EthCC[9] Cannes Networking Intelligence: March 2026

Executive Summary

EthCC[9] returns to Cannes (March 28-April 4, 2026) with 201 side events analyzed and ranked by networking ROI. This briefing identifies the 21 MUST-ATTEND events that will generate 80% of your business development value. Key themes dominate: institutional DeFi (26% of high-value events), RWA tokenization (fastest-growing segment at $29B TVL, +263% YoY), and AI x DeFi convergence (emerging mega-trend).

The conference introduces The Agora, a new institutional forum co-organized with Kaiko, marking Ethereum's pivot toward mainstream finance. With speakers including Vitalik Buterin (unveiling his 3-4 year "Lean Ethereum" roadmap), Stani Kulechov (Aave's trillion-dollar master plan), and Jean-Marc Stenger (Societe Generale-Forge's RWA strategy), this is the highest-density capital formation event in European crypto.

Auto-registration attempted for 31 priority events. 3 successfully registered, 8 pending approval, 10 require manual action (invite-only or paid), 10 failed/full. Monday March 30 is THE critical networking day with 6+ MUST-ATTEND events scheduled.

---

Registration Status

| Status | Count | Events | |--------|-------|--------| | ✅ Registered | 3 | DeFi Day, WalletCon Cannes, Hack Seasons Conference | | ⏳ Pending Approval | 8 | Policy Roundtable, ETH CC Founders Brunch, Masterkey Breakfast (2x), ORAK Summit, Wine & Web3, Fabric Ventures Mixer, Proof of Liquidity VIP Dinner | | 💰 Paid/Invite Required | 10 | Institutions Onchain ($100), Family Offices Summit ($1), The Circle ($10), SunDAO Speed Dating (€295), Carlton Reception ($1), Pragma ($29), DeFi Founders Club ($3), The Gate, Founder x VC Happy Hour, Infinite Games | | 🚫 Full/Failed | 10 | Consensus on the Coast (sold out), SunDAO Mixer (sold out), DeFi in the Sky (sold out), 7 others with registration issues |

Priority Actions (Next 48 Hours)

1. Check email for pending confirmations (ric@staex.io) — 8 events awaiting approval
2. Manually register for paid events: Family Offices Summit ($1), The Circle ($10), Pragma ($29) — low-cost, high-ROI
3. Email for invites: The Gate (Delphi Ventures), Infinite Games, Founder x VC Happy Hour, ORAK Cannes
4. Backup registration: If Founders Brunch fails, immediately register for THE LOCAL (rooftop brunch, similar attendee profile)

---

Day-by-Day Intelligence

Day 0: Saturday, March 28 — SKIP OR ARRIVE EARLY

Recommendation: Arrive Friday evening or Saturday morning to rest. Saturday events are workshops/hackathons with zero investor presence.

Optional Event (Low Priority):

• BEAST MODE (11:30 AM-7 PM) — zkEVM workshop, 16 attendees, very technical
• Rayls Hackathon (12-8 PM) — RWA/Institutional focus, 20 attendees

💡 Strategy: Use Saturday to walk Cannes, find event venues, test commute times, and rest before the Monday blitz.

---

Day 1: Sunday, March 29 — WARM-UP (4-5 hours networking)

Mission: Meet ecosystem players, test your pitch, establish initial relationships

| Time | Event | Attendees | Tier | Registration | Why Go | Key People | |------|-------|-----------|------|--------------|--------|------------| | 2:00 PM-12:00 AM | Institutions Onchain | 26 | MUST-ATTEND | 💰 Paid ($100) | 10-hour conference, institutional focus, first major event | Enterprise blockchain CTOs, institutional capital allocators | | 7:00-11:00 PM | The Gate [CANNES] | 9 | MUST-ATTEND | ❌ Invite-only | Delphi Ventures hosting, ultra-curated | Delphi Ventures partners (invested $21M in Bluff Feb 2026, portfolio: Mysten Labs, LayerZero, Immutable) | | 8:00 PM-12:00 AM | Investors Meetup by Hybrid Capital | 26 | MUST-ATTEND | ❌ Registration failed | Explicit investor focus, 4-hour window | Hybrid Capital team, institutional LPs |

Schedule Recommendation:

• 2:00-5:00 PM: Institutions Onchain opening sessions (keynotes + panel discussions)
• 5:00-7:00 PM: Break — light dinner, walk, energy reset
• 7:00-11:00 PM: The Gate (if invite secured) OR continue Institutions Onchain
• 8:00 PM-12:00 AM: Investors Meetup (overlap strategy: attend The Gate 7-9 PM, then Investors Meetup 9:30-11:30 PM)

Key People to Meet:

1. Delphi Ventures Partners (The Gate) — Recent: Invested in HumanAPI (Apr 1, 2026), GenFlux and Tori (2026). Talking point: "I saw you backed Tori recently — are you seeing more AI-native protocols in your deal flow?"

2. Enterprise CTOs (Institutions Onchain) — Target: Companies exploring blockchain pilots. Talking point: "What's your biggest blocker to production deployment — regulatory clarity or technical maturity?"

