Incrypted Conference 2023 — A Recap

June 11 marked the second day of the Incrypted Conference 2023 in Kyiv. The offline gathering hosted over 500 attendees within the innovative hub, UNIT.City. Among the attendees were representatives from Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation, crypto projects, venture companies, media, and investors.

The conference was inaugurated with words from Incrypted's founders, Ivan Pavlovsky and Andrii Makarov, who expressed their appreciation to all guests for showing up and filling the hall, despite the bearish market conditions and challenging weather.

The Incrypted Conference 2023 stage was graced by speakers discussing the following topics:

You can catch up with each speaker's address through the recorded live stream available via the provided link.

A significant highlight of the Incrypted Conference 2023 was an engaging panel discussion that centered around the topic of legalizing digital assets in Ukraine. The participants included Yuliia Parkhomenko from the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Arsen Makarchuk from the National Bank of Ukraine, Yevhen Pronin from aw firm "Pronin and Partners", Peter Bilyk from Juscutum, and Yurii Boiko (NSSMC of Ukraine). The thought-provoking discussion was expertly moderated by Kyrylo Bondar. The panel comprised representatives from various sectors, including corporate giants, government organizations, law firms, and academic institutions They delved into the pros and cons of regulating virtual assets and explored the future of Web3 development in Ukraine.

Yuliia Parkhomenko, the director of the digital economy directorate at Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, expressed that cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology are becoming a necessity worldwide. She shed light on the establishment of a group dedicated to integrating blockchain solutions into the public sector and launching a complimentary educational course for newcomers in the industry.

Peter Bilyk, the Chief Innovation Officer at Juscutum, accentuated that the cryptocurrency market, being well-established, cannot be overlooked. He stated that regulations are essential not for companies, but for the state, which at the moment is not fully prepared to handle crypto businesses.

Yevhen Pronin, the Managing Partner at the law firm "Pronin and Partners," noted the absence of a course dedicated to virtual assets in any of Ukraine's higher education institutions. He suggested that MiCA — the EU regulation on crypto asset markets — serves as an exemplary model to emulate.

Arsen Makarchuk, Director of the Strategy and Development Department of the National Bank of Ukraine, recommended perceiving cryptocurrency as a financial tool. Concurrently, Yurii Boiko, the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce, mentioned that Ukraine could potentially be the first country to adopt and adapt to MiCA.

The panel discussion wrapped up with the audience casting their votes on whether to regulate crypto, tallying 98 votes in favor and 58 against. The discussion highlighted three core benefits of regulation: increased transparency, the emergence of new opportunities and products, and an enlargement of the economic monetary volume.

We also had the chance to have a one-on-one discussion with Yuliia Parkhomenko during the event. Keep an eye out for an exclusive interview with her, coming soon to our website! 

As in the previous year, the organizers selected the grandest hall in Unit.city, known as the Verse in the B12 building. Besides the main hall, attendees had access to three lounge zones stocked with refreshments. 

In the hall's lobby, stands from event sponsors were highly noticeable, with WhiteBIT and Whitepay standing out in particular. Additionally, the branding of Gagarin News was prominently displayed on a TV screen positioned behind the stands.

The organizers went the extra mile to create an interactive and engaging experience for attendees. Among the standout activities was a "crypto fortune-teller" that predicted the growth potential of participants' portfolios. Moreover, a skilled masseuse was on hand to provide much-needed relaxation and relieve any fatigue.

The event's organization was truly top-notch, leaving attendees thoroughly impressed with the exceptional experience provided.

Notably, many well-known Ukrainian crypto bloggers were in attendance, including notable figures like Kirill Evans, Deki Gang, Kostya Kudo, and Rostik rDeni. We had a chance to converse with Rostik rDeni, so stay tuned for an upcoming interview.

The DoubleTop team also graced the event, with significant attention directed towards the project's co-founder, Anton Dziuba. He kindly took some time to answer a few questions about his successful journey in the world of crypto. We are currently working on this piece for future release.

Ten different projects from a variety of sectors showcased their innovative solutions to a jury, which consisted of experts from the Cointelegraph Accelerator, established businesses, and venture capital funds. 

The participants in the pitch session ranged from startups focusing on trading platforms, aggregators, payment processors, DEXs, cybersecurity solutions, and others. They had the chance to exhibit their products and services while expressing their unique vision for their project's future.

Following the jury's voting, OTCOnline, GoodCrypto, and SaveChain emerged as the winners. They received awards from the partners of the pitch session: Hacken, Majinx, Peanut, Kaizen Finance, WhiteBIT Investment, and the Cointelegraph Accelerator.

The Incrypted Conference 2023 turned out to be one of Ukraine's most sizable and captivating crypto events of the year, drawing more than 1000 participants. The attendees had the opportunity to hear compelling and timely speeches from industry leaders and experts. They also participated in a riveting panel discussion on the legalization of digital assets in Ukraine, which was a standout moment of the event. The conference additionally served as a stage for Ukrainian crypto startups to present their groundbreaking solutions to investors and win awards and grants for the growth of their projects.

Such events demonstrate the growth and potential of the crypto industry in Ukraine, even amidst ongoing conflict, and promote collaboration and knowledge exchange between different sectors. The organization of the event was top-tier, and the atmosphere was convivial and engaging. The conference brought to light the hurdles and issues faced by the crypto community in Ukraine, particularly regarding the regulation of digital assets, industry-specific education, and the integration of the crypto ecosystem into the broader economy and society. Therefore, there is much work ahead of us to tackle these issues.