Devcon has all the time been a dwelling reflection of Ethereum’s development, challenges, and neighborhood ambitions. It showcases probably the most urgent matters, the most recent improvements, and the individuals constructing the way forward for decentralized expertise. As Ethereum grows, so too does Devcon.
Two years in the past, proper earlier than Devcon VI in Bogotá, the Merge took Ethereum’s consensus from proof of labor to proof of stake. Devcon VI targeted not solely on the achievement of this milestone, but in addition on the subsequent improvements: early Layer-2 growth, the introduction of Account Abstraction (AA), and the rise of zero information proofs (ZKPs) as an enlargement of Ethereum.
Quick ahead to at the moment, Devcon SEA celebrated the ecosystem’s readiness to tackle the subsequent large challenges. The content material demonstrated how far Ethereum has come, how Ethereum’s L1 and L2s have superior, how UX is bettering, and the way second-generation cryptographic primitives are enabling new forms of functions. The tone has shifted from addressing foundational challenges to leveraging Ethereum for real-world affect.
On this weblog publish, we’ll discover how Ethereum has grown since Devcon VI, what the important thing outcomes of Devcon SEA are, which challenges stay, and how one can contribute in order that we will have a good time the subsequent chapter of Ethereum once we meet for Devcon once more.
Trying again to Devcon VI: How far we’ve got come
Setting the stage, let’s mirror on the place we have been simply two years in the past: Devcon VI was held in Bogotá, Colombia, in October 2022. It introduced the Ethereum neighborhood collectively to handle key technical and governance challenges. On the time, the Merge had simply occurred, and the occasion mirrored the celebration of this transformative milestone and targeted on rising progressive applied sciences.
Devcon VI launched main themes for the primary time, and phrases that many hadn’t been aware of again then:
Zero Information Proofs have been launched to a lot of the Ethereum ecosystem. They have been simply turning into sensible and other people began to know their capabilities. There was no point out but of different cryptographic primitives like Absolutely Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) or Multi-Occasion Computation (MPC).Account Abstraction was new and simply introduced. Most individuals hadn’t heard of EIP-4337, which hadn’t been carried out at the moment.The Layer 2 ecosystem was in its early levels with only some outstanding L2s like Arbitrum and Optimism, and the L2-centric roadmap was kicked off.Staking infrastructure was nascent and there have been nonetheless uncertainties, with staking withdrawals not but enabled.Censorship resistance, whereas an outdated matter, was on everybody’s thoughts with discussions round OFAC compliance and Twister Money sanctions
Devcon SEA: Ethereum’s infrastructure is prepared, now it’s time for affect
Devcon SEA was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in November of 2024. Attendance doubled in comparison with Devcon VI (12,500 vs 6,000 attendees), demonstrating Ethereum’s development and neighborhood energy. One main aim of Devcon SEA was to convey all the Ethereum ecosystem collectively in a single place, foster collaboration, and cross-pollination, and realign the neighborhood to enhance Ethereum for actual use instances and affect on the world.
Since Devcon VI, the continued use of PoS plus different upgrades like Shanghai and Shapella have lowered vitality use, fuel charges, and improved UX. The L2 panorama has expanded, with complete worth locked in Ethereum L2 networks surpassing 51.5billion,a20551.5 billion, a 205% enhance from 16.6 billion in November 2023. Ethereum’s integration of ZKPs has superior, and we now see extra real-world use instances, with DeFi and stablecoins maturing, and gaming, digital identification, quadratic funding, and prediction markets rising.
However over the previous two years, the Ethereum neighborhood has additionally debated its route and priorities. Whereas Layer 2s are key for scaling, the rise of latest L2s launched various subcultures, sparking discussions about the right way to keep unity. Many referred to as for a return to Ethereum’s cypherpunk roots, specializing in privateness, decentralization, and credible neutrality – values that some felt have been overshadowed by viewing Ethereum as a product relatively than a protocol. There was a shared urgency to realign on a unified function.
Devcon SEA aimed to handle these debates by inviting one of the best within the ecosystem to share their insights on probably the most related matters. Over 300 hours of content material from ecosystem specialists, 17 Group Hubs organized by the neighborhood, 70 Influence Areas, and 1000’s of conversations in between classes have been held within the lengthy hallways.