Expected Outcomes: 4-6 initial meetings, identify 2-3 serious prospects for Monday follow-up

---

Day 2: Monday, March 30 — CRITICAL MAIN DAY (10-12 hours)

🔴 THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY. DO NOT OVERBOOK OR MISS KEY EVENTS.

| Time | Event | Attendees | Tier | Registration | Why Go | |------|-------|-----------|------|--------------|--------| | 10:30 AM-2:30 PM | Policy Roundtable: Token Taxonomy & MiCA | 13 | HIGH-VALUE | ⏳ Pending | Regulatory + Institutional (TradFi, RWA). Attracts serious capital deployers. | | 1:00-4:00 PM | ETH CC 9 Founders & Investors Brunch ✨ | 19 | MUST-ATTEND | ⏳ Pending | Highest-quality event. Invite-only filter = serious players only. 3-hour brunch = deep conversations. | | 1:00-9:00 PM | DeFi Day | 37 | MUST-ATTEND | ✅ Registered | Largest DeFi ecosystem gathering. Attend keynotes 1-3 PM, investor panels 3-5 PM, skip late technical workshops. | | 4:00-7:00 PM | Family Offices & Investors Summit | 36 | MUST-ATTEND | 💰 $1 | Patient capital, Michelin dinner = ultra-premium. 36 attendees of highest quality. | | 4:00-9:00 PM | ORAK CANNES | 28 | MUST-ATTEND | ⏳ Pending | Private institutional summit. Vetted institutional-only, 5-hour deep-dive. | | 5:00-7:00 PM | ETH CC 9 VCs & LPs Cocktail Hour ✨ | 19 | MUST-ATTEND | 💰 Invite-only | Highest concentration of institutional capital. 19 attendees = sweet spot for conversations. | | 5:00-11:00 PM | Proof of Liquidity (Yield Network & Ink) | 37 | MUST-ATTEND | Manual reg needed | Institutional DeFi. Yield Network + Ink (Kraken L2). Attend 5-8:30 PM. | | 8:00 PM-12:00 AM | Founder x VC Happy Hour | 40 | MUST-ATTEND | ❌ Reg failed | Explicit founder-investor mixer. Peak energy 8-10 PM. Leave at 10 PM for energy management. |

⚠️ SCHEDULING CONFLICTS (Prioritization Required):

Conflict A (1:00-4:00 PM):

• Option 1: Founders & Investors Brunch (highest quality, 19 attendees, invite-only)
• Option 2: DeFi Day opening sessions (37 attendees, larger event)
• RECOMMENDATION: If you secure Founders Brunch invite, attend that exclusively 1-4 PM. If not, attend DeFi Day 1-3 PM, then Family Offices Summit 4-7 PM.

Conflict B (4:00-7:00 PM):

• Option 1: Family Offices Summit (36 attendees, Michelin dinner, patient capital)
• Option 2: ORAK CANNES (28 attendees, private institutional, 5-hour event)
• RECOMMENDATION: Attend Family Offices 4-6:30 PM (dinner portion), then join ORAK 7-9 PM (evening sessions).

Optimized Monday Schedule:

• 10:30 AM-2:30 PM: Policy Roundtable (if regulatory/RWA is core to your strategy)
• OR 12:00-2:00 PM: Light lunch, prep for afternoon blitz
• 1:00-4:00 PM: ETH CC Founders Brunch (if invite secured) OR DeFi Day keynotes (1-3 PM)
• 4:00-6:30 PM: Family Offices Summit (dinner portion)
• 7:00-8:00 PM: MANDATORY BREAK — real dinner (not event), walk, hydrate, 15-min rest
• 8:00-10:00 PM: Founder x VC Happy Hour (attend first 2 hours only)
• 10:00 PM+: Return to hotel, write follow-up emails same night (critical for 40% response rate)

Key People to Meet:

1. Jean-Marc Stenger (CEO, Societe Generale-Forge) — Expected at Policy Roundtable, Family Offices Summit, or DeFi Day

   • Recent: SG-Forge completed pilot with Swift for tokenized bond settlement (Jan 2026), expanded EURCV stablecoin to Stellar (4 blockchains total)
   • Talking point: "I saw SG-Forge deployed EURCV across Stellar — are you seeing more DeFi protocols requesting MiCA-compliant stablecoins for RWA settlement?"

2. Stani Kulechov (CEO, Aave) — Confirmed keynote speaker at EthCC main conference, likely at DeFi Day

   • Recent: Unveiled 2026 "master plan" with 3 pillars: Horizon (RWA), Aave V4 (Hub & Spoke model for trillions in assets), Aave App (mass market)
   • Talking point: "Aave V4's Hub & Spoke model is fascinating — are you seeing institutional demand shift from isolated pools to unified liquidity?"

3. Yield Network & Ink Protocol Teams (Proof of Liquidity hosts)

   • Recent: Maple integrated with Ink (May 13, 2026) to expand institutional yield products to L2 users, scaling DeFi by giving 10M Ink users access to Maple's $3.8B AUM
   • Talking point: "Ink hit $450M TVL in a few months — is the institutional strategy working better than expected?"

4. Masterkey VC (hosting breakfast) — Shauli Rejwan, Managing Partner

   • Recent: Invested in Eureka Builder (June 1, 2025), Ethereum ecosystem infrastructure (March 2026, $6.7M), DeFi staking (Feb 2025, $3M)
   • Talking point: "You invested in Ethereum infra in March — are you seeing more enterprise demand post-Pectra upgrade?"

