Preface
"He named you, you must be special." - K (protagonist of Blade Runner 2049)
In 2017, the big screens in Hong Kong were still dominated by science fiction blockbusters about bioengineering replacing future humans. Desolation, ruins, future cities, guns and spaceships were intertwined between light and shadow, and bathed in golden, warm light was the confrontation between human clones and their hunters.
At that time, the concept of a global financial system dominated by blockchain had not yet swept the mainstream cultural system. "Blade Runner 2049", which won the Hollywood Film Award in the same year, mainly explored the themes of human nature, identity, memory, and the blurred boundaries between humans and artificial life forms.
While most people are still wandering around in vague hallucinations about artificial creatures of the future, Alex Fiskum is experiencing movie clips in reality.
This European from Norway living in Hong Kong created the world's largest crypto event in 2023 in Singapore - TOKEN2049. The conference attracted more than 10,000 participants, more than 400 sponsors, 250 speakers and spawned more than 450 peripheral activities. More than 70% of the participants came from outside Asia, of which 10% to 15% came from the United States. TOKEN2049 has truly become a global crypto event from an Asian regional crypto summit.
Amid the excitement and bustle of TOKEN2049, rumors that Alex and his team might be the biggest winners in the bear market spread among the attendees. “I heard that the organizer of TOKEN2049 made 15 million US dollars this time!” The numbers that circulated always made people stunned.
Regarding the rumors, Alex bluntly stated that people underestimated the material costs, time and effort required to organize such events. They have already begun preparing for the Singapore TOKEN2049 events for next year and the year after.
So who is Alex, the co-founder of TOKEN2049? What does TOKEN2049 mean? TechFlow interviewed Alex to share the story behind it.
TechFlow: What kind of experience do you have in the Crypto field? Everyone is very curious about your background. Can you share it with us?
Alex: My background is in venture capital, focusing on Fintech, and I work in Hong Kong.
Around the second half of 2016, cryptocurrency began to enter our field of vision. At that time, we began to try to interact with it from a research perspective and made initial investments on a personal level. I still clearly remember taking screenshots on my phone when I saw the price of Ethereum (ETH) soar. The price of ETH continued to exceed US$10 and US$50. Later, we paid more and more attention to it, but at that time we did not have many connections in the Web3 cryptocurrency field.
So, the original intention of TOKEN2049 was actually for us to explore how we could quickly expand our network in this field, so we decided to hold an event and invite the smartest people we knew in this field, and then they would recommend other speakers and projects, and it really snowballed.
I think our first event in 2018 attracted about 1,500 people, and it was obviously a great opportunity to get to know everyone in the space because it provided us with a network of contacts.
So, my experience with cryptocurrency actually started from a venture capital perspective. At the time, we thought it was an interesting potential investment opportunity, and then we started trying to participate. We looked for many ways to participate, from attending conferences, building projects, to investing in exchanges, and from then on, TOKEN2049's business began to develop.
TechFlow: Why did you choose to develop Crypto in Hong Kong now?
Alex: My past experience is indeed a bit complicated. I have lived in Sweden, Switzerland and Norway, studied in Norway, Singapore and China, worked as a data scientist in the Philippines, and then gradually moved to Hong Kong.
I think where I am today is the result of many happenstances and random circumstances. Initially, I never thought of settling down in Hong Kong, but I’m so glad I chose it and I’ve lived here for eight years now. In fact, the only other place on earth I would consider moving to is Singapore.
Most of our team is also in Hong Kong. In line with the spirit of cryptocurrency, our team and organizational structure are relatively decentralized. We have five team members in Hong Kong, as well as team members in the UK, Thailand and the Philippines. We also have some extended team members in Singapore and other places.
Hong Kong is a very vibrant city, almost cosmopolitan in my opinion, very connected and interconnected, Hong Kong is definitely the most unique city for me, you have quick access to pristine beaches, 10-30 minute hikes, the climate, food etc are very exotic to a Norwegian like me.
Of course, from a company structure perspective, we have been gradually growing here since we held our first event in 2017, we have hired people here, we have a team in Hong Kong, that being said, there is nothing stopping us from moving to Singapore, and that may also be an option for us in the future.
TechFlow: In the beginning, why was it named 2049? What does 2049 mean?
Alex: There are several reasons. One of them is that I want it to sound mysterious. I hope our listeners can understand what it means. It also foreshadows something in the future. This number makes people feel very sticky. Therefore, there must be a sense of technology and futurism behind this name.
For example, if the name of a conference is difficult to pronounce, it may be popular with audiences in China, Korea or Japan, but may not be so easy to remember for audiences in Europe and the United States. We found that numbers are easier to remember, so we often see people calling it 2049, and participants from different countries can easily remember this name. Overall, one of the important aspects is that this number has an implicit message, foreshadowing the future of 2049 and beyond.
