HODL 2025, organised by Trescon, the world’s longest-running Web3 event, officially opened today at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi).

The prestigious two-day event follows the Dubai FinTech Summit that commenced on 12^th May. 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 flagship initiative will bring together major financial events—including Dubai FinTech Summit, Future Sustainability Forum, Private Capital Forum, Seamless Middle East, HODL Summit, and Dubai Future District Fund AGM—under a unified theme: “Pioneering tomorrow’s financial landscape: Innovation, sustainability, and global connectivity.”

“Being part of the upcoming Dubai Future Finance Week reflects our commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration in the Web3 space,” said Mohammed Saleem, Founder & Chairman, Trescon. “We are proud to contribute to Dubai’s vision of becoming a global financial powerhouse.”

Crypto Rulebook: Toward Global Standards

A day 1 highlight was the expert panel “Crypto rulebook: Global best practices and regulatory measures”, moderated by Saqr Ereiqat, Secretary General, Dubai Digital Asset Association. Speakers included:

• Dyma Budorin, CEO, Hacken
• Samir Safar-Aly, MENA FinTech Association
• Erwin Voloder, European Blockchain Association
• Belal Jassoma, DMCC

“We want to have the best ecosystem for entrepreneurs to run their business.” — Dyma Budorin
 “Regulations need to catch up and work together.” — Samir Safar-Aly

The discussion emphasized the need for global regulatory coherence and innovation-friendly compliance frameworks.

Insuring Web3: A $6 Trillion Opportunity

Another standout session, “Insuring the Future of Crypto: Bridging Risk & Innovation in the Digital Asset Economy”, spotlighted the crucial role of insurance in de-risking digital finance.

“Insurance has been a bedrock component of sustainability; it is a $6 trillion market.” — Joseph Ziolkowski

The panel explored how risk-aligned insurance solutions are key to unlocking institutional trust and long-term ecosystem resilience.

During his session, Cristian Ulloa, Co-Founder & CEO of Liquid Loans, Platinum sponsor of HODL 2025, shared valuable strategies for building wealth in crypto while steering clear of common pitfalls that lead to crypto regret.

Global Leaders on the HODL Stage

Day 1 also featured other prominent speakers sharing insights across DeFi, tokenisation, compliance, and blockchain banking including:

• Corbin Fraser, CEO, Bitcoin.com
• Nils Andersen-Röed, Global Head of FIU, Binance
• Gracy Chen, CEO, Bitget
• Rifad Mahasneh, CEO MENA, OKX
• Robert Crossley, Global Head, Franklin Templeton
• Joseph Ziolkowski, CEO, Relm Insurance

View the full speaker lineup and agenda:

Ecosystem Support: HODL 2025 @ponsors and exhibitors

Sponsors:

Platinum: Liquid Loans.io
After Party: Coinvoyage
Gold: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Gofaizen & Sherle
Silver: Facephi
Bronze: Skygate Network, FMCPay, Pays Solutions, PEP

Exhibitors: SWAG42, Thesaurum, Travel Swap, Any2Pay
 Startup Pods: Scintilla, Boston Trading Co, Ace Capital, vbanq

Top Media Partners Covering HODL 2025

HODL 2025 is proudly backed by leading media outlets amplifying its global reach:

• Official Media Partner: CNN Business Arabic
• Exclusive Media Partner: Khaleej Times
• Ecosystem Partner: Entrepreneur Middle East
• Business Media Partner: Arabian Business
• Digital PR Partner: ZEX PR Wire

These partnerships ensure HODL 2025 headlines the conversation on Web3, innovation, and the decentralised future.

About HODL

HODL, born from the legacy of the iconic World Blockchain Summit (WBS) and organised by Trescon, is the world’s longest running blockchain event series with 29 global editions across cities like Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok. Since 2017, HODL has served as a platform for blockchain deal-making, innovation, and connecting disruptive projects with investors, enterprises, and governments. Join HODL Dubai on May 14-15, 2025, to engage with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge blockchain developments, and secure your place at the forefront of Web3 innovation.

For more information visit https://hodlsummit.com/

Media Contact:
Shadi Dawy
Shadi@tresconglobal.com

• 5,000+ global leaders, investors, and innovators to gather in Dubai for the world’s longest-running Web3 and crypto summit.
• Agenda spotlights tokenisation, decentralised finance, modular blockchain, and AI-powered infrastructure.
• UAE Regional Round of the Startup World Cup, in partnership with Pegasus Tech Ventures, to offer blockchain start-ups a shot at $1M in investment at global finals.

