ETHDenver 2025: AI Everywhere, Side Events Take Over, and the Hunt for Woolly Hats
One thing was clear at ETHDenver 2025: the main conference was no longer the central hub. While the event still attracted a crowd, it felt smaller and less energetic than in previous years. The BUIDLathon, a core part of the event, was noticeably quieter. The speakers gave talks to sparse audiences of one or two people. Though the main event picked up some momentum, it lacked the electric atmosphere many had come to expect.
Instead, the side events were the real stars of the show.
The author celebrating a birthday at the conference.
Take HederaCon, for example—a large and well-organized event that felt like a mini-conference in itself. I, along with Anewbiz, had the pleasure of interviewing Shyam Nagarajan, the COO of Hedera, and meeting Ken Anderson from Tashi. Secret Network also hosted a well-attended Hacker House all week, welcoming leaders in Privacy 2.0.
Other notable side events that drew the crowds included the VCs & LPs Cocktail Party and the Decentralized AI Society (DAIS) Dinner. Neal Stephenson, who coined the term “Metaverse” in his novel Snow Crash, was the guest of honor. A highlight for me was getting a signed copy of his latest book.
Then there was the Afternoon TEEParty, one of the best networking events of the week, which was packed and buzzing with fascinating people. The only drawback was the audio quality. It was hard to hear the panels unless you were right next to the speakers.
AI, AI, and More AI
Last year, AI was only a minor subplot at ETHDenver. This year, it took center stage.
Agentic AI, decentralized AI, privacy-preserving AI, and AI governance were all major discussion topics. An attendee pointed out that AI-related events might have barely registered last year, but this year, they were everywhere, and rightly so. Everyone recognized that AI is the most important shift in technology right now, and ETHDenver seemed to prove that Web3 is keen to keep integrating and staying relevant.
I attended Rollup Day, Multi-Chain Day, and several hacker house sessions, participating in conversations that showed the increasing overlap between blockchain and AI. The team from Qu.ai were fascinating; I interviewed Dr. K, their founder, who shared an interesting vision for AI in decentralized ecosystems. I also interviewed some of the Autonomsy team who were minting memories using AI.
Other interviews included Greg Osuri from Akash, where we discussed the latest developments in decentralized cloud computing. I had fruitful talks with the iExec team, whose off-chain computing work for Web3 caught my attention. A personal highlight was meeting Jackson Hinkle, executive producer of The Street Crypto.
AI permeated every aspect of the conference; ETHDenver had become AIDenver.
Women in Blockchain: The Conversation Continues
One of the most engaging events was the Women in Blockchain session with Thessy Mehrain. The discussions focused on inclusion, leadership, and the importance of collaboration in shaping the future of AI and blockchain. The conversation echoed a theme that resonated throughout ETHDenver: blockchain and AI must be built with diverse perspectives to not repeat old issues with new technology.
The Real Highlight: Woolly Hats
One of the best souvenirs from ETHDenver 2025 was a good woolly hat. Hoodies and backpacks were also available. I had a great time, met wonderful people, and networked well. Between deep conversations on AI ethics, blockchain interoperability, and decentralized governance, ETHDenver still delivered on its core promise—bringing together the builders, thinkers, and disruptors shaping the next phase of technology.
Not a bad week, particularly as I turned 60 during the week and enjoyed some cake and balloons.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheStreet Crypto. This piece is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice.
