It’s been a week since @EthCC - electrolytes have been replenished, the heatstroke has passed, and we’re finally ready for some reflection.
TL;DR: Cannes delivered.
The beach club events had serious vibe, but also required serious stamina, networking at 37°C isn’t for the faint of heart. But the crowd made it worth it: OGs, new talent, and builders were sharp. Here's what piqued our interest the most:
🔹 AI agents are having a moment: Everyone’s experimenting; backtests, prompt chaining, on-chain execution flows. Still early, still clunky, but very dynamic and promising developments are happening.
🔹 Gambling mechanics are eternal: Prediction markets everywhere. Some leaned into it, others disguised it as “games” or “social layers”, either way, the appetite hasn’t faded.
🔹 RWAs and stablecoins are the quiet winners: Not the loudest booths, but clearly where the serious teams are focusing. Solid traction, real-world relevance, long-term play, overall, RWAs and stablecoins sent out a bullish impression.
🔹 Virtual Chains got attention: Builders are interested in the Virtual Chain concept paired with NEAR Intents liquidity. There is a hunger for easier, and more efficient ways to launch.
🔹 Aurora’s story resonated: Founders liked that we go beyond infra. Tools, integrations, marketplace, incubator, token launch, the full arc. That clicked. Infra → Integrations → Marketplace → Dev tools → Incubator → Token launches, that's what the space wants, and we humbly abide.
All in all, Cannes gave us peak crypto summer: sun, sweat, and builders shipping through it all. We loved it, and we'll be back for more!