HODL 2025 Opens in Dubai, Uniting Global Blockchain Leaders

HODL 2025, the world’s longest-running Web3 event, officially opened on May 14, 2025, at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. Organized by Trescon, this two-day event marks a significant milestone in the evolution of blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi). The event follows the Dubai FinTech Summit, which began on May 12, 2025. During the Summit’s opening ceremony, His Excellency Essa Kazim, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), announced the launch of the inaugural Dubai Future Finance Week, scheduled for 2026. This initiative will unite major financial events under the theme “Pioneering tomorrow’s financial landscape: Innovation, sustainability, and global connectivity.”

Mohammed Saleem, Founder & Chairman of Trescon, expressed pride in contributing to Dubai’s vision of becoming a global financial powerhouse. The event featured a panel discussion on “Crypto rulebook: Global best practices and regulatory measures,” moderated by Saqr Ereiqat, Secretary General of the Dubai Digital Asset Association. Speakers included Dyma Budorin, CEO of Hacken, Samir Safar-Aly of the MENA FinTech Association, Erwin Voloder of the European Blockchain Association, and Belal Jassoma of DMCC. The discussion highlighted the need for global regulatory coherence and innovation-friendly compliance frameworks.

Another notable session, “Insuring the Future of Crypto: Bridging Risk & Innovation in the Digital Asset Economy,” emphasized the role of insurance in de-risking digital finance. Joseph Ziolkowski, CEO of Relm Insurance, noted that insurance is a $6 trillion market and a bedrock component of sustainability. The panel explored how risk-aligned insurance solutions are key to unlocking institutional trust and long-term ecosystem resilience. Cristian Ulloa, Co-Founder & CEO of Liquid Loans, a Platinum sponsor of HODL 2025, shared strategies for building wealth in crypto while avoiding common pitfalls.

Day 1 of HODL 2025 also featured prominent speakers including Corbin Fraser, CEO of Bitcoin.com, Nils Andersen-Röed, Global Head of FIU at Binance, Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, Rifad Mahasneh, CEO MENA at OKX, Robert Crossley, Global Head at Franklin Templeton, and Joseph Ziolkowski, CEO of Relm Insurance. These speakers shared insights across DeFi, tokenization, compliance, and blockchain banking.

HODL 2025 is supported by various sponsors, including Platinum sponsor Liquid Loans.io, Gold sponsors Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Gofaizen & Sherle, Silver sponsor Facephi, and Bronze sponsors Skygate Network, FMCPay, Pays Solutions, and PEP. Exhibitors included SWAG42, Thesaurum, Travel Swap, and Any2Pay, while startup pods featured Scintilla, Boston Trading Co, Ace Capital, and vbanq. The event is backed by leading media outlets, ensuring its global reach and impact on the conversation around Web3, innovation, and the decentralized future.

HODL, born from the legacy of the World Blockchain Summit (WBS) and organized by Trescon, has been a platform for blockchain deal-making, innovation, and connecting disruptive projects with investors, enterprises, and governments since 2017. With 29 global editions across cities like Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok, HODL continues to be a pivotal event in the blockchain and Web3 space. The event aims to engage industry leaders, explore cutting-edge blockchain developments, and secure a place at the forefront of Web3 innovation.