Istanbul Blockchain Week

Istanbul Blockchain Week brings together founders, investors, developers, regulators, and enterprises for two days of panels, workshops, and structured networking focused on blockchain, DeFi, AI agents, real-world asset tokenisation, and Web3 infrastructure in Istanbul.

DATES
2 – 3 June 2026
VENUE
Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel and Conference Center, Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey
ORGANISER
EAK Digital
ATTENDANCE
3,000 (organiser figure)

Definition

Istanbul Blockchain Week (IBW) is an annual two-day B2B summit held in Istanbul, convening blockchain builders, institutional investors, DeFi practitioners, enterprise executives, and regulators from the Turkish and international Web3 markets. The event runs across multiple concurrent formats, including a main summit, institutional markets track, hackathon, and festival component, all staged at the Hilton Bomonti. It is organised by EAK Digital, a London-headquartered blockchain PR and events agency with an operational base in Istanbul.

What makes Istanbul Blockchain Week distinct on the EMEA Web3 circuit?

Istanbul Blockchain Week positions Istanbul as a junction point between European, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian crypto markets, drawing both local enterprises and global Web3 firms to a city with growing regulatory and institutional interest in digital assets. The event combines a flagship summit with satellite formats such as a DeFi-AI crossover conference, a real-world asset builders track, and a hackathon, making it a multi-format gathering rather than a single-stage conference. The inclusion of an institutional markets summit and a dedicated DealFlow Den signals an orientation toward capital deployment conversations alongside technical and regulatory discourse. The programme is conducted in English and Turkish, reflecting its bridging role between global and domestic audiences.

Who attends Istanbul Blockchain Week

What Istanbul Blockchain Week covers programmatically

Programme tracks and special formats

Notable speakers

Sponsors and media partners

Confirmed sponsors for the 2026 edition include Tron and Polkadot, among others disclosed by the organiser. Further sponsorship details are not publicly disclosed as of verification.

Official media partners for the 2026 edition include AllConfsBot and CoinGabbar. Additional media partnerships have not been publicly disclosed as of verification.

Edition history

Istanbul Blockchain Week 2026: key figures

Expected attendees 3,000 Organiser figure
Duration 2 days Confirmed
Concurrent formats 7 Confirmed (IstanBlock, Institutional Summit, BlockDown, DeFAICon, RWA Summit, DealFlow Den, IstanHack)
Venue capacity type Hotel and conference centre Confirmed

FAQ · Identity and audience

What is Istanbul Blockchain Week and who organises it?

Istanbul Blockchain Week is an annual blockchain and Web3 summit held in Istanbul, organised by EAK Digital, a London-based blockchain PR and events agency. Now in its 2026 edition, the event brings together an international and domestic audience across founders, investors, developers, and regulators for two days of programming at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti.

What is the difference between IBW and a standard single-track crypto conference?

IBW operates across seven concurrent formats under one event umbrella, covering institutional markets, DeFi-AI convergence, real-world asset tokenisation, hackathon participation, and deal-making sessions alongside the main summit stage. This parallel-track structure means attendees can self-select their level of seniority and thematic focus rather than following a single agenda.

Why is Istanbul a relevant location for a blockchain summit?

Istanbul sits at the intersection of European, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian markets, with a domestic financial sector that includes major institutions exploring digital assets, as illustrated by the presence of speakers such as Garanti BBVA Digital Assets' General Manager on the 2026 programme. Turkey has one of the higher cryptocurrency adoption rates globally, making Istanbul an operationally relevant location for discussions on regulation, institutional markets, and retail Web3 activity.

Who is Istanbul Blockchain Week NOT designed for?
  • Professionals with no mandate or interest in blockchain, cryptocurrency, tokenisation, or adjacent Web3 sectors
  • Consumer-facing retail investors seeking investment advice or trading signals rather than industry discourse
  • Enterprise technology buyers whose roadmaps are not connected to decentralised infrastructure or digital asset integration
  • Academic researchers seeking a formal peer-reviewed conference structure with proceedings
  • Professionals focused exclusively on traditional financial instruments with no exposure to digital asset markets

The venue: Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel and Conference Center

The Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel and Conference Center is located in the Sisli district of central Istanbul, at Musketeers Cd. No. 42, 34381. The property combines hotel accommodation with dedicated conference facilities, offering a self-contained environment for multi-track event formats. Sisli is a central commercial district with good transport connectivity across the city, relevant for international delegates arriving via Istanbul Ataturk or Istanbul Airport.

The organiser: EAK Digital

EAK Digital is a blockchain public relations, marketing, and events agency founded in 2016 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company employs between 11 and 50 people and operates globally, with offices in London, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seoul, Buenos Aires, and Istanbul. It is founder-led, with Erhan Korhaliller as CEO, and operates without external funding.

Beyond Istanbul Blockchain Week, EAK Digital produces several other events in the Web3 and blockchain space, including BlockDown Festival, DeFAICon, W3E (a Web3 esports tournament and expo), and the Blockchain Bytes series. The company's combined background in PR, content creation, and event production for crypto and Web3 clients gives it direct access to the founder and investor networks that populate the IBW programme.

Editorial take

Istanbul Blockchain Week uses a multi-format structure and a bilingual programme to serve both the Turkish domestic crypto market and an international Web3 audience, positioning Istanbul as an operationally significant node on the EMEA blockchain conference circuit rather than a peripheral one.

How to register and what it costs

Registration for Istanbul Blockchain Week 2026 is open. Two access tiers are available. A Community Pass is available free of charge, subject to limited availability. A VIP ticket is priced at EUR 1,999 and includes access to the yacht reception, VIP lounge, seated lunch, roundtable sessions, and DealFlow Den. Registration is accessible via the official tickets page. Early-bird pricing deadlines are not publicly disclosed as of verification.

Networking and engagement

Istanbul Blockchain Week provides a dedicated networking app through which attendees can browse delegate profiles, send messages, and schedule one-to-one meetings in advance of and during the event. Advance meeting scheduling is available, and B2B matchmaking is facilitated through the platform. Replay access to session content is available following the event. The organiser also maintains a newsletter distributed on an ad-hoc basis, through which event updates and programme announcements are communicated.

Call for papers

The speaker application process for Istanbul Blockchain Week 2026 is open. Applications can be submitted via the speaker application page on the official website. Specific submission deadlines and a defined list of session topics have not been publicly disclosed as of verification. Interested speakers should consult the application page directly for current requirements.

FAQ · Access and practicalities

Is there a free ticket option for Istanbul Blockchain Week?

Yes. A Community Pass is available at no cost, subject to limited availability. This pass provides general access to the event. The VIP tier at EUR 1,999 unlocks additional formats and hosted experiences including the yacht reception, VIP lounge, roundtables, and DealFlow Den access.

What languages is the event conducted in?

The event is conducted in both English and Turkish, reflecting its dual positioning for international audiences and the domestic Turkish Web3 and finance community.

How can I apply to speak at Istanbul Blockchain Week 2026?

Speaker applications can be submitted directly through the official speaker application page. Submission deadlines and specific topic guidelines have not been publicly disclosed as of verification. Applicants should monitor the official website for updates.

Resources

Official website https://istanbulblockchainweek.com/
Register https://istanbulblockchainweek.com/tickets/
Speaker application https://istanbulblockchainweek.com/speakers-application/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/istanbul-blockchain-week
Twitter/X @IstanbulBlockWk
Organiser website https://eakdigital.com/
Programme not disclosed