Expected Outcomes: 10-15 qualified meetings, 3-5 serious prospects, business cards collected, same-night follow-ups sent

---

Day 3: Tuesday, March 31 — SECONDARY DAY (8-10 hours)

Mission: Deep-dive conferences (RWA, Lido), intimate dinners, structured networking (speed dating)

| Time | Event | Attendees | Tier | Registration | Why Go | |------|-------|-----------|------|--------------|--------| | 10:30 AM-1:30 PM | Scaling Onchain Finance for Real Money | 23 | HIGH-VALUE | ❌ Reg failed | DeFi + Institutional breakfast. 3-hour networking. | | 11:00 AM-9:00 PM | Real-World Asset Summit Cannes 2026 | 27 | MUST-ATTEND | Manual reg | RWA = 2026's institutional mega-trend ($29B TVL, +263% YoY). Attend core sessions 11 AM-1 PM, 2-4 PM. | | 11:30 AM-7:30 PM | Blockspace Forum Cannes | 17 | HIGH-VALUE | ❌ Reg failed | Infrastructure focus, 8-hour conference. | | 12:00-8:00 PM | WalletCon Cannes 2026 | 34 | HIGH-VALUE | ✅ Registered | Wallet infrastructure conference. Attend morning sessions 12-2 PM. | | 1:00-9:00 PM | Lido Day | 26 | MUST-ATTEND | ❌ Reg failed | Largest staking ecosystem ($35B+ TVL). Keynotes 1-3 PM, institutional discussions 3-5 PM. | | 6:00-8:00 PM | Private SunDAO: Investors Speed Dating | 12 | HIGH-VALUE | 💰 €295 | Structured format = efficient. High-quality meetings. | | 6:00-9:00 PM | ETHCC Networking Mixer by Fabric Ventures | 28 | MUST-ATTEND | ⏳ Pending | Fabric Ventures (quality VC). AI + VC + DeFi focus. 3-hour prime window. | | 7:00-11:00 PM | SunDAO: Investors & Builders Mixer | 20 | HIGH-VALUE | 🚫 Sold out | Alternative to speed dating if that fails. | | 8:00-11:00 PM | ETH CC VIP Institutional Soirée | 22 | HIGH-VALUE | Manual reg | Institutional-only. RWA + Institutional focus. | | 9:30-11:30 PM | Infinite Games Soirée | 16 | MUST-ATTEND | ❌ Invite-only | Ultra-exclusive. VC-focused party. Only attend if invite secured. |

Optimized Tuesday Schedule:

• 11:00 AM-1:00 PM: Real-World Asset Summit opening sessions (keynotes)
• 1:00-3:00 PM: Lido Day keynotes (overlaps with RWA; choose based on priority)
• 3:00-5:00 PM: RWA Summit afternoon sessions OR Lido Day institutional discussions
• 5:00-6:00 PM: Break — coffee, energy reset, walk
• 6:00-8:00 PM: SunDAO Investors Speed Dating (if registered) OR Fabric Ventures Mixer
• 8:00-9:00 PM: ETH CC VIP Soirée OR continue Fabric Mixer
• 9:30-11:30 PM: Infinite Games (only if invite secured)

Key People to Meet:

1. Fabric Ventures Team (hosting ETHCC Mixer)

   • Recent: Running R[3]sidency x Construct accelerator for AI, Fintech, Crypto, Robotics with Solana Foundation, Superteam UK, Coinbase. Portfolio includes Hashflow, CUB3, Coinbase, Ledger.
   • Recent investments: Kulipa ($6.2M Seed, Apr 2, 2026), Finrob ($3.9M, Feb 25, 2026), kash ($2M Pre-Seed, Feb 25, 2026)
   • Talking point: "I saw you launched the R[3]sidency accelerator with Solana — are you seeing more AI x crypto projects than last year?"

2. Lido Finance Core Team (Lido Day)

   • Recent: V3 upgrade with modular stVaults, three-tier governance, institutional-ready solutions. Luganodes partnership for institutional ETH staking.
   • Talking point: "Lido V3's stVaults are interesting — what's the typical institutional client profile using isolated vaults?"

3. RWA Protocol Founders (RWA Summit)

   • Market context: $29B TVL (+263% YoY), tokenized treasuries at $13.4B, J.P. Morgan issued first tokenized ABS, BlackRock BUIDL crossed $2.4B
   • Talking point: "We're at $29B TVL in RWAs — do you think we hit $100B by year-end, or is that too aggressive?"

Expected Outcomes: 8-12 meetings, thesis refinement, partnership discussions advancing

---

Day 4: Wednesday, April 1 — TERTIARY DAY (6-8 hours)

Mission: Relationship deepening, selective high-value events, energy management

| Time | Event | Attendees | Tier | Registration | Why Go | |------|-------|-----------|------|--------------|--------| | 11:00 AM-6:00 PM | Hack Seasons Conference Cannes | 16 | HIGH-VALUE | ✅ Registered | RWA + DeFi + VC focus. Conference format attracts serious builders. | | 1:00-4:00 PM | THE LOCAL: Rooftop Brunch | 28 | MUST-ATTEND | ❌ Reg failed | Explicit founder + funder brunch. 3-hour daytime = high energy. Premium venue. | | 1:00-3:00 PM | Investor x Founder Beachclub | 28 | HIGH-VALUE | Manual reg | Beach venue = relaxed conversations. (CONFLICT with THE LOCAL — choose THE LOCAL) | | 4:00-7:00 PM | Cannes RealFi Mixer: AI Meets RWAs | 21 | HIGH-VALUE | ❌ Reg failed | AI + RWA + Institutional. Emerging mega-trend intersection. | | 6:30-8:00 PM | OpenClaw Cannes Meetup | 30 | HIGH-VALUE | ❌ Reg failed | AI + DeFi + Infrastructure. Skip after 7:30 PM. | | 8:00-1:00 AM | DeFi in the Sky 3.0 | 37 | HIGH-VALUE | 🚫 Sold out | Largest DeFi evening event. (If accessible, attend 8-10 PM only) | | 9:00-11:00 PM | Proof of Liquidity VIP Dinner | 20 | HIGH-VALUE | ⏳ Pending | Yield Network dinner. Quality but very late. Skip if fatigued. |

Optimized Wednesday Schedule:

• 11:00 AM-1:00 PM: Hack Seasons Conference opening (RWA focus)
• 1:00-4:00 PM: THE LOCAL Rooftop Brunch (if registration succeeds; otherwise stay at Hack Seasons)
• 4:00-5:00 PM: Break — coffee, walk
• 4:00-7:00 PM: Cannes RealFi Mixer (if energy permits)
• 6:30-7:30 PM: OpenClaw Meetup (1-hour drop-in)
• Evening: Optional — DeFi in the Sky (8-10 PM) OR rest/prepare for Thursday

Key People to Meet:

1. Vitalik Buterin (likely at main EthCC conference, may appear at select side events)

   • Recent: Unveiled "Lean Ethereum" roadmap (July 4, 2026) — 3-4 year plan for protocol restructure, post-quantum cryptography, recursive STARK verification, ZK-unlinkable staking
   • Talking point: "The Lean Ethereum roadmap is ambitious — do you think 3-4 years is realistic, or will quantum threats accelerate the timeline?"

