From idea to impact: our journey to the crypto AI conference 2024

From the desk of Tim and Jack Haldorsson

When we first thought of hosting an AI conference, we thought, “It’ll be straightforward, right?” We both had a good laugh about that later because this whole journey turned into one of the most ambitious projects we’ve ever tackled.

What started as a casual idea over coffee has become a worldwide adventure, driven by a belief that crypto and AI will revolutionize technology and our lives. And it’s not just the two of us—it’s our entire team, our partners, and the communities we’ve visited on this global tour who have turned this vision into a reality.

Let’s take a step back to where it all began. We both realized that AI, decentralized tech, and blockchain weren’t just isolated advancements. They’re parts of a much larger puzzle that, when brought together, can change how we see privacy, identity, and even freedom in the digital world. That realization was the spark, and soon we were planning a worldwide conference tour dedicated to these ideas.

Building Lisbon as a AI Crypto Destination with a Global Tour, One City at a Time

This world tour for Crypto AI kicked off with a dynamic event during EthCC week in Brussels, drawing in over 150 industry professionals, including notable projects like Polkadot, Phala Network, zkPass, and ICP. This first stop underscored the rapidly growing enthusiasm around merging AI and blockchain, showcasing innovative projects that bridge these fields in compelling new ways.

The excitement continued as we moved to Singapore for TOKEN2049 on September 18-19, where local developers, thought leaders, and investors gathered to explore how AI and blockchain can create groundbreaking solutions in the Web3 space.

Following Singapore, the tour made its way to Paris, connecting with European innovators and highlighting the transformative potential of decentralized technology in some of Europe’s most active tech hubs. We launched the France ICP Hub and loved the feedback from the entire community.

These stops were designed to engage the local tech communities and build a solid foundation of momentum, energy, and shared vision for the ultimate gathering at Crypto AI Conference, Lisbon on November 9-10.

Each of these exclusive events has laid the groundwork for what’s expected to be a convergence of over 2,000 leaders in AI and crypto at Lisbon’s Técnico Innovation Center, marking the finale of the tour and setting the stage for immersive discussions, workshops, and demonstrations of advanced AI-powered crypto projects.

With major industry sponsors, media partnerships, and a global lineup of speakers, Crypto AI Lisbon will offer an unmissable platform for anyone serious about the future of crypto and AI.

A Non-Stop Hustle Team

What most people don’t see behind an event like Crypto AI:CON is the constant grind. We’ve been burning the midnight oil to get sponsors on board, secure venues, and, of course, bring together a lineup of speakers that we’d be thrilled to listen to ourselves. Our team has worked around the clock, wearing every hat imaginable to bring this project to life.

And we couldn’t be prouder of the lineup we’ve assembled. From cutting-edge cryptographers to AI pioneers, this roster of speakers is here because they’re genuinely pushing boundaries. Featuring thought leaders like Pierre Samaties (DFINITY Foundation), David Jiao (Privasea), João Machado (Humanity Protocol), Harry Kimpel (New Relic), Alex Theaker (Noir Ventures), and Sander Gortjes (Hello Labs), each speaker brings a fresh perspective and deep expertise to the table.

We’re also backed by powerful partners in the industry, including ICP (Internet Computer), Privasea, Cookie3, Humanity Protocol, Sensay, and many more. We would also like to shoutout our community partners ABC Algarve, Hi Blockchain, Blockchain Nova, Poolside, Web3isajoke, and many more who helped us every step of the way.

On the media end, publications like CoinTelegraph, BeinCrypto, CryptoSavingsExpert, Crypto.News, BTCWire, Portugal News, Cryptoslate, and many more helped spread the word about the conference.

Together, this lineup is set to deliver insights that go beyond the ordinary and spark real innovation. The hardest part? Making sure each event wasn’t just a repetition of the last. Each stop had its unique theme and approach because we wanted to speak directly to the local tech community and their interests. We aimed to make every stop on this tour meaningful, something attendees would remember and feel was worth their time.

Why Crypto and AI Together?

One of the big questions we get asked a lot is why we’re so focused on both crypto and AI. Here’s the simple answer: these technologies aren’t just intersecting; they’re on a collision course. Blockchain’s decentralized nature offers security and transparency, while AI provides the intelligence needed to interpret vast amounts of data. Together, they have the potential to create applications that aren’t just smart, but secure, fair, and genuinely useful.

Think about it—what if your personal information could be safely managed and analyzed without compromising privacy? Or if companies could develop AI without having to rely on giant, centralized data centers? This isn’t just an idealistic dream; it’s something we’re seeing take shape through projects like Humanity Protocol and Privasea. Humanity Protocol, for instance, focuses on Proof-of-Humanity solutions, ensuring that online identities can be verified without needing intrusive data. And Privasea uses advanced encryption to keep AI computations secure—a game-changer in today’s privacy-focused world.

Lessons from the Road

If we’ve learned one thing on this journey, it’s the power of collaboration. This tour wouldn’t have been possible without the support of partners, sponsors, and local communities who believe in our vision.

We’ve also learned a lot from the people we’ve met along the way—developers, entrepreneurs, investors, and enthusiasts. Every city had a distinct vibe and unique questions, and it’s been enlightening to see how each culture approaches the same technologies in different ways.

A Word on Lisbon and What Lies Ahead

All roads now lead to Lisbon, where we’ll wrap up this incredible tour. It’s fitting to end here in Europe, which is fast becoming a regulatory leader in tech with policies like MiCA shaping the landscape. Our Lisbon event won’t just be a grand finale; it’s the beginning of something even bigger. We see it as a chance to synthesize everything we’ve learned on the road and showcase the best insights, ideas, and technologies that we’ve encountered.

Plus, with the ICP Hackerhouse kicking off as part of the conference, developers have a rare chance to get hands-on experience with the Internet Computer Protocol, a game-changer in decentralized computing.

After Lisbon, we’re not stopping. We’re already looking at what comes next—how to build on this momentum, keep the conversation going, and continue driving forward this vision of a decentralized, intelligent future.

A Thank You to Our Community and Partners

To everyone who joined us at each stop, to our speakers who shared their insights, and to our partners who believed in the project from day one—thank you. We couldn’t have done this without you.

And to our community, those of you who’ve followed along on this journey, and offered feedback, support, and even constructive criticism, you’re the reason we’re here.

Crypto AI:CON isn’t just a conference; it’s a community-driven event, built from the ground up by people who believe in the transformative power of these technologies.

So here’s to the end of a remarkable tour and the start of a new chapter. We can’t wait to see where this journey takes us all next!