The spring got a lively start for the crypto space with the return of a long-awaited event, Token 2049 Dubai. Taking place on April 30 - May 1, the event gathered together prominent industry players and attracted thousands of visitors, turning the emirate into a vivacious Web3 hub.
As a platinum sponsor of the event, the presence of cryptocurrency exchange CoinW was felt throughout the venue, with a side event ringing up the curtain and a glamorous afterparty bringing it down. The exchange also set up a big booth with engaging experiences, and a camel mascot wearing a CoinW-branded suit that was in the limelight.
An enthusiastic ecosystem gathered together
The inauguration was made by a side event, Tomorrow’s Token. Hosted on April 29 by CoinW in partnership with Cointelegraph, the conference brought leaders together to discuss how Dubai became the rising star in the crypto industry.
The first panel, titled “Dubai as Web3 Frontier – Regulation, Ecosystems and Local Innovation,” had Cointelegraph’s Anna Shakola as moderator and hosted speakers from various backgrounds, including Nassar Achkar, chief strategy officer of CoinW and Dr. Marwan Alzarouni, who co-founded Dubai Blockchain Center (DBCC) along with Nassar.
The speakers kicked things off by sharing fond recollections of their early encounters. Nassar said the idea of launching DBCC with Alzarouni took shape in 2016, and ever since then, the region has grown bigger and bigger to become the global hub of crypto and Web3 space.
Meanwhile, Alexander mentioned meeting Alzarouni 12 years ago to trade Bitcoin (BTC) and execute one of the first local peer-to-peer Bitcoin transactions, although the pair seemed a bit confused about who was the seller.
When asked about why Dubai turned into the crypto epicenter in the last few years, Nassar emphasized that Dubai created the first regulatory framework for crypto and blockchain back in 2017 and set an example for countries worldwide.
That’s a wrap on Tomorrow’s Token ✅
— CoinW (@CoinWOfficial) April 30, 2025
From groundbreaking panels to visionary voices — the future of Web3 just got louder. Thank you for being part of it.
Off to TOKEN2049 🚀#COINWTOKEN2049 pic.twitter.com/3zcyGHcz9G
Shedding light on the motivation behind moving CoinW’s headquarters to Dubai, Nassar stated that Dubai is a welcoming choice with favorable regulations and infrastructure and the absence of bureaucratic barriers, saying “Dubai ticks all the boxes in the checklist.”
CoinW also organizes other events to keep the conversation going even off stage. Launched earlier this year, WConnect – Connecting Legends, an online forum series, brings users together with the leaders from prominent layer-1 blockchains, such as Sui, Solana and Avalanche. The series provides a valuable environment where ideas and the latest trends are put on the table to foster collaboration and innovation.
Exchange expanding in Dubai
Cointelegraph sat down with speakers to gain deeper insight about Dubai’s evolving position in the crypto space and CoinW’s plans for the region. Nassar once again emphasized that the regional regulatory framework supports crypto companies, and such support is a big differentiating factor for exchanges like CoinW.
Nassar Achkar also highlighted other reasons for the exchange’s decision to move to Dubai:
“The MENA region is becoming the hub of the world. Everybody is coming here because you have a visionary government that is taking care of each startup, you have the most secure place to be in this ecosystem, and you can find the best talent here, because the government is incentivizing them to come here.”
A night shining brightly
The event wrapped up with an unforgettable afterparty at a lavish beach club, Nobu by the Beach, Atlantis The Royal. Organized by CoinW in partnership with Coin Bureau, Royal Night with Legends set the already electrified night on fire.
The crowd gathered on the poolside to enjoy nonstop live performances taking place on the stage in the shape of the CoinW logo, turning the night into a true highlight of the conference. With its mesmerizing visuals, an Ancient Egyptian-themed performance had everyone’s eyes glued to the stage.
From setting the tone with Tomorrow’s Token to closing the show with Royal Night with Legends, CoinW’s dynamic presence was felt at every turn of Token 2049 Dubai. With thoughtfully curated experiences and standout moments, the exchange left an indelible mark on the event, already exciting people for the next edition.
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