlink Leadership (Sergey Nazarov, team)

Why They Matter: Chainlink is the leading oracle network. Recent: DTCC integration ($114T collateral platform Q4 2026), Amundi partnership ($400M AUM tokenized fund), Robinhood Chain partnership.

Recent Developments:

DTCC Collateral Platform integration (May 2026): Automating 24/7 collateral management, production Q4 2026
Amundi partnership: Europe's largest asset manager ($2.3T AUM) launched tokenized fund with $400M AUM in 3 weeks
Robinhood Chain partnership: Oracle platform for Robinhood's L2
Bitwise LINK ETF (CLNK) launched Jan 2026, Grayscale LINK ETF (GLNK) launched Dec 2025

Conversation Starters:

"DTCC's $114T collateral platform using Chainlink is the biggest institutional validation yet. How are you working with banks on integration?"
"Amundi's $400M tokenized fund in 3 weeks is stunning. What's the typical onboarding process for asset managers?"
"Robinhood Chain choosing Chainlink over alternatives—what was their primary concern: decentralization, data coverage, or compliance?"

Where to Find Them: DeFi Day (Mon 3/30, Chainlink co-presenting), likely at institutional dinners

9. RedStone Team (TokenizeThis Organizers)

Why They Matter: RedStone acquired STM.co and TokenizeThis conference, positioning as RWA infrastructure leader. Publishing Tokenization & RWA Standards Report 2026 with Credora, Gauntlet, Dune.

Recent Developments:

TokenizeThis 2026 (June 23-25, NYC): Fidelity, Apollo, Franklin Templeton speakers
Acquired STM.co (Security Token Market) and TokenizeThis brand (Jan 2026)
Publishing RWA Standards Report 2026 (industry-defining research)

Conversation Starters:

"Your RWA Standards Report with Credora/Gauntlet/Dune is essential reading. What's the biggest gap between TradFi expectations and DeFi infrastructure?"
"TokenizeThis bringing Fidelity/Apollo/Franklin Templeton is a coup. Are asset managers more interested in tokenized equity or debt?"
"Acquiring STM.co positions RedStone as RWA infrastructure leader. What's your vision for security token standards?"

Where to Find Them: TokenizeThis Cannes (Mon 3/30, 11:00 AM-7:00 PM)

10. Mastercard Crypto Partner Program Leadership

Why They Matter: Mastercard launched Crypto Partner Program with 100+ partners (Binance, Circle, PayPal, Ripple) to bridge on-chain payments with global infrastructure.

Recent Developments:

Crypto Partner Program launch (March 2026): 100+ crypto firms, payments providers, financial institutions
Focus areas: Cross-border transfers, B2B payments, global payouts
MetaMask Card integration (Mastercard): Virtual (1% cashback), Metal (3% cashback)

Conversation Starters:

"Crypto Partner Program with Binance/Circle/PayPal is ambitious. What's the primary use case driving adoption—remittances, B2B settlement, or merchant payments?"
"MetaMask Card integration is a perfect example of on-chain/off-chain bridge. What's the merchant acceptance rate for crypto-linked cards?"
"Mastercard's focus on cross-border transfers makes sense. How are you navigating different stablecoin regulations across jurisdictions?"

Where to Find Them: DeFi Day (Mon 3/30, Mastercard speakers), WalletCon (Tue 3/31, payments focus)

Networking Strategy

For Investor Conversations (VC/Family Offices/Institutional Allocators):

Best Events:

Investors Meetup by Hybrid Capital (Sun 3/29, 8:00 PM) — Pure VC/institutional focus, 26 attendees
Proof of Liquidity (Mon 3/30, 5:00 PM) — $170 ticket, but HIGHEST ROI: 250 decision-makers, supply side (allocators) meets demand side (L2s/RWAs)
Family Offices & Investors Summit (Mon 3/30, 4:00 PM) — 80 family offices, $800B AUM, $100 ticket
Private SunDAO: Investors Speed Dating (Tue 3/31, 6:00 PM) — 12 curated VCs/institutions, structured intros
Founder x VC Happy Hour (Mon 3/30, 8:00 PM) — 41 attendees, try walk-up despite failed registration
ETHCC Networking Mixer (Fabric Ventures & NextBlock) (Tue 3/31, 6:00 PM) — Top European VCs, AI/DeFi focus
The Gate [CANNES] (Tori, Delphi Ventures, RockawayX) (Sun 3/29, 7:00 PM) — Premier VC networking
Wine & Web3 Growth (Mon 3/30, 8:00 PM) — VC + Other, 31 attendees, pending approval

Pitch Strategy:

Hook: Lead with traction metrics (ARR, users, TVL) or unique insight ("We're solving [specific pain point] that Aave v4/Circle USDC partnerships highlight")
Timing Context: Reference recent announcements (Aave v4, Chainlink DTCC, Circle SWIFT pilots) to show you're current
Ask: Be specific—"We're raising $XM for [milestone]. Your portfolio's focus on [thesis] aligns perfectly. Can we schedule a deep-dive next week?"

