Istanbul Blockchain Week returns June 2–3 as Türkiye’s crypto market surges
Istanbul Blockchain Week is back for its fifth edition on June 2–3, 2026, as Türkiye’s crypto adoption accelerates. Chainalysis reports the country recorded nearly $200 billion in annual on-chain transactions, leading the MENA region and outpacing the UAE by a factor of four. The two-day conference at Hilton Bomonti brings together founders, investors, and builders at the intersection of Europe and the Middle East.
Türkiye’s challenging economic environment pushed crypto adoption to unprecedented levels. Local currency volatility and inflation drove citizens toward digital assets as a store of value, creating the MENA region’s most active on-chain ecosystem.
Istanbul Blockchain Week opens June 2–3 at Hilton Bomonti for its fifth edition. The two-day conference targets founders, investors, and developers working across protocols, DeFi, gaming, and institutional adoption. Organizer EAK Digital structured the program around main-stage talks, an expo floor, investor roundtables, and technical workshops.
Event structure
Last year drew 20,000+ attendees and 500+ speakers. The 2026 lineup covers real-world asset tokenization, AI integration, regulatory frameworks, privacy infrastructure, and stablecoin adoption.
Previous speakers included Justin Sun (TRON), Ali İhsan Güngör (Executive Vice Chairman, Capital Markets Board of Türkiye), Mehmet Çamır (Chairman, OKX TR), Kostas Chalkias (Co-Founder and Chief Cryptographer, Mysten Labs), John Linden (CEO, Mythical Games), and Aaron Teng (CEO, Igloo Asia/Pudgy Penguins).
Erhan Korhaliller, CEO of EAK Digital, said the team aims to make this year’s edition “bigger, bolder and more impactful than ever.”
The numbers behind Türkiye’s crypto surge
Chainalysis data shows Türkiye leads MENA with nearly $200B in annual on-chain volume. Event details, tickets, and why Istanbul matters for Web3. Economic necessity, not speculation, drove this growth. Digital assets function as inflation hedges and alternatives to traditional banking for millions of users.
Why Istanbul matters
Istanbul sits between Dubai and London, making it a natural meeting point for European and Middle Eastern crypto communities. The conference draws attendees from both regions, along with participants from Asia and North America.
Türkiye’s regulatory landscape is evolving alongside adoption. The Capital Markets Board has been active in shaping crypto oversight, with officials appearing at previous IBW editions to discuss the framework.
Practical details
- Dates: June 2–3, 2026
- Location: Hilton Bomonti Hotel, Istanbul
- Format: Main-stage conference, expo floor, DeFAI Con, KOL Summit, investor roundtables, workshops
- Tickets: Available at istanbulblockchainweek.com/tickets
- Sponsorship: Early opportunities open for companies seeking visibility with a global Web3 audience
More information: istanbulblockchainweek.com
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