Looking forward to opportunities after the winter

The Don’t Look Up Festival is set to be the largest gathering of crypto-minded experts, amateurs and enthusiasts in Africa, aiming to explore both the technology’s impact on Web3 and new opportunities for investors.

To help crypto enthusiasts tap into opportunities in Africa, Bitcoin Events returns with its fourth edition of Crypto Fest – the largest gathering of crypto industry leaders, entrepreneurs and experts taking place both virtually and in person at the Grand Africa Cafe and Beach on September 30, 2022.

Crypto Fest 2022 will be a unique experience for crypto crusaders. Under the theme “Don’t Look Up”, entrepreneurs, traders, investors, developers and enthusiasts will engage in hard-hitting conversations, sparking critical debates on the impact of crypto, non-fungible tokens (NFT), decentralized finance (DeFi), Web3 and Metaverse will wear the worlds of finance, investments, art, music, sports, games, entertainment, marketing, governance and more.

Sonya Kuhnel, co-founder and director of Bitcoin Events and organizer of this year’s festival, said: “Change is inevitable and the world is – slowly but surely – realizing the impact crypto and crypto-related technologies have on the future of industry. Yes, the crypto world has has had its fair share of ups and downs, but the proof of concept is there and it’s only a matter of time before the sector bounces back. Now is the time to look up and explore where the opportunities lie. Now is the time to learn as we prepare to jump into a new era.”

Attendees can look forward to a jam-packed day of keynotes, presentations, competitions, product showcases and performances from more than 30 global innovators and thought leaders in cryptocurrency, NFT, DeFi, Web3 and Metaverse.

The event includes a keynote address by Polygon’s South African Business Development Manager Michael Jordan, an exploration of crypto innovation and regulation by Mazar’s partner and digital assets head Wiehann Olivier, routes to mass crypto education and adoption across Africa with FTX Africa’s Business Development Manager Nolu Mashologu, a panel discussion hosted by Bakari’s Daniel Kimber , who will lead a conversation outlining how to best manage risk with DeFi investments, and a discussion presented by sportsmen Kyle Brown and Sean Roberts defining crypto and the role it will play in South African sport.

Crypto Fest 2022 will debut an NFT gallery and a Metaverse gaming zone featuring NFTs from various local artists. The NFT Gallery, presented by Libex, a South African-owned NFT marketplace, will host “Lightning Talks,” where attendees can interact, network, win prizes and experience the world of virtual reality in the Metaverse gaming zone.

South African musician and visual artist Arno Carstens will host a 15-minute “Lightning Talk” discussing his latest collection of embossed artwork.

“I’m excited to be a part of something that’s still evolving and to be able to connect with people who are as excited as I am. The human mind is drawn to the possibilities of what could be, and it’s the potential of this that I’m excited about,” Carsons shared. “NFTs and the Metaverse are technologies in their infancy. Crypto Fest 2022 is a place where developers, artists and collectors can come together on this journey of discovery. The idea of ​​being self-sufficient is such a light at the end of the tunnel for many people.”

Commenting on this year’s program, Polygon’s Jordan said: “The world of cryptocurrencies can be a complex one to navigate – more so for those with limited exposure to the ecosystem and understanding of the technology’s impact potential. For this reason, we are excited to partner with Crypto Fest 2022 to provide a platform for more people to learn, explore and understand how to get involved in one of the most disruptive developments in finance and industry since the abandonment of gold. standard 50 years ago.”

About Bitcoin Events

Bitcoin Events was established in 2014 by Sonya Kuhnel and Theo Sauls to address the lack of education and information available to individuals and organizations in Africa about the opportunities and challenges that blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies offer. Over the past eight years, Bitcoin Events has organized events, workshops and educational meetings, hosting over 15,000 participants from 165 countries.

About Crypto Fest

The fourth edition of Crypto Fest, under the satirical theme “Don’t Look Up,” can be defined as people’s inability to deal effectively with climate change. It uses the metaphor of a comet threatening to destroy planet earth, and instead of looking up and responding to the imminent danger, people prefer to be distracted by pop culture and goofy memes. Changes are also coming to the crypto-DeFi-NFT-Web3 space, and now is the time to “look up” and see the changes – and also the opportunities.