MarketAcross joins Blockchain@USC to launch the VanEck Southern California Blockchain Conference

October 20, 2022 – Los Angeles, California

The inaugural event will connect students and professionals in the Southern California blockchain community, further cementing the region as a Web 3.0 innovation hub.

In keeping with the spirit of Blockchain@USC’s mission to educate and connect community members to the blockchain industry, the student-led group has teamed up with MarketAcross to launch the first VanEck Southern California Blockchain Conference.

From November 10-11, 2022, the USC Marshall School of Business will host the VanEck Southern California Blockchain Conference with expert panels, demonstrations and networking opportunities for both students and the global blockchain community. The two-day event will be held across the University of Southern California campus.

Aimed at students and developers in the Southern California area, the first conference will bring together the experiences of Web 3.0 entrepreneurs, researchers and investors from leading protocols, exchanges, marketing agencies and funds.

Attendees will be able to hear from experts and make new connections across the global blockchain community. The conference was sponsored by USC Marshall School of Business, VanEck, a16z, Messari, Bitcoin Association, NGC Ventures, Ava Labs, BNB Chain, Chainwire, MarketAcross and Aptos.

Anthony Borquez, faculty member at the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, said:

“After speaking with many students, it was clear that this type of immersive event was necessary. Yes, attendees will hear from leaders in blockchain, cryptocurrency, the metaverse, and more, but they’ll also participate in workshops and classes designed to catapult the builders of the future. We are proud to have created the largest blockchain event in Southern California.”

Featured keynote speakers attending the conference include Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood, a16z partner Jeff Amico, Zuckerberg Media founder Randi Zuckerberg, Frax Finance founder Sam Kazemian, Pantera Capital partner Lauren Stephanian, Pentagon CEO Jai Bhavnani, The Sandbox US CEO Mathieu Nouzareth, Dragonfly head by talent Zack Skelly, Makers Fund principal Andrew Wilson, EthSign co-founder Jack Xu, Moon Holdings general partner Thomas Vu and ProofofLearn CEO Sheila Marcelo.

Commenting on the upcoming event, Gabriel Perez, director of Blockchain@USC, said

“It is absolutely exciting to be able to connect our promising community of blockchain enthusiasts and developers with globally recognizable names leading the Web 3.0 revolution. From the very beginning of Web 3.0’s conception, the community has served as the backbone of innovation, and I am sure that future breakthroughs in the area will be a function of our ongoing and open collaboration, communication and conviction about Web 3.0’s potential.”

The conference’s presentations, panels and workshops will bring together industry insights, emerging trends and cutting-edge research by gathering perspectives from leading infrastructure providers, CeFi founders, DeFi experts and NFT developers.

Participants will have access to technical workshops covering topics such as hybrid smart contracts along with chances to engage one-on-one with other community members at social events.

Itai Elizur, managing partner of MarketAcross, said:

“We are very encouraged by the amazing community of future industry leaders that Blockchain@USC is cultivating and are excited to play a role in supporting this important Web 3.0 conversation. It is both impressive and inspiring that the student and blockchain communities can come together around a collective mission, and in turn champion an effort to transform this region into a global Web 3.0 powerhouse.”

Registration for the VanEck Southern California Blockchain Conference is open and can be accessed here.

About the USC Marshall School of Business

USC Marshall is a premier business school located in the experiential learning laboratory of LA, the creative capital of the world and one of the world’s truly great cities. The mission of the Marshall School is to incubate transformational ideas and to translate them into world-changing impact.

Appreciating and embracing the broader implications of innovation, Marshall provides future business leaders with a deep understanding of the far-reaching disruptive consequences of innovation, the great value of inclusion throughout society, and the ever-expanding social responsibility of business.

About Blockchain@USC

Founded in 2018, Blockchain@USC is a student-led organization that helps cultivate and develop the University of Southern California’s blockchain community. The organization works to advance blockchain technology through a series of value-added experiences designed to educate and encourage a community of more than 300 members.

Partnering with leading blockchain organizations, Blockchain@USC makes it a mission to advance Web 3.0 development through educational talks, activities and events while using the platform to connect enterprising community members with the burgeoning blockchain industry.

About MarketAcross

Since its inception in 2013, MarketAcross has advanced to become an experienced and capable blockchain PR and marketing firm providing end-to-end marketing coverage for blockchain initiatives operating worldwide.

MarketAcross has worked with the industry’s leading exchanges and blockchains, including Polkadot, Solana, Binance and Polygon, to help these projects expand their reach and awareness among the cryptocurrency and blockchain audience.

Consult

Gabriel Perez, Director of Blockchain@USC