Brussels Takes Center Stage: Key Highlights from EthCC, Polkadot Decoded, and More

Last week, Brussels transformed into the epicenter of the Web3 world, hosting blockchain developers, marketers, venture capitalists, and various other key players in the ecosystem. The city buzzed with excitement during EthCC, Polkadot Decoded, Fil Brussels, Modular Summit, and numerous other side events.

In case you missed the action or need a recap, here's a summary of the key highlights:

One of the main takeaways from the events was the consensus that, while the user experience (UX) in consumer applications has improved, it hasn't yet reached a point where the average user can seamlessly use blockchain solutions without technical hurdles. Despite significant progress in Web3 UX, there is still a long way to go. For Web3 to onboard the next billion users, it must offer attractive consumer dApps that keep them engaged.

The potential of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with blockchain was another hot topic. AI's ability to process vast amounts of data, identify patterns, make predictions, and enable decision-making through neural networks can revolutionize dApps. When combined with blockchain’s transparent, decentralized, and censorship-resistant economic settlement layer, this integration can provide immutable data storage and trust-minimized digital interactions.

A widely discussed use case is enhancing security through AI's data analytics capabilities, detecting fraud and scams within the vast pool of blockchain data. However, the widespread implementation of AI within dApps is still on the horizon.

Polkadot Decoded showcased several exciting developments within the Polkadot ecosystem:

1. Polkadot Pay App: This app aims to onboard more users by enabling payments with crypto and staking with a single click. It is set to launch in the United States in Q3.

2. Nova Debit Card: The Nova Wallet and Mercuryo's respective debit cards were announced.

3. Universal Polkadot App: Zondax CEO Juan Leni, alongside Santiago Balaguer from Parity and Victor Forgeaux from Ledger, discussed this app's implications, community benefits, and development process.

Filecoin's events spanned three days, featuring Fil Brussels and the Fil Dev Summit. The Zondax team, in its role as Lead Regional Ambassadors, actively participated in various discussions:

- Panel Discussion on the Orbit Program: Zondax COO Ainhoa Aldave discussed Zondax's contributions.

- Building Your Token on Beryx: Engineering Manager Emmanuel Murano delivered a talk on this topic, sharing insights and technical know-how.

These events highlighted the rapid changes in the blockchain world, showing both progress and ongoing challenges. Improvements in user experience and the potential of AI integration make broader adoption more likely. Innovations from Polkadot Decoded and Fil Brussels are making blockchain more accessible and secure. As the industry grows, these developments are vital for a more user-friendly and engaging Web3 future.