Dubai is gearing up to host HODL Summit 2025 on 14–15 May at Madinat Jumeirah, reaffirming its status as a global hub for decentralised innovation.
Formerly the World Blockchain Summit, the event’s 30th global edition will welcome over 5,000 attendees from across 60+ countries, featuring 50+ speakers and 40+ sessions on everything from blockchain infrastructure and DeFi to digital asset policy and Web3-AI convergence.
Organised by Trescon, this isn’t your typical tech event. It’s a dynamic space where developers, founders, investors, and regulators converge to move ideas from theory to traction.
“HODL has evolved into more than a conference, it’s a marketplace of ideas, capital, and connection,” the organisers shared.
The lineup includes heavyweights like Corbin Fraser (Bitcoin.com), Nils Andersen-Röed (Binance), Gracy Chen (Bitget), Rifad Mahasneh (OKX MENA), and Hasan Fardan Al Fardan (Al Fardan Exchange), all zeroing in on emerging themes such as modular blockchains, real-world asset tokenisation, and enterprise-grade NFTs.
HODL Summit: MENA Startups in the Spotlight with $1M Pitch Competition
One of the most anticipated highlights is the UAE Regional Round of the Start-Up World Cup, hosted in partnership with Pegasus Tech Ventures. Promising Web3 start-ups from the MENA region will pitch for a chance to win a $1 million investment, a high-stakes opportunity to match visionary ideas with global capital.
The exhibition floor will also be buzzing with live product launches, demo zones, and AI-powered Web3 showcases, giving enterprises and VCs a front-row seat to the tech that’s shaping the next internet.
Since 2017, HODL has become synonymous with serious outcomes, from policymaker engagement to multi-million-dollar deals. And in 2025, as discussions around blockchain governance, interoperability, and regulatory clarity intensify, Dubai isn’t just hosting the summit, it’s helping define the roadmap.
With its pro-innovation regulatory stance, a strong crypto talent base, and increasing investment momentum, Dubai is fast becoming the capital of the decentralised economy.
Register at www.hodlsummit.com to join the conversation shaping the future of Web3.