Devcon SEA sparked conversations about probably the most urgent challenges for Ethereum, controversies in addition to achievements, and a few large bulletins have been made too. Justin Drake outlined his imaginative and prescient of a Beam Chain, and the Argot Collective, which is a brand new group embodying lots of our shared values of Ethereum, launched itself.
Learn on to find the key outcomes of Devcon SEA, and which talks you need to watch to rise up to hurry if you wish to contribute to the remaining challenges throughout the respective matters.
Ethereum has scaled and Layer 2s are internet constructive for Ethereum
Proto-danksharding, EIP-4844, blobs, and the roll-up centric roadmap – The scaling options highlighted at Devcon SEA confirmed how far Ethereum has come. Layer 2s, that are scaling Ethereum, see actual adoption. Each day person exercise has exploded in measurement, and the full worth locked is rising steadily. We’ve low charges, and you may ship 1, 100, or 1 million {dollars} for lower than a cent. All L2s are and will probably be secured by the Ethereum L1 Mainnet, which is sturdy and safe with over 1 million validators and has by no means gone down since its launch in 2015.
There’s nonetheless a lot to do to appreciate the rollup-centric roadmap, scale back fragmentation, and enhance safety. Watch the beneath talks to determine the right way to contribute to fixing these challenges for Ethereum’s subsequent chapter:
Ethereum is cypherpunk
Devcon SEA reminded us why we’re right here, and why we’re constructing a decentralized future, specializing in values like credible neutrality, privateness, censorship resistance, open entry, and a cooperative mindset. Devcon SEA had a full programming observe devoted to this philosophy, and the Hacktivism Hub, organized by the neighborhood.
Talks to observe to maintain up with the cypherpunk manifesto:
Aside from cypherpunk values, philosophy and ethos performed a giant position at Devcon SEA. With Aya Miyaguchi, the chief director of the Ethereum Basis, increasing on the philosophy of subtraction along with her speak “Redefining boundaries within the infinite backyard,” explaining how the Ethereum Basis works, and a full programming day devoted to d/acc (defensive acceleration), the philosophy first launched by Vitalik Buterin, specializing in Ethereum as a defensive expertise, accompanied by talks about biodefense, decentralized AI, neurotech, and public epistemics.
UX is preparing for mass adoption
ERC 4337, ERC 7683, EIP 7702, ERC 3668 are just some examples of how Ethereum is turning into prepared for customers. Gasoline charges are low, UX is bettering, and Devcon SEA made us excited for Ethereum feeling like one chain once more. The neighborhood organized the Account Abstraction and Adoption Hubs and lots of talks have been targeted on making Ethereum approachable to mainstream audiences.
Social restoration is simply the beginning. Watch the beneath talks to study how one can contribute to bettering Ethereum’s UX, particularly in case you’re creating a rollup or a pockets, to get on pace with latest developments in UX and Account Abstraction:
The time for real-world functions is now
Ethereum is for customers, and the app ecosystem has by no means been stronger than at the moment, although nonetheless, we’re simply tapping into Ethereum’s potentialities for real-world functions. Ethereum is made for a lot of issues, and it’s a multi-purpose platform.
Ethereum is house to its most mature use instances: DeFi and stablecoins. DeFi is monetary companies and instruments constructed on Ethereum that everybody on the earth has entry to and that give individuals larger management over their cash. Ethereum has a whole bunch of groups engaged on DeFi protocols. Stablecoins, too, give each human the liberty to transact and ship worth anyplace on the earth.
Ethereum can also be the place new use instances occur and new issues are being invented, it’s “the place concepts enter manufacturing” (Josh Stark). We’ve decentralized social platforms, on-chain video games, digital identification with ENS, Anon Adhaar, and zk passport, real-world infrastructure, quadratic funding with Gitcoin and clr.fund, and prediction markets like Polymarket.
For those who have been questioning what are the apps which might be at the moment being constructed on Ethereum, or in case you want inspiration to construct extra dapps, listed here are some talks to observe:
Economics of Ethereum and ETH
The discussions at Devcon SEA reaffirmed the non-speculative worth of Ethereum and ETH within the digital economic system, with its sound financial rules, sturdy incentives and alignment with long-term objectives for decentralized ecosystems.
