Devcon is the flagship conference of the Ethereum ecosystem, organized by the Ethereum Foundation. It brings together developers, researchers, designers, community organizers, and artists to share progress on decentralized protocols, tools, and culture. The event has run since 2014 and rotates to different cities around the world, drawing thousands of attendees for several days of talks, workshops, and networking.
Who Devcon Is For
Despite the name (short for “developer conference”), Devcon isn’t exclusively for software engineers. The Ethereum Foundation describes the audience as “builders of all kinds,” including designers, researchers, infrastructure operators, social economists, and artists. If you work on or around Ethereum in any capacity, or you’re curious about the technology and want an immersive introduction, Devcon is designed for you.
Sessions range from deeply technical protocol discussions to broader topics like digital economy, privacy, community governance, and art. Past conference tracks have included Core Protocol, Layer 2s, Applied Cryptography, Security, Cypherpunk & Privacy, Usability, Cryptoeconomics, and Real World Ethereum. The mix makes it possible to attend as a seasoned blockchain engineer or as someone exploring the space for the first time.
A Brief History of the Event
The first gathering, called “Devcon 0,” took place in Berlin in late November 2014, just months before Ethereum’s mainnet launched. Since then, the conference has traveled across continents:
- Devcon 0 (2014): Berlin
- Devcon 1 (2015): London
- Devcon 2 (2016): Shanghai
- Devcon 3 (2017): Cancún, Mexico
- Devcon 4 (2018): Prague, Czech Republic
- Devcon 5 (2019): Japan
- Devcon 6 (2022): Bogotá, Colombia
- Devcon 7 / Devcon SEA (2024): Bangkok, Thailand
The gap between 2019 and 2022 was largely due to the pandemic. During that period and in other off years, the Ethereum Foundation has organized a related but smaller event called Devconnect, which has been held in Amsterdam (2022), Istanbul (2023), and Buenos Aires (scheduled for late 2025). Devconnect focuses on smaller, topic-specific workshops rather than one large conference program.
What Happens at Devcon
A typical Devcon runs four days and features hundreds of talks, panels, and workshops spread across multiple tracks. The programming is intentionally broad. You might find a session on zero-knowledge proof cryptography next to a panel on how decentralized tools can support emerging economies. Hackathons and side events usually run alongside the main conference, giving attendees a chance to build projects and collaborate in real time.
The Ethereum Foundation frames Devcon as both “an intensive introduction for new Ethereum explorers” and “a global family reunion” for people already active in the ecosystem. Recorded talks from past events are available in the Devcon archive, so even if you can’t attend in person, you can watch technical presentations from previous years.
Tickets and Costs
Devcon uses a tiered pricing structure designed to make the event accessible to a range of attendees. For the 2024 event in Bangkok, pricing looked like this:
- General Admission: $599
- Builder Ticket: $299, for people actively contributing to Ethereum’s growth (developers, designers, researchers, community organizers). Requires ID verification.
- Academic Ticket: $99, for current students and educators with valid credentials.
- Local Builder Ticket: $49, for residents of the host region who are passionate about Ethereum. Requires proof of residency.
- Youth Ticket: $20, for attendees under 18.
Community leaders and organizers of nonprofit groups can also apply for free or discounted tickets for their members. Pricing and discount categories may shift from year to year, but the general approach of offering reduced rates for students, local residents, and active contributors has been consistent across recent events.
How Devcon Differs From Other Crypto Events
The cryptocurrency and blockchain space has dozens of annual conferences, many of which lean heavily toward investment, trading, and product marketing. Devcon stands out because of its technical and community orientation. It’s organized by the nonprofit Ethereum Foundation rather than a for-profit events company, and its programming prioritizes protocol research, open-source development, and public goods over commercial pitches. You’ll find fewer sponsor booths and more whiteboards.
That said, the surrounding “Devcon Week” in any host city typically includes hundreds of independently organized side events, meetups, and parties hosted by companies and projects in the Ethereum ecosystem. The main event sets a technical tone, but the broader week offers plenty of networking, socializing, and business-oriented gatherings.
How to Follow Along Remotely
If you can’t attend in person, Devcon talks are typically livestreamed and later archived at archive.devcon.org. The recordings cover years of technical content, making the archive a useful free resource for anyone learning about Ethereum development, cryptography, or decentralized systems. Following the event’s official channels in the weeks before a new Devcon also gives you a preview of the schedule and featured speakers.