TechFlow: In addition to Asian faces, we saw many people from Europe and America at the TOKEN2049 conference in Singapore this time. Do you have some statistics on how many people are from the United States? In your opinion, what is the attraction of this conference for them?
Alex: I think it's a part of our business that we do really well, and TOKEN2049 is definitely still an international event, not a local event, like, when I look at our data, it's also interesting to see how the data has changed over time.
Last year’s event, about 70% of the attendees were from overseas, and this year, more than 80% of the attendees were from overseas. We had more than 10,000 attendees, which means we attracted a large number of international attendees to Singapore. If I look deeper into the data, I estimate that about 10%~15% of the attendees are from the United States.
And this was during Formula 1 week, when hotel prices were not cheap, and I think it was an achievement that we were able to attract so many attendees to fly to Singapore that week to attend TOKEN2049.
Why does TOKEN2049 attract such an international audience? I think there are several reasons. First of all, TOKEN2049 itself is a global event. We have held it in Hong Kong, Singapore and London. I think people underestimate the time and effort required to organize an event. To give you an idea, we have already started preparing for the Singapore event in 2024 and 2025.
We wouldn’t be able to attract an international audience if we were focusing on more regional, localized content, like the ecosystem in Hong Kong or the cryptocurrency landscape across Asia, or looking at the more macro perspective, like the regulatory situation in the U.S. or Europe, so we combine content from both the East and the West, and I think that provides a great platform for people to fly to Singapore.
Singapore is a transportation hub between the East and the West. It is relatively easier to fly from Singapore to other places, such as flying to places further east, whether it is China or Japan. We are focused on making TOKEN2049 an international event, and we always put this first, whether it is from the perspective of speakers, sponsors or our community.
TechFlow: From the perspective of crypto investment, what have you discovered after communicating with the crypto investors attending the conference?
Alex: We have communicated with important investors in the crypto investment community, and their investment amounts have increased significantly after FTX. They believe that the market in November last year was closer to the bottom, both in terms of liquidity and private transactions, but we have also noticed that secondary market transactions have slowed down, which may reflect the caution of retail investors. It may not be appropriate to focus too much on venture capital now.
Regarding the market sentiment during TOKEN2049, most people believe that the market has bottomed out, but I don’t make price predictions. Compared with September last year and November, the market in September was more panicky, while November was more uncertain.
Currently, it is widely believed that new projects and companies are emerging, especially in Asia, which is more active than in the West. In addition, many well-known cryptocurrency venture capital firms continue to invest and allocate capital.
TechFlow: Everyone is curious about how much money the organizers made this time? Currently, it is rumored that the amount is 15 million US dollars. I know this topic is a bit sensitive. Can you reveal a little bit?
Alex: I would like to emphasize that many people may underestimate the actual cost of hosting an event during the F1 weekend in Singapore. For example, as the F1 season approaches, hotel prices in Singapore can increase by three times. For large-scale events, the cost will be even higher because it involves a lot of manpower and resources. When we arrange the TOKEN2049 event before the F1 race, it means that we not only have to book the venue in advance, but also invest a lot of time and resources in preparation.
When considering the economic benefits of TOKEN2049, people should understand that holding such an event requires huge investment, including costs for venues, equipment, personnel, etc. Organizing such an event requires a huge workload. We are currently planning activities for next year and the year after.
The funding associated with this activity is usually determined years in advance, it is a capital intensive business model and we do not want to disclose specific figures at this time, but thanks to our fantastic team the business is developing very well.
When it comes to strategy on how to monetize events, think of this as our secret recipe, similar to the “chicken or the egg” problem, to be successful you need to attract speakers, audiences, and sponsors, but without any one, the others will suffer.
TechFlow: TOKEN2049 cancelled London and added Dubai. What were the considerations behind this?
Alex: I love London and identify myself as European, but this year we chose not to hold the 2049 conference in London and instead moved it to Dubai. This is not to say that we have permanently given up on London, but rather due to a variety of considerations.
Although London's cryptocurrency ecosystem is active, it is still smaller than those in Singapore and Dubai. It is not easy to expand the scale of events in London, especially in the city center. We chose West Greenwich for the 2022 event. Although it is located in the central area, it takes participants 20 to 30 minutes to get there. To expand the event to 10,000 people, it may be necessary to find a location farther away from the center of London. Coupled with the high costs in London, this is a huge challenge in all aspects in the short term.
In contrast, Dubai is gaining momentum and its abundance of venues, accommodation, logistics and transportation made it our first choice. Although Dubai is often home to a variety of small events, we wanted to bring a unique, truly global Web3.0 event brand to it.
