Where Visionaries Converge: Proof of Talk 2025 Caps a Landmark Year for Web3
Returning to the historic Louvre in Paris, Proof of Talk 2025 delivered its most impactful edition yet, drawing over 3,000 attendees for two days of transformative dialogue across decentralized AI (DeAI), DeFi, tokenization, and more.
The conference once again proved itself as a vital convergence point for traditional finance, emerging technologies, and decentralized builders — culminating in a series of high-profile announcements and discussions that signal the accelerating maturity of the Web3 ecosystem.
One of the most anticipated moments came as Barry Silbert made his return to the public stage after nearly five years. In a headline panel with David Lawee (Mosaic Venture Partners) and former Forbes reporter Michael del Castillo, Silbert revealed that Yuma Group will launch an asset management firm focused on alpha token strategies — a move that connects directly to the growing Bittensor ecosystem. This initiative aims to streamline institutional access to promising subnet projects and marks a potentially pivotal milestone in Bittensor’s evolution.
Bittensor also took center stage through Jacob Steeves, who delivered a standout keynote titled “Satanic to Sublime: Aligning Human Potential Through Open-Ownership Protocols.” A packed mainstage bore witness to Steeves’ compelling vision for decentralized AI and open-ownership systems.
Other major announcements included:
- Somnia unveiled how Sparkball, backed by $2M and developed by veteran game designers, will integrate Somnia’s Layer 1 network to introduce on-chain wagering and prize tournaments — redefining esports interaction.
- Entravel launched EntravelX, the world’s first hotel booking app built entirely within Telegram, catering to the growing wave of crypto-native travelers.
- peaq and Pulsar Group, a leading Emirati tech advisory firm, jointly announced the launch of the world’s first Machine Economy Free Zone (MEFZ) in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, revealed live on Day 2.
- Silvio Micali, MIT professor and founder of Algorand, introduced a new concept: the Fiat Chain — a public, decentralized ledger designed to operate without a native token.
Reflecting on the momentum, Zohair Dehnadi, Co-Founder and CEO of Proof of Talk, said:
“Proof of Talk 2025 has marked a milestone in bringing together visionary leaders and groundbreaking projects in the blockchain space. With announcements like Somnia’s ecosystem expansion and deep discussions on finance and tokenization, it’s clear that this industry is moving beyond innovation to become a core part of our digital future. We’re excited to keep driving this momentum.”
More than 700 top Web3 firms showcased innovations during one of the sector’s most influential curated exhibitions. Title sponsors included MEXC Ventures, Unit Network, Somnia, CertiK, and Bittensor ecosystem supporters General Tao and Tao Ventures.
The event also celebrated inclusion and leadership in tech, closing with the launch of the Top 50 Women in Web3 & AI initiative. In partnership with CoinDesk and the TON Foundation, the awards honored figures such as:
- Daniela Amodei, Co-founder & President of Anthropic
- Anima Anandkumar, Bren Professor at Caltech
- Betsabe Botaitis, CFO of Hedera
This powerful recognition highlighted the growing importance of gender diversity in emerging tech.
With standout events like the Investor Dinner, Proof of Pitch Startup Competition, and participation from over 140 VCs — including a16z, Pantera Capital, Borderless, Haun Ventures, and institutions like BlackRock, J.P. Morgan, and Goldman Sachs — the 2025 edition affirmed one thing:
Crypto is no longer emerging — it’s embedded in the future of finance.
Proof of Talk will return in 2026 with a larger format and continued focus on shaping global conversations in blockchain, AI, and decentralized innovation.
