Over three days in Bengaluru, December 1 to 3, 2024 – CoinDCX brought together the brightest minds and boldest ideas to create a spectacle of innovation, collaboration, and groundbreaking development in the Web3 space. From hackathon to Demo Day, Unfold wasn’t merely a gathering; it was the heartbeat of a global revolution.
Unfold began its journey in 2022, a year many will remember as particularly challenging after the bull market highs of 2021. It was a time marked by a bear market, declining funding, and crashing token prices. Yet, CoinDCX stood strong—not just for itself, but for the industry. This resilience gave birth to Unfold, with a clear vision: to establish a platform that fosters a thriving Web3 ecosystem and positions India as a global leader in this space.
And what a journey it has been! Fast forward to today, Unfold is no longer just an Indian event—it’s a flagship international Web3 gathering that attracts some of the brightest minds, visionary projects, and global players.
Empowering the Future: Shri Jayant Chaudhary on India’s Role in Shaping Web3 Innovation
Unfold 2024 witnessed a moment of inspiration as Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Minister of State in the Education Department, shared a visionary address via a video message. Speaking to a captivated audience, he urged Web3 developers, innovators, and builders to embrace innovation with purpose, progress with inclusion, and leadership with humility.
Emphasizing the transformative potential of collaboration, he called on developers, businesses, policymakers, and educators to unite in building solutions that are trustworthy, inclusive, and impactful. Highlighting the pivotal role of Indian developers as global leaders in decentralized finance, blockchain governance, and token-based economies, the Minister showcased how India is spearheading Web3 advancements.
A Vision for Responsible Growth: Ms Ashima Batra, Additional Director, FIU India Opens Unfold 2024
Ms Ashima Batra, Additional Director at FIU India, set a powerful tone for Unfold 2024 with her inauguration speech, commending CoinDCX for its role in fostering collaboration among developers, startup founders, and key participants within the Web3 ecosystem. She highlighted FIU India’s mission to safeguard the financial system, emphasizing the importance of security and resilience in the face of risks like money laundering and terror financing. “As we embrace the transformative power of Web 3 technologies,” she noted, “it is essential that we strike a balance between innovation and regulatory oversight.”
Her words resonated with the need for responsible growth in the Web3 space, underscoring that financial integrity must remain a priority amidst rapid technological advancements. Ms Batra’s message was clear: trust, compliance, and collaboration are the pillars on which the future of innovation rests. The industry must acknowledge that its success will depend on shared responsibility, where innovation thrives alongside robust regulatory frameworks. Her address reminded all at Unfold 2024 that a secure and sustainable Web3 ecosystem can only be built when all stakeholders unite in upholding these principles.
The conference was also graced by policy experts such as Dilip Chenoy (Chainperson, BWA), Pallavi Rao (Web3 Law Expert), and Sharat Chandra (Founder, EmpowerEdge Ventures).
The Industry’s Grand Convergence – 1500+ participants. 60+ global leaders. Endless possibilities.
Unfold 2024 became a melting pot of talent, ambition, and innovation, bringing together an impressive roster of speakers and innovators from across the Web3 space. Attendees were given a unique opportunity to learn from industry leaders. Visionaries like Sandeep Nailwal (Polygon), Avery Ching (Aptos), Keone Hon (Founder, Monad), Unique Divine (Co-Founder & CEO of Nibiru Chain), Terrence Kwok (Founder, Humanity), Evgeny Ponomarev (Co-founder, Fluence), Himanshu Tyagi (Co-Founder, Sentient), and Arpit Sharma (Ecosystem Head, Aethir) shared insights that pushed the boundaries of what Web3 can achieve. Imran Khan (Co-Founder, Alliance DAO) and J. Victor Mendes (Director of Business Development, TON) led in-depth discussions on blockchain infrastructure and decentralized finance.
In a delightful twist, Smokey made an unforgettable impact with his electrifying appearance, wearing a bear mask, and creating an iconic moment for the crowd.
Speaking at Unfold, Sumit Gupta, Co-founder, CoinDCX said, “Unfold 2024 has once again showcased the immense energy and potential of India’s Web 3.0 ecosystem. It’s truly inspiring to witness how far we’ve come since our journey began in 2022, with the vision of positioning India as a global leader in the crypto space. As we experience a new bull market, with Bitcoin hitting significant milestones, it’s crucial that we seize this opportunity for growth.”
“Whether you are new to the space, an investor, or a builder, the real value lies in investing in yourself—through education, collaboration, and innovation. India’s crypto ecosystem is poised for tremendous growth, and it’s exciting to see the role we all play in shaping its future. Together, we are not just participants in this revolution, but leaders who will define the next era of Web 3.0.” Sumit added.
Their words weren’t just conversations — they were calls to action, sparking new ideas and shaping the future of Web3.
Unfold: Asia’s largest multichain, multiprotocol Hackathon- 8,700+ Applications. 600+ developers shortlisted. 200+ high-impact projects competing for over $100k USD prize pool
India’s position as a hub for Web3 innovation was firmly established. Emerging founders and innovators presented projects that pushed the boundaries of possibility, ranging from decentralized finance solutions to groundbreaking gaming platforms. The hackathon, which started three months earlier with a call for applications, received an impressive 8,700+ submissions and brought 600 hackers to the event, with many traveling from all over the country to present their ideas.