Talks to observe:
Second-generation cryptography permits new forms of functions
Devcon SEA featured 1000’s of cryptographic plushy frogs, distributed by the 0xPARC workforce across the Frogcrypto Hub. Attendees collected frogs, and each time they scanned the QR code, they obtained a provable object knowledge (POD). Every Devcon ticket was a POD within Zupass, an software that permits customers to securely retailer and handle Proof-Carrying Information (PCD). These cryptographic rules have been theoretical for a few years and are lastly turning into potential, and mixed with Ethereum, we are actually in a position to construct functions that have been by no means potential earlier than. Whereas at Devcon VI solely ZKPs have been on everybody’s lips, as of very latest a brand new technology of cryptographic primitives like FHE and MPC are getting used to create decentralized, privacy-preserving computation and interoperability, unlocking progressive and complicated use instances for Ethereum-based client functions.
We’re solely now realizing how a lot is feasible with second-generation cryptographic primitives and potentialities are extending our creativeness. We want extra individuals constructing and mixing ZKPs, second-gen crypto and Ethereum. If you wish to do this, watch:
Ethereum is frontier tech
Devcon SEA was additionally a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, the place Ethereum was mentioned alongside different frontier applied sciences and within the context of the way forward for our society.
These classes highlighted Ethereum’s means to encourage and combine with broader technological and societal challenges:
The Ethereum neighborhood is robust and international
The Ethereum neighborhood will not be solely rising, it’s increasing globally: At Devcon SEA, we welcomed 12,500 attendees with 60% experiencing their first-ever Devcon. Individuals represented 135 international locations, making this probably the most international and various Devcon up to now.
The Ethereum neighborhood will not be solely various in nationalities and ethnicities – the pursuits, identities, and focus areas are manifold with builders, protocol researchers, stakers, degens, regens, activists, artists, educators, and lots of extra being a part of the Ethereum neighborhood.
Devcon SEA featured 17 Group Hubs, from the DeSci Hub, World Majority Hub, and Onchain Creators Hub, to the Governance Geeks Hub, these have been manifestations of the range and methods to become involved within the Ethereum neighborhood. The Group Gardeners Hub targeted on Ethereum neighborhood builders from all all over the world. In 2024, 73 native Ethereum occasions in 44 international locations have been organized across the globe. Our neighborhood is decentralized and international, as Ethereum itself.
Now could be your likelihood to form the way forward for Ethereum forward to Devcon 8
Devcon SEA was not only a snapshot of the place Ethereum stands at the moment, it affords a imaginative and prescient of the place it might go tomorrow. Devcon SEA confirmed how Ethereum is bringing concepts into motion, and each participant carries the teachings realized at Devcon to proceed spreading the phrase and advancing Ethereum’s mission. And who is aware of, the subsequent individual to affect the way forward for Ethereum might have first realized about it at Devcon SEA.
Devcon SEA images and sources
Discover images from Devcon SEA right here.You’ll be able to search and watch all talks within the Devcon Passport app.DEVAi is accessible to reply all Devcon-related questions, and can quickly have entry to all speak transcripts. You’ll be able to already get summaries of all talks within the Passport app.Need to share extra insights about Devcon talks? Go to the Devcon Collab Portal.
What’s subsequent?
Tl;dr:
Devconnect 2025Devcon 2026
Devconnect is the opposite, utterly completely different occasion that the Ethereum Basis organizes. Whereas Devcon is the big occasion that brings everybody collectively in a single venue, Devconnect is extra decentralized. Devconnect includes many alternative occasions, targeted on completely different Ethereum matters, organized by specialists in these fields. Devconnect is the time to go deep into the subject you’re most aware of or need to change into an knowledgeable in, and be part of day-long occasions targeted on that area.
The place will Devconnect 2025 and Devcon 8 happen? You will want to attend just a bit bit longer to seek out that out, and within the meantime, you’ll be able to create your proposal for Devcon, Devconnect, or different Ethereum occasions to happen in your metropolis.
Till subsequent time, xoxo
Deva the Devcon Unicorn & the Devcon workforce
