Web3 Amsterdam - An Event Review

Web3 Amsterdam was an explosion of energy, a collision of ideas, and a meeting place for those who live and breathe the blockchain space. The red hues of the venue cast a glow over an atmosphere buzzing with possibility. It felt like a gathering of kindred spirits, people who usually operate in the solitude of Twitter Spaces and Telegram groups suddenly thrown into real-life connection. There was coffee, there were beers, but more than anything, there was an eagerness to discuss, to debate, to build.

It wasn’t the glitzy premier league of Token2049 or the sprawling mass of ETHDenver, but it had the drive and intensity of grassroots football. Web3 Amsterdam had passion. It had hustle. From seasoned professionals negotiating deals in the corners to bright-eyed newcomers just thrilled to be in the room, there was a palpable sense of movement. The atrium never emptied. People moved in and out in a constant stream, grabbing pizza, ordering beers, and scribbling ideas onto napkins. It was the kind of place where you could almost feel the industry taking shape around you.

Side events were a big topic of conversation, some of which were scrapped at the last minute, leaving people to shift gears on the fly. But nothing excites a crowd like the promise of an afterparty. Deals and partnerships might be forged in daylight, but the real conversations—the ones that cement relationships—happen with a drink in hand and music thrumming in the background.

Themes emerged, clear and consistent throughout the talks and informal chats.

Interoperability was on everyone’s mind. There was a growing recognition that for the industry to thrive, the silos of individual blockchains and protocols must break down.

Kayne Brennan, Chief Technology Officer from Wunder Social believes that “The focus needs to shift from the 50 million people who use blockchain technology to the 4 billion people who use the internet,” said Brennan.

And he’s right. The other panelists agreed. Until Web3 seamlessly integrates into the everyday internet experience, it remains a niche space for those already converted. The current state—disjointed networks, fragmented ecosystems—only benefits those who know how to navigate the murkiness and that often includes bad actors.

User experience was another hot topic. Greg Jakubiak from Arrland, a Web3 Gaming Ecosystem, put it bluntly: “It’s not simple enough.”

The difficulty of connecting protocols, pulling in data, and making it all useful in a meaningful way is a major barrier to mainstream adoption. Technology is advancing at a breathtaking pace, but if people can’t use it easily, what’s the point? There was broad agreement that standards are needed to make things easier, but regulation? That’s where opinions diverged.

MiCA and other emerging regulatory frameworks are both a help and a hindrance. No one denied the need for clear, standardized rules, but there was also an undercurrent of caution. Is regulation designed to protect users and encourage innovation, or is it simply reinforcing the power structures of those who are already established? The industry is at a crossroads. Without clear self-governance, traditional financial players will set the rules. But who is going to step up and define the standards before regulators do?

Then there’s the matter of real-world adoption. Karolina Glusek from the ORIGYN Foundation pointed out about tokenization:

“The tokenization of real-world assets isn’t so different from what happens now. You can buy shares in gold or whisky or anything—you get a piece of paper to prove it. There’s no tangible difference to tokenization, having an NFT to prove your ownership.”

The idea that tokenization is some radical new concept ignores the fact that traditional finance has been doing it in a different form for decades. The difference now is efficiency, transparency, and accessibility.

Finally, professionalism in Web3 is becoming more pronounced. With the influx of institutional money and serious investors, the space is inevitably evolving. Banking partners are becoming more involved, providing the necessary infrastructure to onboard and offboard funds. Traditional businesses are looking for ways to navigate this new financial landscape, and Web3 is maturing to meet them.

Walking away from Web3 Amsterdam, I couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of excitement and urgency. The passion and energy in the space are undeniable, but the road ahead is filled with challenges. Interoperability, user experience, self-governance—these aren’t just buzzwords; they are the battlegrounds on which the future of Web3 will be decided.

What’s clear is that this is no longer an industry of hobbyists. It’s becoming something bigger, something stronger. The conversations happening in rooms like this will define how blockchain integrates into everyday life. The question now is: can Web3 move fast enough to shape its own future before someone else does?