Post release 2018

Leading experts reveal all blockchain aspects: Istanbul hosts Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Turkey

On March 1, Smile-Expo held the first conference in Turkey, Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Turkey, bringing together the most dedicated crypto enthusiasts and adherents of blockchain technologies. The event involved 14 speakers, including experts from the USA, Singapore, and Bulgaria. Their presentations revealed various blockchain and cryptocurrency aspects: development, investments, statutory regulation, and integration into businesses.

Blockchain and cryptocurrency regulation in Turkey is a crucial issue for the industry. In 2016, Turkish citizens started actively exploring digital currencies because of the economic instability in the country. The authorities and the Central Bank support this attitude but do not work on comprehensive regulation of cryptocurrencies, ICOs, and blockchain company activity.

Therefore,  a presentation by Dr. Cigdem Ayozger, the founder of SRP-Legal, aroused much interest. She talked about the experience of other countries in industry regulation and Turkish legislation regarding blockchain technologies.

The blockchain integration into various sectors was also a significant topic of the conference. Gokhan Seckin, the CEO at Turkey-based Kimlic blockchain startup, dedicated his presentation to the application of smart contracts in insurance. Fevzi Gungor focused on banks, financial technologies, and the role of blockchain in this area.

By the way, Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Turkey allowed to examine investments (Matt Oguz explained how to distinguish promising blockchain startups) and cyber security (Servet Gozel discussed hashing and cryptography applied in modern blockchains).

Besides experts’ presentations, Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Turkey featured a discussion dedicated to the global impact of blockchain and cryptocurrencies: importance and effect of this technology for the world community. It involved three experts; a moderator was Onur Baran Caglar, a blockchain advisor and lecturer.

The relevant issue of ICOs (cryptocurrency crowd sales) was revealed by Singapore expert Stefano Virgilli, a strategy specialist at Gravitas. His presentation was intriguingly titled “The marvellous world of ICO-llywood”. US expert Gordon Einstein (a managing partner at CryptoLaw Partners) dwelt upon token sale regulation.

The conference also provided an exhibition area where ten blockchain startups from various countries introduced their products. Moreover, the exhibition engaged our sponsors: CoinTraffic (an advertising blockchain service), ThinkCoin (cryptocurrency for a trading platform), Streamity (unique P2P service for cryptocurrency - fiat money exchange) and Selfllery (a blockchain service for publishing photos).

Mass media and participants about the event

According to representatives of Turkish Blockchain Association, the conference organized by Smile-Expo became “one of the first events unveiling this rapidly changing niche technology [blockchain]”. The Association published a comprehensive article about the conference on its website. The www.2100news.com portal also added a publication, describing the event as “perfectly organized and aroused much interest”.

See you at next conferences!

In 2018, Smile-Expo is going to hold around 30 conferences dedicated to blockchain. In March, you will be able to attend Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Tallinn in Estonia (March 22), Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Israel (will take place in Tell Aviv on March 28), and the traditional blockchain conference in Kyiv (March 29). What is more, our company will organize the first event in Germany – Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Berlin – on April 4.

Details about all the conferences can be found on the home page!