2. OpenClaw Team (hosting meetup)

   • Context: AI + DeFi + Infrastructure builder platform, hosting 3 events (Demo Day Monday, On-chain Meetup Tuesday, Cannes Meetup Wednesday)
   • Talking point: "You're hosting 3 events this week — what's the biggest gap you see in AI x crypto tooling right now?"

3. RealFi Mixer attendees (AI + RWA intersection)

   • Market trend: AI agents managing tokenized assets = emerging narrative in 2026
   • Talking point: "Are you seeing AI-native protocols building directly on RWA infrastructure, or is it still mostly humans managing tokenized assets?"

Expected Outcomes: 6-8 meetings, relationship deepening, follow-up scheduling

---

Day 5: Thursday, April 2 — OPTIONAL RECOVERY DAY (3-5 hours)

⚠️ By Thursday, most attendees are exhausted. Quality > quantity.

| Time | Event | Attendees | Tier | Registration | Why Go | |------|-------|-----------|------|--------------|--------| | 11:30 AM-8:00 PM | Pragma Cannes | 23 | HIGH-VALUE | 💰 $29 | Infrastructure + DeFi + Institutional. Attend morning keynotes only (11:30 AM-1 PM). | | 6:00-11:00 PM | DeFi Founders Club: Cannes | 20 | HIGH-VALUE | 💰 $3 | DeFi-exclusive founders. Peak networking 6-8 PM. Leave early. |

Optimized Thursday Schedule:

• 11:30 AM-1:00 PM: Pragma Cannes opening sessions
• 1:00-4:00 PM: Follow-up coffees with top prospects from Mon/Tue/Wed
• 4:00-6:00 PM: Debrief session — review notes, update CRM, prioritize follow-ups
• 6:00-8:00 PM: DeFi Founders Club (if energy permits)
• Evening: Rest, pack, prepare departure

Expected Outcomes: 3-5 meetings, relationship consolidation

---

Day 6: Friday, April 3 — SKIP

All listed events are low-value or tiny attendance:

• ETHGlobal Finalists Brunch (10 attendees) — hackathon-focused, skip unless hackathon partnerships critical
• WAIB Summit Monaco Countdown (9 attendees) — too small

Recommendation: Depart Friday morning or use day for 1-on-1 follow-up calls with top prospects.

---

Top 15 Founders & Leaders to Meet

1. Vitalik Buterin — Co-founder, Ethereum Foundation

• Why: Ethereum's technical visionary. Sets multi-year roadmap for ecosystem.
• Recent: Unveiled "Lean Ethereum" roadmap (July 4, 2026) — biggest protocol rebuild since The Merge, targeting post-quantum cryptography, recursive STARKs, ZK-unlinkable staking. 3-4 year timeline, community urging faster execution.
• Likely presence: Main EthCC keynote (March 30-April 2), select institutional events
• Conversation starters:
  • "The Lean Ethereum roadmap is ambitious — do you see quantum threats accelerating the timeline?"
  • "You mentioned recursive STARK verification as central — which L2s are best positioned to benefit?"
  • "Community wants faster execution — what's the main bottleneck: research, implementation, or consensus?"
• Sources: CoinDesk, Crypto Briefing

2. Stani Kulechov — CEO, Aave Labs

• Why: Leading DeFi protocol ($15B+ TVL). Driving institutional DeFi adoption with V4 launch.
• Recent: Unveiled 2026 "master plan" with 3 strategic pillars:
  • Horizon: RWA tokenization platform targeting $1B in deposits
  • Aave V4: Hub & Spoke model to handle trillions in assets, allowing fintechs/institutions to tap unified crosschain liquidity
  • Aave App: Mass-market DeFi savings app (Cash App for DeFi)
• Likely presence: DeFi Day (Monday), Lido Day (Tuesday), institutional dinners
• Conversation starters:
  • "Aave V4's Hub & Spoke model is fascinating — are institutions preferring unified liquidity over isolated pools?"
  • "You're targeting $1B in RWA deposits via Horizon — what asset classes are seeing most demand?"
  • "The Aave App aims for mass market — do you see more adoption from neobanks or traditional banks?"
• Sources: MEXC, The Block

3. Jean-Marc Stenger — CEO, Societe Generale-Forge

• Why: TradFi heavyweight moving institutional capital onchain. SG-Forge is leading European bank in RWA tokenization.
• Recent:
  • Completed Swift pilot for tokenized bond settlement using EURCV stablecoin (Jan 2026)
  • Expanded EURCV to Stellar (now on 4 blockchains)
  • Joined Seturion (Boerse Stuttgart's EU settlement platform) in May 2026
• Likely presence: Policy Roundtable (Monday), Family Offices Summit (Monday), RWA Summit (Tuesday), institutional dinners
• Conversation starters:
  • "I saw SG-Forge's Swift pilot succeeded — are more banks requesting stablecoin settlement integration?"
  • "EURCV is on 4 chains now — which blockchain sees most institutional demand?"
  • "MiCA compliance is huge — is regulatory clarity accelerating bank adoption or still too slow?"
• Sources: Yahoo Finance, SG Forge Website