TechFlow: Are there any unforgettable moments in TOKEN2049 this time?
Alex: I have been organizing the 2049 Conference for seven years now and this year has a different feel than previous years, even though organizing such a large event is emotional and stressful, and involves a lot of money and participants, I feel like we have reached new heights this year.
In the past, even though we did a lot of preparation in advance, the pressure of preparation continued to increase as the event approached. I always felt that after the 2049 conference, you would almost feel like you built a sand castle on the beach, and then the waves came and the sand castle was washed away, and you had nothing. You spent a whole year building it, invested so much time and resources, and then suddenly it was all gone.
But this year, I feel like we've achieved more than ever before, with 2049 no longer being a one-time thing, but a real ongoing community, which is reflected in our social media presence, and I'm sure that over time our community will have a greater network effect.
I am extremely proud of the success of the entire event, especially seeing the sponsors’ booths and the main stage, which gave me a huge sense of satisfaction. People love to see overnight success, but behind it is often more than a decade of work. As I have stressed, this was a team effort and without our team we would never have been able to accomplish such a feat.
TechFlow: It seems that you are also doing investments. Can you share with us what other businesses you are doing besides events?
Alex: Working at TOKEN2049 makes me very excited. We often get to know many secret projects in advance. Some projects even contact us long before they go to market because they want to promote them at our events before they go public. It is a privilege to know these behind-the-scenes projects. Maybe not everyone has such an opportunity.
At our events, we saw a wide variety of decentralized projects, including some large ones, covering areas ranging from decentralized storage to decentralized computing, especially those related to artificial intelligence. There were many such projects participating in the 2024 event, and they also plan to participate in the Dubai event. I noticed that many people were particularly interested in the theme of artificial intelligence at the Dubai event.
Although I am responsible for the operation of TOKEN2049 full-time, we are more like a family office and we are also looking for some projects for strategic investment.
postscript
Alex is a low-key person. He stands behind the bustling stage of TOKEN2049, watching everything silently, just like the lyrics in "Fakir": I want people to see me, but not know who I am.
There is no achievement without a reason. What people see is the excitement of TOKEN2049 and the huge amount of money made by the organizers, but behind it is the seven years of hard work of Alex and his team. All the efforts have paid off, and now is the time to reap the rewards after seven years of hard work.
The end of Blade Runner 2049 left many unanswered questions, and TOKEN2049 is not over either. We will meet again at the Singapore conference in September 2024.
TOKEN2049 Singapore 2024 Conference
TOKEN2049 Singapore 2024 will host a lively two-day main event on September 18-19, attracting 20,000 attendees from more than 7,000 companies and over 150 countries.
Located across four floors at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, TOKEN2049 was an experience like no other, with sumptuous free food, coffee and live DJ sets creating a lively atmosphere, exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge product demos, and attendees rejuvenating with massages, on-site haircuts and non-stop entertainment, exploration and activities.
As the world’s largest cryptocurrency gathering, this is more than just an event, let’s come together for a festival like no other, as the global crypto community gathers in Singapore for TOKEN2049 Week from September 16-22, 2024.
Hundreds of meetups, workshops and networking opportunities are expected during the two-day main event, with tens of thousands of attendees transforming Singapore into a vibrant hub of activity – an unmissable opportunity to launch products, share new experiences and make life-changing connections.
Every year TOKEN2049 kicks off the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix weekend, which promises to be an unforgettable week.
Bringing together leading minds in the cryptocurrency space, TOKEN2049 offers attendees the opportunity to learn from the most influential and established opinion leaders in the space, who play a major role in shaping the ecosystem.
The 2024 conference agenda will cover a wide range of topics including Web3 gaming, DeFi, the metaverse, the convergence of AI and crypto, blockchain scaling, regulation, global macro, and more.
TOKEN2049 provides partners with a platform to engage with their target audience, giving them the opportunity to meet with senior decision-makers, establish new strategic partnerships, increase brand awareness or launch new products on stage where top media and industry leaders are paying attention.
Ticket purchase website:
asia.token2049.com/tickets
Tip: When purchasing tickets, enter the IC Chinese Community’s exclusive discount code DFINITYCN15 to enjoy a 15% discount on tickets. Ticket prices have increased from the previous US$499 and US$599 to the current US$699, and the price increases every month. If you are sure to attend the conference, it is strongly recommended that you purchase tickets as early as possible, as they will only become more expensive later. In addition, the number of discounted tickets is limited, and first come first served! For more information about this conference and how to use the discount code, please read:
TOKEN2049 Singapore will open in September 2024 and will break all records
#token2049 #ICP🚀🚀 #DFINITY #DeFi
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