Some Highlights:
- 20+ sponsors contributed to a prize pool of over $100k USD.
- 206 project submissions—far exceeding expectations, with 40% from professionals.
- 80% of attendees had prior hackathon wins on Devfolio, demonstrating the competitive and experienced nature of our participants.
- 50+ judges from top Web3 protocols praised the high-quality projects.
- 60+ women hackers participated, highlighting the growing diversity in Web3.
- 500+ hackers traveled from outside Bangalore, underscoring the event’s reach and impact.
Our own Okto ecosystem had hackers submitting the highest number of projects—85 in total!
The Unfold 2024 Hackathon showcased an extraordinary array of projects that highlighted the ingenuity and vision of developers shaping the future of Web3. Submissions spanned diverse domains, including decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms offering innovative financial solutions, gaming applications pushing the boundaries of blockchain-based entertainment, and infrastructure tools simplifying multi-chain interoperability.
Participants also presented groundbreaking ideas in supply chain transparency, AI-integrated dApps, and self-sovereign identity systems, emphasizing the convergence of blockchain and emerging technologies. Each project reflected the developers’ deep commitment to solving real-world problems with creativity and technical excellence, setting the stage for the next wave of Web3 innovation.
Demo Day: A Stage for Dreams and Disruption
Unfold’s Demo Day was a perfect launchpad for the next generation of Web3 unicorns. 16 startups took the stage, pitching their groundbreaking ideas to an audience of top-tier investors, venture capitalists, and industry experts.
With $1 million in funding opportunities these projects were ideas for the future’s dApps that will probably touch the lives of millions.
Grateful to all the VC Judges/Angels for sharing valuable feedback with all web3 builders, bullish 🇮🇳@kankanivishal from @multicoincap @nitinsharma1 from @AntlerGlobal @sanatvc from Shaizen Ventures@howdy_akshay from @blockchainedind @orust99 from @truflation… https://t.co/N5yYX63Nn7 pic.twitter.com/zRsI8n3jLb
— Pratik M (@pratikmxyz) December 10, 2024
We are incredibly grateful to all the VC judges and angel investors who generously shared their invaluable feedback with the Web3 builders at Unfold 2024. Their insights are crucial in shaping the future of innovation in this space. Special thanks to Vishal Kanani from Multicoin Capital, Nitin Sharma from Antler Global, Sanat Verma from Shaizen Ventures, Akshay Howdy from Blockchained India, Christian Niedermueller from SMAPE Capital, and Orust from Truflation for their expertise and support. Their contributions are helping accelerate the next wave of Web3 innovation, and we are excited to continue building with such a strong and bullish ecosystem behind us.
A Buzz Like No Other
From the electrifying energy of the hackathon to the monumental announcements at the conference, Unfold 2024 wasn’t just an event; it was a movement. Social media erupted with praise as participants shared stories of inspiration and excitement.
On social media, Unfold received 3.85K mentions and reached over 77 million people.
Importance of #unfold24
Why should circle Unfold’24 as a Web3 enthusiast. Unfold’24 connects you with top-tier developers, innovators, and influencers in the Web3 space. Meet the pioneers who building the future and collaborate on great projects#CoinDCXMaxis #BharatForWeb3 pic.twitter.com/KFz4mNGudz
— 𝕮𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖆𝖎𝖓 (@Captaincr_) December 10, 2024
Attendees called it a ‘game-changer,’ ‘the best Web3 event of the year,’ and ‘a glimpse into the future of innovation.’ The ripple effects of Unfold 2024 will be felt across the Web3 ecosystem for years to come.”
Honoring the Powerhouses Behind Unfold 2024’s Success
Unfold 2024 owes its extraordinary impact to the unwavering support of our sponsors, whose contributions have fueled this groundbreaking event. A special thanks to our Gold Sponsors—SUI, Aptos, FanTV, BCUT, Carbon Browser, BEAM, Telcoin, Root, Bullieverse, Artfi, Saita Chain, Alkimi, Ethermail, and Fluence—for their exceptional commitment to advancing Web3 innovation.
Our Silver Sponsors—TrueUSD, Verasity, DIMITRA, BOBA, Bendog, Venom, Concordium, Aethir, Piertwo, Agoric, and Credshields—have also played a vital role in making this event an unparalleled success.
Together, these partnerships have energized Unfold 2024, driving meaningful dialogue and positioning India as a global hub for Web3 innovation.
Unfold 2024: Catalyst for Web3 Transformation and Innovation
As Web3 inches closer to mainstream adoption, Unfold 2024 reaffirmed India’s pivotal role in shaping this revolution. With its unmatched talent, innovative spirit, and commitment to collaboration, India is set to lead the charge in defining the future of blockchain technology.
Unfold wasn’t just an event—it was the start of something bigger. It was where ideas turned into action, innovation became reality, and the future of Web3 was written.
Stay tuned, because what unfolded here is just the beginning.