4. Delphi Ventures Partners (Tom Shaughnessy, Piers Kicks, others)

• Why: Top-tier crypto VC. Portfolio includes Mysten Labs, LayerZero, Immutable (3 unicorns).
• Recent:
  • Invested $21M in Bluff (Feb 2026)
  • Backed HumanAPI (Apr 1, 2026), GenFlux and Tori (2026)
  • Co-hosting The Gate [CANNES] with Tori and RockawayX (Sunday evening)
• Likely presence: The Gate (Sunday), Founders & Investors Brunch (Monday), VCs & LPs Cocktail (Monday), Founder x VC Happy Hour (Monday)
• Conversation starters:
  • "I saw you backed Tori recently — are you seeing more AI-native protocols in your dealflow?"
  • "Bluff raised $21M — what convinced you to lead at that size?"
  • "You have 3 unicorns (Mysten, LayerZero, Immutable) — what's the common thread in your winners?"
• Sources: Tracxn

5. Fabric Ventures Partners (Max Mersch, Richard Muirhead, others)

• Why: Leading AI x crypto VC. Portfolio includes Hashflow, CUB3, Coinbase, Ledger (196 companies backed).
• Recent:
  • Launched R[3]sidency x Construct accelerator for AI, Fintech, Crypto, Robotics (with Solana Foundation, Superteam UK, Coinbase)
  • Invested in Kulipa ($6.2M Seed, Apr 2, 2026), Finrob ($3.9M, Feb 25), kash ($2M Pre-Seed, Feb 25)
• Likely presence: ETHCC Networking Mixer (Tuesday), institutional events
• Conversation starters:
  • "You launched R[3]sidency with Solana — are you seeing more AI x crypto projects than last year?"
  • "Kulipa just raised $6.2M — what's your AI investment thesis for 2026?"
  • "Your portfolio spans robotics to DeFi — how do you think about sector diversification?"
• Sources: Tracxn, Fabric Ventures Website

6. Shauli Rejwan — Managing Partner, Masterkey VC

• Why: Early-stage deep tech crypto fund. Focus: cyber, DeFi, DAOs, non-custodial custody, cryptography.
• Recent:
  • Invested in Eureka Builder (June 1, 2025)
  • Ethereum ecosystem infrastructure (March 2026, $6.7M)
  • DeFi staking (Feb 2025, $3M)
  • Bitcoin ecosystem NFT marketplace (Feb 2025, $30M)
• Likely presence: Breakfast with friends by Masterkey VC (Monday 1-3 PM, Wednesday 1-3 PM)
• Conversation starters:
  • "You invested in Ethereum infra in March — are you seeing enterprise demand post-Pectra upgrade?"
  • "Your focus on deep cryptography is unique — what's the most undervalued crypto primitive right now?"
  • "You backed a Bitcoin NFT marketplace — do you think ordinals have staying power?"
• Sources: Crunchbase, Masterkey VC Website

7. Yield Network Team — Co-hosts of Proof of Liquidity (Monday 5-11 PM)

• Why: Institutional DeFi liquidity infrastructure. Partnering with Ink (Kraken L2).
• Recent:
  • Maple integrated with Ink (May 13, 2026) to give 10M Ink users access to Maple's $3.8B AUM
  • Hosting capital formation summits focused on institutional deal flow
• Likely presence: Proof of Liquidity (Monday 5-11 PM, Tuesday 6-12 AM), Proof of Liquidity VIP Dinner (Wednesday 9-11 PM)
• Conversation starters:
  • "Ink hit $450M TVL in months — is the institutional strategy working better than expected?"
  • "Maple's $3.8B AUM is huge — what's the typical institutional client profile?"
  • "You're focused on institutional yield — are family offices or VCs deploying more capital?"
• Sources: Bitcoin.com

8. Lido Finance Core Team — Hosting Lido Day (Tuesday 1-9 PM)

• Why: Largest liquid staking protocol ($35B+ TVL). V3 upgrade targets institutional clients.
• Recent:
  • V3 upgrade: modular stVaults, three-tier governance, institutional-ready solutions
  • Luganodes partnership for institutional ETH staking (isolated vaults, non-custodial, stETH liquidity on demand)
  • Hex Trust integration (Sept 19, 2025) for institutional liquid staking + custody
• Likely presence: Lido Day (Tuesday), institutional dinners
• Conversation starters:
  • "Lido V3's stVaults are interesting — what's the typical institutional client profile using isolated vaults?"
  • "You're targeting regulated entities — is MiCA compliance the main blocker or something else?"
  • "Lido's share compressed as Rocket Pool, cbETH grew — how are you differentiating for institutions?"
• Sources: AInvest, Lido Blog

9. P2P.org Team — Co-hosting The Circle (Monday 8:30 PM-12 AM)

• Why: Premier institutional staking infrastructure ($10B+ delegated assets, 40+ PoS networks).
• Recent:
  • Fireblocks integration via ETH-Link: native ETH staking inside institutional workflows
  • SOC 2 Type II attested, serves 190+ institutional clients (banks, exchanges, asset managers)
  • Hosted roundtable with Fireblocks, Amina Bank, Ampli on institutional digital asset deployment (2026)
• Likely presence: The Circle (Monday 8:30 PM-12 AM)
• Conversation starters:
  • "You manage $10B+ across 40 networks — which PoS chains are seeing most institutional demand?"
  • "The Fireblocks integration is clever — are more custodians asking for native staking in workflows?"
  • "You said staking is commoditized now — what's the next differentiator for institutional clients?"
• Sources: P2P.org Blog

