Building the Future of Blockchain at Paris Blockchain Week
What an incredible week in glorious Paris for Paris Blockchain Week 2024 - an event that felt less like a conference and more like a global summit for the future of finance, technology and decentralised systems.
I had the absolute honour of working alongside Charles Hoskinson, co-founder of Ethereum, founder of Cardano and one of the great visionaries of the DeFi movement. And as he took the stage under the historic arches of the Carrousel du Louvre, I could see the excitement in the room build up, with fan boys and newbie DeFi enthusiasts stirring in their seats along with OG supporters, investors and colleagues.
Charles’s keynote was bold, funny, thought provoking and prescient. His words didn’t just reflect on where blockchain has been - they laid out a bold, ambitious vision for what it could become.
Charles Hoskinson’s Vision: A Fourth Generation of Blockchain
Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, on-stage at Paris Blockchain Week
Charles introduced the concept of fourth-generation blockchain, focused on scalability, decentralised governance, sustainable infrastructure and the integration of AI. His keynote was accessible, thought-provoking and full of hope that a brighter figure for finance is within reach.
Here are a few of my favourite quotes from his talk:
“Blockchain needs to evolve into a global operating system - one that can be run, updated and managed by its users.”
“We are building systems that don’t just challenge the status quo, but replace it - with something more equitable, transparent and sustainable.”
“AI doesn’t have to be a black box. With blockchain, we can open that box - and make sure it’s working for us, not against us.”
At a time when the world is trying to make sense of the implications of both centralised power and AI dominance, this was a timely discussion and a true call to action for a world shaped by technology that serves its users and evolves with them.
Major Themes That Emerged from the Week
Beyond Charles’s keynote, here are five key themes that dominated the discussions - and signpost where the industry is heading:
1. Europe Sets the Standard, the U.S. Prepares for Domination
With MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) in motion, Europe has made a major attempt at regulatory clarity. While far from perfect, it does give innovators a starting point to take the industry seriously. Meanwhile, recent shifts in the U.S. political landscape and Trump’s pro-crypto stance are sparking fresh optimism for the sector on American soil.
As Charles put it: “Europe has regulatory clarity. The U.S. has liquidity. Together, they could create a mature and global crypto marketplace.”
2. Institutions Are Starting to Build Too
Blockchain is no longer a fringe experiment. The presence of traditional institutions like PwC, global banks, asset managers and sovereign funds reflected a growing seriousness about blockchain's role in the mainstream financial system. The questions now are about implementation, compliance and infrastructure.
Who will get there first? How will it impact users? Only time will tell, but I’m sure it will be great.
3. Tokenisation Is The Ultimate Use Case for DeFi
From real estate to gold to government bonds, the tokenisation of real-world assets (RWA) was everywhere. We’re seeing real momentum around turning traditionally illiquid assets into programmable, tradable digital instruments. This isn’t just innovation for innovation’s sake - it’s unlocking new liquidity and access for global markets.
A standout company doing this great work is wealth management platform MetaWealth - a true leveller for anyone wishing to build a property portfolio and make the most of the world's most profitable asset class - but don’t know where to start!
4. AI and Blockchain are Tech’s Hottest Couple
The intersection of AI and blockchain is quickly becoming one of the most exciting frontiers in Web3. Blockchain provides the trust layer - transparency, auditability and decentralisation - that AI desperately needs.
Charles summed it up perfectly: “AI and blockchain speak the same language: Tokens. They complement each other - and when combined, can reshape the way we build systems and assign trust.”
5. Governance Is Coming... but Still a Work in Progress
Perhaps the most important thread running through the week was the emphasis on on-chain governance - and how the next generation of decentralised systems must be designed to evolve autonomously, with the full participation of their communities.
“Code is law, but law should be written by the people who live by it,” Charles reminded the audience - a powerful reminder that decentralisation is not just technical, it’s deeply democratic.
Stunning sunset closes an important week in Paris
And Of Course… It’s Paris
Of course, you can’t just go to Paris for work.
This trip had its fair share of unforgettable moments outside the panels and press rooms - including a private dinner with Input Output at the legendary Lapérouse, one of the oldest and most storied restaurants in Paris (and home to the city's oldest wine cellar), a descent into the Catacombs (creepy but extraordinary too) and dinner at Daimant St. Honoré - currently one of the hottest vegan restaurants in the city. The set menu was delicious and very reasonable - it is possible to have a great three-course meal for under €30 euros in 2e arrondissement!
To top it all off, I had the joy of bumping into one of my favourite Web3 power women - Marieke Flament - and walking her to one of her media interviews. Just another example of how the interesting, curious and influential always manage to cross paths in Paris.
C’est la vie…