For Technical Founders (DeFi/Infrastructure/Privacy):

Best Events:

DeFi Day (Mon 3/30, 1:00 PM) — Aave-hosted, JPMorgan/Circle/Mastercard speakers, technical + business focus
WalletCon Cannes (Tue 3/31, 12:00 PM) — Wallet infrastructure deep-dive, payments stack panel
Lido Day (Tue 3/31, 1:00 PM) — Staking protocol conference, 26 attendees
Pragma Cannes (Thu 4/2, 11:30 AM) — Oracle/data infrastructure, 24 attendees
DeFi Founders Club (Thu 4/2, 6:00 PM) — 20 curated DeFi founders, peer-to-peer intros
The Privacy Table (Mon 3/30, 9:00 PM) — Dinner, Privacy/Security/Institutional, 25 attendees
Starknet Party (Tue 3/31, 9:00 PM) — 41 attendees, ZK-rollup focus
Stateless Summit (Wed 4/1, 11:00 AM-8:00 PM) — Infrastructure/Security focus

Networking Tips:

Technical Depth: Founders respect specificity. Reference actual code ("We're using Groth16 vs. PLONK because...") or architecture ("Our Hub-and-Spoke model is similar to Aave v4's but for...")
Collaboration Over Competition: Propose integrations ("We'd love to build on Linea/Starknet/INK—can we discuss partnership?")
Open-Source Credibility: If you've contributed to Ethereum/L2 repos, mention it. Founders trust builders.

For Casual Networking (Community/Broad Intros):

Best Events:

Builder Nights Cannes (Mon 3/30, 8:00 PM) — 71 attendees, MetaMask/Linea/Pudgy/LiFi. Largest casual event.
Quantum Qafe Coffee Meetup (Mon 3/30, 12:00 PM) — 35 attendees, coffee = low-pressure intros
ETHCC Château Happy Hour (Mon 3/30, 8:00 PM) — 33 attendees, security focus but casual vibe
Stark Café (Tue 3/31, 12:00 PM-7:00 PM) — Drop-in venue, Starknet community
THE LOCAL: Rooftop Brunch (Wed 4/1, 1:00 PM) — 27 attendees, founders/funders/friends
Palme de DeFi (Tue 3/31, 10:00 PM) — 24 attendees, DefiLlama/Trezor, late-night casual

Networking Tips:

Warm Intros Win: Ask mutual contacts for intros before the event. "[Name] suggested I connect with you about [topic]" opens doors.
Give Before You Ask: Share valuable insights first ("Saw Aave v4's Hub-and-Spoke announcement—brilliant for cross-chain liquidity") before pitching.
Follow Up Fast: Send LinkedIn/Telegram messages within 24 hours: "Great chatting about [specific topic] at [event]. Would love to continue the conversation—coffee Thursday?"

Dinner & Intimate Events (Best for Deep BD Conversations):

Best Events:

Proof of Liquidity: VIP Dinner (Wed 4/1, 9:00 PM) — 20 attendees, Yield Network/INK/Funders. HIGHEST PRIORITY.
Family Offices Summit Michelin Dinner (Mon 3/30, 4:00 PM) — 80 family offices, $800B AUM
The Privacy Table (Mon 3/30, 9:00 PM) — 25 attendees, Privacy/Security/Institutional dinner
VIP Investors Dinner @ EthCC (Mon 3/30, 8:30 PM) — 20 attendees, VC + Community
Consensus on the Coast: Founders & VCs Dinner (Mon 3/30, 9:30 PM) — 19 attendees, curated
Selini Capital x Areta Dinner (Wed 4/1, 9:30 PM) — 14 attendees, VC/Institutional
Private DeFi Soirée (Thu 4/2, 9:30 PM) — 24 attendees, exclusive

Dinner Strategy:

Arrive Early: Grab a strategic seat (near hosts/keynote speakers) rather than the exit
Quality Over Quantity: One deep 30-minute conversation > 10 shallow intros
Respect the Setting: Dinners are intimate. Don't hard-pitch. Build rapport, share insights, ask for follow-up coffee.
Dress Code: Most Cannes dinners are business-casual to smart-casual. "Soirée" = dress up a bit.

Logistics & Venue Clustering

Venue Concentration:

Most events are in Cannes city center or Cannes hills (villas). Walking distance between city center events is 10-20 minutes. Villa events may require 15-20 minute drives.