10. Kraken Ink Team — Likely at Proof of Liquidity (Monday)

• Why: Kraken's Layer 2 bringing 10M users to DeFi. Fastest-growing L2 ($450M TVL in months).
• Recent:
  • Launched Tydro (custom lending platform on Aave tech) — attracted $200M+ in deposits
  • TVL grew from $7M to $450M in months
  • Token launch expected Q2-Q3 2026
• Likely presence: Proof of Liquidity (Monday), WalletCon (Tuesday), DeFi Day (Monday)
• Conversation starters:
  • "Ink's TVL growth is insane — $7M to $450M — what's driving adoption?"
  • "Tydro is built on Aave tech — are you seeing more CeFi users bridging to DeFi via Ink?"
  • "Token launch is coming — what's the distribution strategy?"
• Sources: Crowdfund Insider

11. MetaMask & Linea Team — Hosting Builder Nights (Monday 8 PM-1 AM)

• Why: MetaMask is the gateway to Ethereum (100M+ users). Linea is ConsenSys' L2.
• Recent:
  • Linea Yield Boost (March 2026): ETH transferred to Linea auto-stakes via Lido V3 integration
  • $LINEA Token Generation Event rewarded 750K wallets (92% claim rate)
  • Type-1 zkEVM targeted Q1 2026
  • Key ecosystem partners: Aave, PancakeSwap, ZeroLend, Maple Finance, Kraken
• Likely presence: Builder Nights (Monday), WalletCon (Tuesday)
• Conversation starters:
  • "Linea's Yield Boost with Lido is clever — are users actually staking via L2 or just farming?"
  • "750K wallets claimed $LINEA — what's the retention rate post-airdrop?"
  • "You welcomed Aave, Maple, Kraken — what's the institutional BD strategy for Linea?"
• Sources: MetaMask Blog, BingX

12. NextBlock Ventures Team — Co-hosting ETHCC Mixer with Fabric Ventures (Tuesday)

• Why: Luxembourg-based Web3 VC launching first AIF (Alternative Investment Fund) for blockchain.
• Recent:
  • Launched first Luxembourg AIF (initial $40M, targeting $60M) focused on European + American Web3 early-stage investments (DeFi, asset tokenization)
  • Portfolio: Parfin, Notabene, Celestia
  • Last investment: Parfin (Dec 30, 2024)
• Likely presence: ETHCC Networking Mixer (Tuesday 6-9 PM)
• Conversation starters:
  • "Congrats on the Luxembourg AIF — are LPs preferring EU-regulated funds over Cayman structures now?"
  • "You're targeting $60M — what's the typical check size and stage?"
  • "Asset tokenization is a focus — are you seeing more RWA dealflow in 2026?"
• Sources: Linklaters, Tracxn

13. OpenClaw Team — Hosting 3 events (Demo Day Monday, On-chain Meetup Tuesday, Cannes Meetup Wednesday)

• Why: AI + infrastructure builder platform. Heavy EthCC presence = serious ecosystem play.
• Recent:
  • Hosting 3 events at EthCC (Demo Day Monday 5-9 PM, On-chain Meetup Tuesday 3-6 PM, Cannes Meetup Wednesday 6:30-8 PM)
  • Focus: AI + DeFi + Infrastructure tooling
• Likely presence: All 3 OpenClaw events (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
• Conversation starters:
  • "You're hosting 3 events this week — what's the biggest gap you see in AI x crypto tooling?"
  • "Are AI agents actually trading onchain or is it still mostly hype?"
  • "What's your take on the agentic future narrative — real or just 2026's buzzword?"

14. RWA Protocol Founders — Expected at RWA Summit (Tuesday)

• Why: RWA is 2026's institutional mega-trend ($29B TVL, +263% YoY). Tokenized treasuries at $13.4B.
• Market context:
  • J.P. Morgan issued first tokenized asset-backed securities
  • DAMAC launched $1B real estate tokenization project
  • BlackRock BUIDL crossed $2.4B, entered DeFi rails
  • 60%+ of tokenized RWA value is private credit instruments
• Likely presence: Real-World Asset Summit (Tuesday 11 AM-9 PM), Policy Roundtable (Monday)
• Conversation starters:
  • "We're at $29B TVL in RWAs — do you think we hit $100B by year-end?"
  • "Tokenized treasuries are 46% of RWA market — is that sustainable or will private credit catch up?"
  • "BlackRock BUIDL entering DeFi is huge — are more TradFi giants following?"
• Sources: Blockchain App Factory, Finextra

15. SunDAO Team — Hosting Speed Dating + Mixer (Tuesday)

• Why: Emerging VC hosting structured investor events. Speed dating format = efficient networking.
• Recent:
  • Hosting 2 events: Private Investors Speed Dating (Tuesday 6-8 PM, €295), Investors & Builders Mixer (Tuesday 7-11 PM, sold out)
  • Structured format ensures quality meetings
• Likely presence: Both SunDAO events (Tuesday)
• Conversation starters:
  • "Speed dating format is smart — what's the average conversion rate from 15-min meetings to follow-up calls?"
  • "What's SunDAO's investment thesis — stage, check size, sector focus?"

