The Ethereum Community Conference (EthCC) has solidified its position as Europe’s most influential annual gathering for blockchain innovators, developers, and visionaries. Held this year in Brussels—due to the Paris Olympics—EthCC 2024 brought together over 350 speakers and hosted more than 400 side events across a dynamic week of collaboration, learning, and connection. As one of the largest blockchain events I’ve attended, second only to Devconnect Istanbul in scale, EthCC stood out not just for its technical depth but for its vibrant community spirit and forward-thinking discourse.
Organized by a dedicated French team that previously hosted six successful editions in Paris, this year’s shift to Belgium did nothing to dampen the energy. From core protocol advancements to user experience innovations, the conference explored every layer of the evolving Web3 ecosystem.
Core Themes That Shaped EthCC 2024
Several key themes emerged throughout the week, reflecting both the current state and future trajectory of blockchain technology.
Web3 UX Challenges and the Rise of Account Abstraction
One of the most discussed topics was the persistent issue of poor user experience in decentralized applications. Despite blockchain’s promise of ownership and transparency, complex interfaces, high gas fees, and security risks continue to deter mainstream adoption.
👉 Discover how account abstraction is transforming blockchain accessibility for everyday users.
Enter account abstraction (AA)—a game-changing approach that simplifies wallet management and transaction execution. By enabling smart contract wallets, AA allows users to enjoy familiar experiences like social recovery, sponsored transactions, and multi-factor authentication without needing deep crypto knowledge. This shift is critical for onboarding non-technical users and building what some call “Web3 Love Marks”—brands that resonate emotionally with users.
Projects like ERC-4337 are leading this charge, making it easier than ever to abstract away complexity while preserving decentralization and security.
The Infrastructure Race: Too Many Chains?
Another hot topic was the so-called “infrastructure war” among Layer 2 solutions and modular blockchains. With major players like ZKsync, Arbitrum, Optimism, Celestia, and Avalanche vying for dominance, there’s growing debate about whether the market truly needs so many competing chains.
While competition drives innovation—especially in scalability, speed, and cost-efficiency—there’s also concern about fragmentation. Many new protocols secure tens or even hundreds of millions in funding but lack real-world applications built on top. Investors are eager for consumer-facing products that demonstrate clear value beyond technical novelty.
For mass adoption to occur, we need fewer infrastructure projects and more end-user dApps that solve tangible problems—like seamless payments, digital identity, or asset ownership.
Zero-Knowledge Proofs: The Future of Scalability and Privacy
Zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs were everywhere at EthCC 2024—and for good reason. This cryptographic breakthrough allows one party to prove the validity of a statement without revealing any additional information, offering powerful implications for privacy and scalability.
ZK technology is now central to Ethereum’s scaling roadmap, powering rollups like ZKsync and StarkNet. But what captured hearts (and minds) this year was the Eli5 Book—a children’s storybook created by a MatterLabs developer to explain ZK concepts through adorable animal characters.
This creative educational tool went viral at ETHDenver and stole the show again in Brussels, symbolizing a broader trend: making advanced cryptography accessible and engaging. Workshops like the ZK Hack further demonstrated how developers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with ZK systems.
Marketing Meets Technology: AI, Analytics, and Immersive Experiences
Marketing professionals were not left behind. With traditional analytics tools falling short in privacy-centric Web3 environments, demand is rising for platforms that combine on-chain data with behavioral insights.
AI-powered content generation, NFT-based loyalty programs, and AR/VR activations—such as those inspired by Apple Vision Pro—are becoming essential tools for growth teams. Meanwhile, POAPs have become standard at events, prompting marketers to explore new ways to engage audiences meaningfully.
The fusion of AI and blockchain opens exciting possibilities: personalized user journeys, automated community management, and verifiable digital ownership—all while respecting user privacy.
Standout Events and Community Moments
While main-stage talks provided valuable insights, many attendees agreed that the real magic happened during side events.
Builders' Brunch by Crypto Girls Club
Kicking off mornings with energy and insight, this event gathered builders focused on B2C DeFi products. Representatives from MetaMask, WalletConnect, and Safe shared strategies for improving accessibility and trust in decentralized finance.
Modular Security Debate by Cartesi
A highlight of the week, this debate brought together thought leaders including David Hoffman from the Bankless Show. Discussions centered on modular vs. monolithic architectures, trust assumptions, and long-term sustainability in blockchain design.
Open Finance Day by Aave, Chainlink, Uniswap & Aptos
This collaborative summit showcased interoperability in action, with deep dives into cross-chain lending, oracle reliability, and next-gen financial primitives.
A More Inclusive Blockchain Week
EthCC 2024 marked significant progress toward inclusivity. Women were visibly present across technical tracks, leadership panels, and community spaces. Events like the SheFi Summit at The Merode—a private club in central Brussels—celebrated female leadership in Web3.
Organized by Maggie Love, SheFi united women founders, engineers, and DevRel experts in a powerful display of solidarity and mentorship. While marketing and community roles remain common entry points for women, the rise of female-led technical projects signals a promising shift.
Parties With Purpose
No blockchain week is complete without celebration. Social events fostered organic connections that often lead to partnerships, job offers, or new ventures.
- ZK Sante, hosted by Clave for the ZKsync community, offered gourmet food and lively conversation in a historic market hall.
- A themed Masquerade Ball, organized by Avara with a black-and-red rose dress code, combined elegance with blockchain flair—proving that tech and culture can coexist beautifully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is EthCC?
A: EthCC (Ethereum Community Conference) is Europe’s largest annual gathering focused on Ethereum development, research, and community building. It features talks, workshops, hackathons, and networking events.
Q: Where was EthCC 2024 held?
A: Due to the Paris Olympics, EthCC moved to Brussels in 2024. Previous editions were held in Paris, and future events will take place in cities like Cannes.
Q: Why are zero-knowledge proofs important?
A: ZK proofs enable secure, private computation and are key to scaling Ethereum via ZK-rollups. They allow validation of transactions without exposing underlying data.
Q: How does account abstraction improve UX?
A: It removes friction by allowing features like password recovery, gasless transactions, and app-specific permissions—making dApps feel more like traditional apps.
Q: Are there opportunities for non-developers at EthCC?
A: Absolutely. The conference welcomes marketers, designers, researchers, investors, and enthusiasts interested in blockchain’s societal impact.
Q: What comes after infrastructure saturation?
A: The next phase is application-layer innovation—building consumer dApps that deliver clear utility in gaming, identity, finance, and social media.
👉 Explore how leading platforms are bridging Web3 usability gaps today.
Final Thoughts
EthCC 2024 wasn’t just about code—it was about connection. From deep technical debates to joyful midnight dances, the week embodied the ethos of open collaboration that defines the Ethereum community.
As we look ahead to future events like ETHWarsaw—set for September in Poland—the momentum continues. The path to mass adoption isn’t paved with more chains or higher TVLs alone—it’s built through better experiences, inclusive communities, and real-world value.
Whether you're a builder, marketer, or curious observer, one truth became clear in Brussels: the future of blockchain is human-centered.
👉 Stay ahead of the curve—see how Web3 innovation is evolving in real time.