Introduction
Consensus is an annual event for the most influential companies in blockchain, digital assets and Web3. This year, they expanded to Hong Kong, cementing the city’s status as a global crypto hub. Waffle Capital hosted an official side event for Consensus, around the theme of Bitcoin and Cardano integrations. The event was a resounding success, drawing over 300 attendees and featuring 12 innovative projects with booths and presentations. We welcomed a diverse group of participants, including investors, market makers, venture capitalists, family offices, and centralized exchanges, fostering meaningful collaboration.
Goals
Our primary objective was to strengthen Cardano’s presence in Hong Kong and ensure its representation in the global crypto conversation. In pursuit of this, we were able to host the only Cardano event at Consensus, with developers, investors (both retail and institutional), market makers, VCs, crypto enthusiasts, and family offices alike, fostering collaboration and growth across verticals.
Highlights from the Event
Engaging the Community
To encourage active participation, attendees were invited to create a Vespr wallet upon entry. This not only enabled them to interact directly with the decentralised applications of various booths, but also entered them into a raffle to win ADA. The initiative was a hit, driving engagement and showcasing the practical utility of Cardano’s ecosystem. Feedback from attendees highlighted that some had no idea how much Cardano had going for it, and many curious individuals eagerly explored each booth.
Spotlight on Innovation
The event celebrated the Cardano ecosystem by showcasing a wide array of projects that are pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology on Cardano. Below, we briefly highlight these projects. It is noteworthy that everyone brought their best attitude to promote and portray our ecosystem in a positive light, creating a sense of unity and collaboration. Overall, it felt like a truly solid team effort.
- BitcoinOS: A smart contract operating system for Bitcoin, combining Bitcoin's security with Cardano's programmability to build a robust Bitcoin-native economy.
- Bodega: Cardano's open-sourced prediction market platform, enabling users to speculate on real-world events.
- DeltaDeFi: Revolutionizing high-frequency trading on Cardano using Hydra for faster, more efficient transactions.
- FluidTokens: Pioneering permissionless lending on Bitcoin and Cardano and scaling Cardano's capabilities with Midgard, a Layer 2 solution.
- Indigo Protocol: Leading the charge in synthetic assets on Cardano, unlocking decentralized financial freedom.
- Maestro: Simplifying DeFi development with tools like blockchain indexing, transaction management, and real-time price feeds.
- Minswap: Cardano's top decentralized exchange, offering seamless trading and liquidity solutions.
- Obymare: A synthetic stablecoin protocol with predictable fees.
- Sundial: Introducing Optimistic Rollups to enhance scalability and efficiency for both ADA and BTC.
- Vespr: A non-custodial light wallet for Cardano, providing a secure and user-friendly platform for managing assets on mobile.
- Xerberus: A blockchain for risk and asset management, leveraging machine learning for fast, scalable portfolio solutions.
Day Two: Intimate Networking
On the second day we hosted an exclusive gathering at the Carlyle and Co with a curated guestlist. The goals of this event were to express gratitude to the projects for attending, make them feel welcome in Hong Kong, and further facilitate collaboration between serious projects and select market makers and venture capitalists.
Cory Collombet from Bodega Markets shared his experience with his community, saying: “Everyone in Hong Kong was hungry for opportunities, and I could feel Bodega Market carving out a spot in that conversation. I came away with a stack of business cards, a ton of new Telegram group chats, and a real sense that we’re onto something big.”
Reflection
Both events were hits and yielded direct positive feedback from projects and attendees alike. Looking forward, we plan to build on these results by improving our organizational approach and expanding our reach. Having played a role in bringing attention to the Cardano community in Hong Kong, we aim to maintain this momentum to support adoption in the region. As interest in Cardano grows, we remain focused on contributing to ecosystem development through practical collaboration.