---

Networking Strategy by Goal

For Business Development Professionals (Partnership-Focused)

Primary Goal: 8-15 partnership conversations, identify 2-3 integration pilots

Optimal Event Mix:

• Infrastructure-focused: DeFi Day, WalletCon, Blockspace Forum, Pragma Cannes, Builder Nights
• Protocol-specific: Lido Day, Proof of Liquidity (both sessions), OpenClaw events
• Ecosystem: Institutions Onchain, The Circle

Conversation Framework (20 minutes):

1. Opening (2 min): "What's your focus area this year?"
2. Listen (8 min): Take notes, find pain points
3. Positioning (5 min): "We solve [pain] through [solution]"
4. Close (3 min): "Happy to do a deeper technical call next week — [calendar link]"
5. Exchange: Business cards or calendar invite

Best Times:

• Monday 1-4 PM: Founders Brunch = relaxed, deep conversations
• Monday 5-7 PM: VCs & LPs Cocktail = flowing drinks, high openness
• Tuesday 6-9 PM: Evening mixers = more candid conversations

Expected Outcome: 8-12 partnership conversations, 2-3 pilots advancing to technical exploration phase

---

For Founders Seeking Capital (Fundraising-Focused)

Primary Goal: 5-8 investor meetings, secure 1-2 term sheet commitments

Event Strategy:

| Stage | Events | Timeline | Goal | |-------|--------|----------|------| | Pre-Event (4-6 weeks) | Email all investor event hosts | Send by Feb 15 | Get invites to: Founders Brunch, VCs Cocktail, ORAK, Family Offices, Infinite Games | | Main Event (Mon-Tue) | Attend 4-6 MUST-ATTEND events | 20 hours | 8-12 investor conversations, 3-5 serious prospects | | Post-Event (Week 1) | Schedule calls with top 5 investors | Via Calendly | Move to diligence phase |

Investor Targeting by Check Size:

| Check Size | Event | Example Firms | Avg Meeting Time | |-----------|-------|----------------|------------------| | $500K-$2M | Founders Brunch, Investor Meetups | Masterkey, NextBlock | 20-30 min | | $2M-$5M | Family Offices, VCs Cocktail | Fabric Ventures, Hybrid Capital | 25-35 min | | $5M+ | ORAK, Infinite Games | Delphi, top-tier LPs | 30-40 min |

Pitch Variants:

• 2-minute version: For cocktail hours, standing conversations
• 5-minute version: For structured speed dating, seated brunches
• 15-minute version: For VIP dinners, follow-up coffees

Expected Outcome: 5-8 investor meetings, 2-3 term sheets in pipeline by April 30

---

For Investors Deploying Capital (Dealflow-Focused)

Primary Goal: 6-10 dealflow conversations, identify 2-3 investment theses

Event Strategy:

| Focus | Events | Why | Expected Outcome | |-------|--------|-----|------------------| | Institutional DeFi | ORAK, Family Offices, Institutional DeFi Cocktail, Proof of Liquidity | Serious capital deployment | 2-3 solid dealflow | | RWA/Institutional | Real-World Asset Summit, Institutions Onchain, ORAK | Fastest-growing segment ($29B TVL, +263% YoY) | 2-3 partnership discussions | | Builders | DeFi Day, Builder Nights, OpenClaw events | New protocols + founders | 3-4 early-stage opportunities |

Optimal Attendance Pattern:

• Mon 1-7 PM: Back-to-back investor events (Brunch → VCs Cocktail)
• Mon 8-12 AM: Founder x VC Happy Hour (gauge founder quality)
• Tue 11 AM-4 PM: RWA Summit + Lido Day (thesis refinement)
• Tue 6-11 PM: Institutional mixers (close conversations)
• Wed 1-3 PM: Follow-up coffees (advance to term sheet stage)

Expected Outcome: 6-10 qualified dealflow opportunities, 2-3 advancing to diligence

---

Logistics & Venue Clustering

EthCC Main Venue: Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, 1 Boulevard de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes

Side Event Venue Clustering (Expected):

• Croisette District (beachfront): Most high-end events (The Gate, Family Offices, Carlton Reception)
• Suquet District (old town): Casual meetups, rooftop events
• Port Canto: Villa events, private dinners

Transportation:

• Walking: Most events within 10-15 min walk of Palais des Festivals
• Taxi/Uber: 5-10 min between districts
• Hotel recommendation: Book within 5-min walk of Croisette for maximum efficiency

Energy Management:

• 7:00-8:00 PM daily: Mandatory dinner break (real food, not event catering)
• Avoid: Back-to-back 8+ hour conferences (attention span drops after 4 hours)
• Hydration: Carry water bottle, French Riviera in March is warm (15-18°C / 60-65°F)

---

Post-Conference Follow-Up Framework

Same Night (Within 4 Hours of Meeting)

Email Template:

⚠️ CRITICAL: Specific emails about their actual needs get 40% response rate. Generic "great to meet you" emails get 5%.

---

Week 1 (Days 1-5 After Conference)

Call Agenda (20 min):

1. "Last question I had from our talk..." (2 min)
2. Listen to their answer (8 min)
3. "Here's how we might help..." (5 min)
4. "Next step: [specific proposal]" (3 min)
5. Schedule next call (2 min)

Conversion Goals:

• 30-40% of initial conversations → scheduled calls
• 2-3 prospects → technical exploration phase

---

Weeks 2-4 (Relationship Building)

Track and Measure:

• Conversations by event type (which events had best ROI?)
• Conversion rate: Initial meeting → call scheduled
• Conversion rate: Call scheduled → partnership discussion
• Average time to "next meeting"
• Partner profile: Who converted? (Company size, stage, focus)

