TON’s Rise, Hybrid Layer 2 Scaling, and Restaking Innovation Highlighted at Hack Seasons Conference in Singapore
In Brief
The Hack Seasons Conference, held at the National Gallery Singapore, featured top blockchain, crypto, AI, and VC experts discussing decentralized systems, artificial intelligence, and next-generation infrastructure.
The Hack Seasons Conference, held at the stunning National Gallery Singapore on September 19th, 2024, brought together the top experts in blockchain, technology, and venture capital. Against the backdrop of Singapore’s modern and historic architectural masterpiece, participants were treated to a full day of panels, keynotes, and discussions that explored decentralized systems, artificial intelligence, and next-generation infrastructure.
The Best of the Main Track
The Main Track of the conference started with a panel, “Asian Investment Giants in Talks,” where representatives from leading firms, including ABCDE, EAK, Gate Ventures, Animoca Ventures, and Hashkey, engaged in a thought-provoking dialogue. Jenny from Animoca and Jonathan Gill from Hashkey shared insights on investment strategies, exploring how Asia remains a powerful hub for blockchain innovation. This conversation set the tone for a day filled with forward-looking discussions.
Immediately following, the panel “The Symbiotic Future of AI and DePIN” brought together key stakeholders, including experts from ICP, Filecoin, Theoriq, and Akash. The session highlighted the potential of decentralized physical infrastructure networks to complement AI, enhancing efficiency, scalability, and security in blockchain ecosystems. Anil Murty from Akash and Lomesh Dutta from ICP shed light on how these technologies intersect to redefine the digital landscape.
Kevin Lee, a CBO at Gate.io, took the stage to deliver a compelling keynote, focusing on Gate.io’s commitment to advancing blockchain ecosystems and fostering innovation through strategic initiatives.
The session “The Future of the Bitcoin Ecosystem” focused on Bitcoin’s evolving role within the decentralized financial landscape and its potential beyond being a store of value. Panelists, including industry experts and innovators, explored Bitcoin’s technological progress, such as the adoption of Layer 2 solutions, which aim to improve scalability and transaction efficiency.
The “TON – The Fastest Growing Ecosystem” panel provided a comprehensive look at The Open Network and its rapid ascent within the blockchain industry. The panelists emphasized TON’s unique ability to combine high transaction speeds, low fees, and developer-friendly tools, which have made it increasingly attractive for decentralized applications and real-world adoption.
The energy in the room continued to build with a powerful keynote speech delivered by Weiwei Geng, CEO of Unite, who captivated attendees with a vision for the future of decentralized platforms and Web3 mobile gaming.
Later in the day, the panel “Tell Me the Bull Run is Here” reignited excitement as industry leaders, including Ciara Sun from C² Ventures and Sergej Kunz from 1inch, debated the signals and catalysts of a potential market resurgence. Their perspectives on market cycles and investment strategies resonated strongly, particularly as the industry navigates a rapidly shifting economic climate.
The conversation transitioned seamlessly into a keynote by Yannik Schrade, CEO of Arcium, whose insights on computing and privacy in Web3.
One of the standout sessions on the Main Track was “How to Develop the Most Vibrant Ecosystem,” featuring insights from Vechain CTO Antonio Senatore and Animoca Co-Founder Yat Siu, CEO and Co-founder of Sandbox, Co-founder of NEAR, Alex Skidanov, and others. Panelists emphasized collaboration and community-building as essential pillars for scaling successful blockchain projects, offering tangible examples from their respective platforms.
The conference’s energy surged again with panels like “NODESALE 101” and “AI and DePIN: Catalysts for the Next Market Cycle,” which drew substantial engagement from attendees. Industry pioneers like Jesse Eisses from Nosana, Shuhei Mise from Animechain, Noah Prince from Helium, Sebastien from Sophon, and others addressed the technical foundations required for decentralized infrastructure and their potential to unlock value for both developers and end users.
Alan Chiu, CEO of Boba Network, delivered an inspiring keynote speech that explored the potential of hybrid Layer 2 solutions for scaling decentralized applications.
The final hours of the Main Track delivered thought-provoking content with the keynote session “Will DeFi Summer and Restaking Spark the Bull Run?” Jakov Buratovic, Master of DeFi, alongside key speakers from EigenLayer, Kiln, Ether.fi, and Renzo, offered diverse perspectives on how innovations in restaking and liquid staking solutions could influence the trajectory of the blockchain market.
Tech Track by Gate.io: A Spotlight on the TON Ecosystem
Parallel to the Main Track, the Tech Track Stage, hosted and curated by Gate.io, focused on technical advancements within the TON ecosystem. Kicking off the session, Dr. Lin Han, CEO of Gate.io, delivered an opening keynote titled “Gateway to TON Ecosystem,” where he emphasized the rapid evolution and promising future of TON.
Addressing challenges such as low-cost token transfers, stablecoin cross-chain transactions, and affordable trading options, Dr. Han outlined how Gate.io’s solutions—including batch distribution, spot trading, and pre-market offerings—are designed to address these pain points.
A fireside chat followed, featuring Richard Li and Inal Kardan from TON Ventures, who delved into strategic collaborations and initiatives between TON Ventures and Gate Ventures. Their discussion was complemented by a live project showcase featuring five standout startups: Enertime, Storm Trade, Taurus AI, TonArk, and Beaverland. These projects illustrated TON’s capabilities and underscored its potential to drive innovation across decentralized platforms.
Sophia, Head of Acceleration at TON Accelerator, later took the stage to discuss her organization’s role in supporting blockchain startups, emphasizing the importance of fostering innovation through mentorship and funding. This led to a compelling panel discussion moderated by Sirada from Gate Ventures, which explored the investment outlook for the TON ecosystem.
Featuring speakers from Oak Grove Ventures, Cypher Capital, MEXC Ventures, and DWF Ventures, the panel provided attendees with actionable insights into the opportunities within the rapidly growing TON landscape.
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About The Author
Victoria is a writer on a variety of technology topics including Web3.0, AI and cryptocurrencies. Her extensive experience allows her to write insightful articles for the wider audience.
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Victoria is a writer on a variety of technology topics including Web3.0, AI and cryptocurrencies. Her extensive experience allows her to write insightful articles for the wider audience.