The landmark 30th edition of the HODL (Formerly World Blockchain Summit), the world’s longest-running Crypto & Web3 Summit series is set to return to Dubai on 14-15 May 2025 at Madinat Jumeirah. HODL will bring together over 5,000 attendees, including policymakers, regulators, institutional investors, technological innovators, and entrepreneurs to drive critical conversations and partnerships shaping the future of decentralised finance, asset tokenisation, and AI-powered infrastructure.

Organised by Trescon and building on the legacy of the World Blockchain Summit, HODL has hosted 29 editions across key global hubs, including Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok. This milestone event in Dubai cements its position as a leading global platform for blockchain innovation and strategic collaboration.

“HODL has become the definitive platform for blockchain innovation in the Middle East and beyond. This 30th edition marks a turning point as institutional adoption meets breakthrough tech. We’re proud to drive the conversations shaping the future of decentralisation,” said Mohammed Saleem, Founder & Chairman of Trescon.

HODL will spotlight cutting-edge developments driving the crypto and Web3 ecosystem — including real-world asset tokenization, advancements in modular blockchain infrastructure, the next wave of DeFi innovation, evolving regulatory frameworks, and enhanced security protocols for digital assets. These trends are accelerating global momentum toward institutional and enterprise blockchain adoption.

Featuring a powerhouse line-up of speakers including:

• Corbin Fraser, Chief Executive Officer, Bitcoin.com
• Nils Andersen-Röed, Global Head of FIU, Binance
• Gracy Chen, Chief Executive Officer, Bitget
• Rifad Mahasneh, Chief Executive Officer MENA, OKX
• Robert Crossley, Global Head of Industry and Digital Advisory Services, Franklin Templeton
• Joseph Ziolkowski, Chief Executive officer, Relm Insurance
• Viktor Fischer, Managing Partner, RockawayX
• Vivien Lin, Chief Product Officer, BingX
• Luther Maday, Global Head of Payments, Algorand Foundation
• Dyma Budorin, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Hacken Click here to see full list of speakers.

“HODL 2025 is where the future of Web3 and crypto innovation takes shape. I am thrilled to collaborate with pioneers shaping this exciting digital revolution,” stated Corbin Fraser, CEO of Bitcoin.com.

Talking about the opportunity, Nils Andersen-Röed, Global Head of FIU at Binance remarked,

“Excited to share insights on blockchain and connect with leaders driving GameFi, NFTs, and Web3 advancements at HODL 2025.“

In a significant development for the region’s innovation landscape, HODL has partnered with Pegasus Tech Ventures to host the UAE Regional Round of the Startup World Cup,

offering emerging blockchain ventures a chance to pitch for a place at the global finals and compete for a $1 million investment. Pegasus has invested in over 260 companies, with 71 exits and 22 IPOs, providing a formidable launchpad for start- up growth.

HODL 2025 provides its attendees unprecedented access to more than 500 institutional investors, creating opportunities for strategic collaborations with

industry leaders, regulatory authorities, enterprise organisations, and government officials. This environment is optimally structured for capital formation, strategic insight development, and institutional partnerships.

Reflecting the growing influence of blockchain in global finance, HODL is backed by leading sponsors and ecosystem partners including:

• Platinum Sponsor – Liquid Loans
• After Party Sponsor- Coinvoyage
• Gold Sponsors – Tata Consultancy Services | Gofaizen & Sherle
• Silver Sponsor – Facephi
• Bronze Sponsors – Skygate Network | FMCPAY | Pays.Solutions | P2P

With the strategic support of over 60 global media and listing partners, participating organisations will achieve significant visibility across international platforms. CNN Business Arabic serves as the Official Media Partner, with Khaleej Times as Exclusive Media Partner, and ZEX PR WIRE as the Official Digital PR Distribution Partner.

For more information, visit: https://hodlsummit.com/dubai2025/ For further enquiries, contact:

Shadi Dawi

Sr. Director – PR, Comms., & Media

M: +971 55 498 4989 | E: shadi@tresconglobal.com

About HODL

HODL, born from the legacy of the iconic World Blockchain Summit (WBS) and organised by Trescon, is the world’s longest-running blockchain event series with 29 global editions across cities like Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok. Since 2017, HODL has served as a platform for blockchain deal-making, innovation, and connecting disruptive projects with investors, enterprises, and governments.

Join HODL Dubai on May 14-15, 2025, to engage with industry leaders, explore cutting-edge blockchain developments, and secure your place at the forefront of Web3 innovation.

Visit https://hodlsummit.com/dubai2025/ for more details and ticket information.