Key Venue Hubs:

Palais des Festivals (DeFi Day): Main EthCC venue. Central waterfront location.
Cannes Hills Villas (Private Garden Party, Proof of Liquidity, etc.): 15-20 min drive from city center. Consider rideshares or pre-book drivers.
Beachfront Venues (OpenClaw, various parties): Waterfront Cannes. Walking distance from Palais.

Time Management:

Overlapping Events: Monday 3/30 has 8+ overlapping events from 8:00 PM onwards. Prioritize by ROI: Proof of Liquidity > Founder x VC Happy Hour > Builder Nights > Château Happy Hour.
Event Hopping: Budget 30 minutes for transitions (15 min travel + 15 min entry/find contacts). Don't over-commit.
Peak Hours: 6:00-10:00 PM is prime networking time. Schedule 1:1s for mornings (10:00 AM-12:00 PM) or late afternoons (3:00-5:00 PM).

Transportation:

Uber/Bolt: Reliable in Cannes. Pre-book for villa events during peak hours (8:00 PM+).
Walking: Most city center events are walkable. Cannes waterfront to Palais = 10 min.
Shuttles: Some large events (DeFi Day, WalletCon) may offer shuttles. Check event pages.

Final Recommendations

Must-Attend Events (No Compromise):

DeFi Day (Mon 3/30, 1:00-9:00 PM) — Aave-hosted, JPMorgan/Circle/Mastercard. Anchor event.
Proof of Liquidity (Mon 3/30, 5:00-11:00 PM) — $170 ticket. Institutional capital formation. Highest BD ROI.
WalletCon Cannes (Tue 3/31, 12:00-8:00 PM) — WalletConnect/Circle/Ledger. Payments infrastructure.
Private SunDAO: Investors Speed Dating (Tue 3/31, 6:00-8:00 PM) — 12 curated VCs, structured intros.
Proof of Liquidity VIP Dinner (Wed 4/1, 9:00 PM) — 20 attendees. Follow-up to Mon's event.

High-Value Backup Events (If Above Don't Conflict):

TokenizeThis Cannes (Mon 3/30, 11:00 AM-7:00 PM) — $29 ticket. Fidelity/Apollo/Franklin Templeton. RWA deep-dive.
Investors Meetup by Hybrid Capital (Sun 3/29, 8:00 PM) — Pure VC focus, 26 attendees.
ETHCC Networking Mixer (Fabric Ventures) (Tue 3/31, 6:00 PM) — Top European VCs.
Private Garden Party (Thu 4/2, 4:00 PM) — 33 attendees, Infrastructure + Privacy. Pending approval.

Budget Considerations:

Paid Events: TokenizeThis ($29), Family Offices Summit ($100), Proof of Liquidity ($170)
ROI Ranking: Proof of Liquidity ($170) > Family Offices Summit ($100) > TokenizeThis ($29)
Free High-Value Events: DeFi Day, WalletCon, Investors Meetup (Hybrid Capital), Private SunDAO Speed Dating

Energy Management:

Peak Days: Monday 3/30 and Tuesday 3/31 are the highest-value days. Conserve energy Saturday/Sunday for Monday's marathon.
Late Nights: Most dinners/parties run 9:00 PM-12:00 AM. Budget for 3-4 late nights max.
Coffee 1:1s: Schedule morning 1:1s at Quantum Qafe (Mon 12:00 PM), Stark Café (Tue 12:00 PM), or hotel lobbies.

Follow-Up Protocol:

During Event: Capture LinkedIn/Telegram handles + 1-2 bullet points ("Discussed Aave v4 liquidity model")
Within 24 Hours: Send personalized message referencing specific conversation
Within 1 Week: Propose concrete next step (call, product demo, intro to teammate)

Sources & References

Prepared by: Event Intelligence Team Contact: For registration updates, check ric@staex.io

ACTIONABLE NEXT STEPS:

✅ Confirm Registrations: Check ric@staex.io for confirmation emails
⏳ Monitor Pending Approvals: Starknet Party, Trader Summit, Wine & Web3 Growth, Private Garden Party
💰 Purchase Priority Tickets: Proof of Liquidity ($170), TokenizeThis ($29), Family Offices Summit ($100)
🚫 Waitlist/Network for Entry: DeFi in the Sky 3.0, Builder Nights, Founder x VC Happy Hour
📅 Pre-Schedule 1:1s: Reach out to target contacts before arriving in Cannes
🎯 Research Target Companies: Deep-dive on Aave v4, Circle partnerships, Starknet Bitcoin bridge
🗺️ Scout Venues: Download Cannes map, identify key locations

Good luck in Cannes! Make every conversation count.