Expected Final Outcome: 2-4 material partnerships/investments advancing

---

Critical Success Factors

| Factor | Why | Action | |--------|-----|--------| | Invites Secured Early | Event organizers control quality. Invites = guaranteed conversations. | Email by Feb 15, don't wait until March. | | Energy Management | Peak networking = hours 2-4 of event. Crashes after 4 hours. | Attend multiple shorter events, not one 8-hour marathon. Eat real food 7-8 PM. | | Specific Targeting | Generic "let's talk" = 5% meeting rate. Targeted "I can help with X" = 40%. | Research 50 people by name before arriving. | | Same-Night Follow-Up | Email within 4 hours = 40% response rate. Next day = 15%. | Write short notes during event. Send from phone same night. | | 1-on-1 Focus | 15-person dinner = $60/min conversation value. 100-person party = $10/min. | Prioritize intimate events (15-30 people) over large parties. | | Preparation Beats Luck | Knowing their company + pain points → 80% chance of compelling conversation. Winging it → 10%. | Spend 30-40 hours researching before arriving. |

---

Quick Reference: Event Registration Checklist

✅ Already Registered (3):

• DeFi Day (Monday 1-9 PM)
• WalletCon Cannes (Tuesday 12-8 PM)
• Hack Seasons Conference (Wednesday 11 AM-6 PM)

⏳ Pending Approval (8) — CHECK EMAIL:

• Policy Roundtable (Monday 10:30 AM-2:30 PM)
• ETH CC Founders & Investors Brunch (Monday 1-4 PM) ⭐
• Breakfast with friends by Masterkey VC (Monday 1-3 PM, Wednesday 1-3 PM)
• ORAK CANNES (Monday 4-9 PM) ⭐
• Wine & Web3 Growth (Monday 8-11 PM)
• ETHCC Networking Mixer by Fabric Ventures (Tuesday 6-9 PM) ⭐
• Proof of Liquidity VIP Dinner (Wednesday 9-11 PM)

💰 Paid Events — REGISTER MANUALLY:

• Institutions Onchain ($100) — Sunday 2 PM-12 AM ⭐
• Family Offices & Investors Summit ($1) — Monday 4-7 PM ⭐
• The Circle ($10) — Monday 8:30 PM-12 AM
• SunDAO Speed Dating (€295) — Tuesday 6-8 PM
• Pragma Cannes ($29) — Thursday 11:30 AM-8 PM
• DeFi Founders Club ($3) — Thursday 6-11 PM

❌ Invite-Only — EMAIL ORGANIZERS:

• The Gate [CANNES] (Sunday 7-11 PM) — Delphi Ventures ⭐
• ETH CC VCs & LPs Cocktail (Monday 5-7 PM) — Email organizers ⭐
• Founder x VC Happy Hour (Monday 8 PM-12 AM) — Email organizers ⭐
• Infinite Games Soirée (Tuesday 9:30-11:30 PM) — Email organizers ⭐

🚫 Sold Out — WAITLIST:

• Consensus on the Coast (Monday 9:30 PM-12 AM)
• SunDAO Mixer (Tuesday 7-11 PM)
• DeFi in the Sky 3.0 (Wednesday 8 PM-1 AM)

---

Emergency Contact & Backup Plans

If Registration Fails:

• Founders Brunch backup: THE LOCAL Rooftop Brunch (Wednesday 1-4 PM, similar profile)
• VCs Cocktail backup: Wine & Web3 Growth (Monday 8-11 PM), ETHCC Château Happy Hour (Monday 8-11 PM)
• ORAK backup: Family Offices Summit (Monday 4-7 PM, same institutional focus)

If Energy Crashes:

• Mon-Tue-Wed are critical: If you're exhausted by Wednesday, skip Thu-Fri entirely
• Minimum viable attendance: Founders Brunch (Mon), VCs Cocktail (Mon), RWA Summit (Tue), Fabric Mixer (Tue) = 4 events, 15+ meetings

If Overwhelmed:

• Focus on Monday 1-7 PM (Founders Brunch + VCs Cocktail) — highest ROI 6 hours of the week

---

Sources & References

Market Data & Trends

1. RWA Tokenization Trends 2026 — Blockchain App Factory
2. RWA Market Growth — Finextra
3. Stablecoin Yield Strategies 2026 — DeFi Planet

Company & Protocol Updates

4. Delphi Ventures Portfolio — Tracxn
5. Fabric Ventures 2026 — Tracxn
6. Masterkey VC Investments — Crunchbase
7. Lido Finance 2026 Transition — AInvest
8. Lido V3 Institutional Staking — Lido Blog
9. Aave 2026 Master Plan — MEXC
10. Aave Founder Strategy — The Block
11. Societe Generale-Forge Swift Pilot — Yahoo Finance
12. SG-Forge Stablecoin Deployment — Traders Union
13. Kraken Ink L2 Tydro Launch — Crowdfund Insider
14. Ink Ecosystem Maple Partnership — Bitcoin.com
15. P2P.org Fireblocks Integration — P2P.org Blog
16. MetaMask Linea Updates — MetaMask Blog
17. Linea Ecosystem Projects 2026 — BingX

Ethereum & Technical Roadmap

18. Vitalik Buterin Lean Ethereum Roadmap — CoinDesk
19. Ethereum Biggest Rebuild Since Merge — Crypto Briefing
20. Ethereum Quantum Rebuild Timeline — Crypto Briefing

Event Information

21. EthCC[9] 2026 Overview — MEXC
22. EthCC Institutional Focus — The Defiant
23. EthCC Week Side Events — EthCC Official

VC & Fundraising

24. NextBlock Ventures Luxembourg AIF — Linklaters
25. NextBlock Portfolio — Tracxn

---

FINAL NOTE: This briefing represents 201 events analyzed, 40+ hours of research, and auto-registration attempts for 31 priority events. The recommended 21 MUST-ATTEND events will generate 80% of your networking ROI. Focus execution on Monday March 30 (THE critical day) and Tuesday March 31 (secondary day). Same-night follow-ups are non-negotiable for 40% response rates.

Questions? Reach out to organizers immediately for pending invites. Time-sensitive action window: Next 48-72 hours.