What are the long-term goals of Ethereum France, and how do you see the organisation evolving over the next five years given how quickly narratives and themes change in crypto?
JdT: The long-term goal of Ethereum France has always been to educate the public about blockchain technologies, particularly Ethereum. Over the next five years, we aim to expand our presence in French-speaking regions, reaching as many people as possible to help them understand the transformative potential of this technology.
Crypto themes and narratives change quickly, and we aim to be adaptable and responsive to the industry’s evolution. We’re also seeking to maintain momentum and motivation within our nonprofit organisation, so we have been recruiting for the past two years to bolster operations and ensure sustainable long-term growth.
In your opinion, what are the most promising use cases for Ethereum in the next decade? How is Ethereum France positioning itself to capitalise on these emerging opportunities?
Jdt: The scaling roadmap of Ethereum has already delivered cheap blockspace for new applications. In my opinion, the main waves of blockchain adoption are going to be gaming and social networks. These themes first emerged at EthCC, and we closely monitor their progress to inform the design of our conference tracks.
A core focus at Ethereum France is to encourage the development of these emerging use cases, and to nurture the growth in interest and talent entering the blockchain space. We host monthly meetups where builders can showcase their latest developments and make information accessible to onboard newcomers into the space.
EthCC has grown significantly since its inception. What are some of the key milestones and successes of EthCC over the years, and how has the conference evolved to meet the changing needs of the Ethereum community?
BBF: EthCC has grown organically since its inception, evolving alongside Ethereum. Starting as a small gathering of enthusiasts, it now covers a broad range of themes and attracts a diverse range of industry professionals. We’re proud of the influential speakers and key announcements made on our stage, reflecting the conference’s importance in the industry.
Now in its seventh edition, EthCC expects more than 6000 attendees and 360 speakers, including at the EthVC programme, which serves as a crucial connection between startups and investors. While we’ve grown a lot in recent years, we maintain an open and welcoming atmosphere. We understand that the event is not just for engineers and developers anymore. Catering to all professionals, we have expanded our services to include networking zones and silent workspaces. We’ve also added childcare services this year, acknowledging the growing number of parents in our community who want to fully participate in the conference.
The agenda of EthCC covers a wide range of topics within the Ethereum ecosystem. How do you curate the content and select speakers to ensure that the conference addresses the most pressing and innovative topics in the Ethereum space?
BBF: Curating content and selecting speakers for EthCC is indeed a challenging task that keeps us on our toes. There’s no magic formula; we spend the year closely monitoring industry trends to best understand what’s happening in the Ethereum space. Given the fast-paced nature of Ethereum, making these decisions eight months in advance is challenging, and it’s nearly impossible to predict everything flawlessly.
We encourage everyone to apply to EthCC, and each year we discover small projects and lesser-known researchers with valuable insights. We always try to balance well-known speakers and fresh voices. Importantly, we have a strict policy against accepting payments for speaking slots. While this complicates things—especially when companies try to pressure us—it ensures we maintain high-quality speakers. Our reviewers do an extraordinary job, thoroughly reading every application and making selections based on merit. They avoid choosing speakers solely based on fame or rejecting them due to obscurity, ensuring a comprehensive agenda across different tracks.