Nathan Sexer: Argentina’s crypto boom fuels Ethereum’s biggest event ever | Epicenter

Key takeaways

• Argentina has a significant number of daily crypto users, with about 5 million people engaging with it regularly.
• Devconnect is the largest Ethereum event ever organized in terms of attendance.
• The decision to create a world fair format for the event was driven by the need to showcase practical applications of Ethereum.
• Argentina is an ideal location for showcasing Ethereum due to its high usage of crypto and stable coins.
• About 50% of the attendees at the event are local.
• A streamlined process with the immigration office allowed for over a thousand visas to be issued to attendees from around the world.
• South America is a fertile ground for crypto innovation due to monetary sovereignty and the state of the financial system.
• In Argentina, about 5 million people use crypto daily, which is 10% of the population.
• People in Argentina use crypto for payments because it is more convenient than traditional banking.
• Crypto transactions are common for payments, even if they exist in a legal gray area.
• The Ethereum Foundation’s focus on tangible interactions aligns with Argentina’s crypto-native culture.
• The event’s “World’s Fair” format emphasizes practical applications of Ethereum.

Guest intro

Nathan Sexer leads the DevConnect 2025 and Events team at the Ethereum Foundation. He spearheaded the largest Devconnect ever in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with 20,000 attendees in a “World’s Fair” format featuring tangible districts for DeFi and Privacy. As Devcon Team Lead, he announced Devcon 8 for Mumbai, India in 2026 to unify the region’s developer diaspora.

Argentina’s crypto landscape

• Argentina has a significant number of daily crypto users, with about 5 million people engaging with it regularly.

  — Nathan Sexer

• We estimate that about 5,000,000 people using on a daily basis and 20% in the country own crypto.

  — Nathan Sexer

• Argentina’s crypto adoption is driven by economic factors like inflation and banking inefficiencies.

• In Argentina, about 5 million people use crypto daily, which is 10% of the population.

  — Nathan Sexer

• Crypto is used for payments due to convenience over traditional banking methods.

• They use crypto obviously for several reasons but for payments because it’s convenient.

  — Nathan Sexer

• The prevalence of crypto transactions exists in a legal gray area.

• Crypto transactions are common for payments, even if they exist in a legal gray area.

  — Nathan Sexer

The significance of Devconnect

• Devconnect is the largest Ethereum event ever organized in terms of attendance.

• It is the biggest event EF ever organized in terms of attendance we’ve almost now reached 20,000 attendees.

  — Nathan Sexer

• The event’s scale influences future gatherings and the overall Ethereum ecosystem.
• About 50% of the attendees at the event are local.

• We have about now 20,000 attendees and about 50% of them are locals.

  — Nathan Sexer

• The event’s success highlights the importance of local engagement.
• A streamlined visa process facilitated greater international participation.

• We’ve been able to set up a streamlined process with the immigration office of Argentina.

  — Nathan Sexer

The world’s fair format

• The decision to create a world fair format was driven by the need to showcase practical applications of Ethereum.

• We felt that showcasing more apps, more applications of Ethereum was necessary.

  — Nathan Sexer

• The format responds to past criticisms about the lack of concrete applications.

• That was the main, if not the only criticism we got out of the event.

  — Nathan Sexer

• Practical applications are crucial in demonstrating Ethereum’s potential.
• The format emphasizes tangible interactions within the Ethereum ecosystem.
• The world’s fair approach aligns with Argentina’s crypto-native culture.
• The format aims to engage participants with real-world Ethereum applications.

Argentina as a hub for Ethereum

• Argentina is an ideal location for showcasing Ethereum due to its high usage of crypto.

• There is no better place than Argentina to do that because people use crypto stable coins and Ethereum daily.

  — Nathan Sexer

• The local context is significant in the adoption and demonstration of blockchain technology.
• Argentina’s economic situation drives crypto adoption as a payment method.
• The country’s banking inefficiencies contribute to the use of crypto for payments.
• The prevalence of crypto transactions reflects its role in the local economy.
• Argentina’s crypto-native culture supports Ethereum’s practical applications.
• The event’s location highlights the importance of local crypto engagement.

South America’s crypto potential

• South America is a fertile ground for crypto innovation due to monetary sovereignty.

• There’s this narrative about South America being a very fertile place for crypto innovation.

  — Nathan Sexer

• The state of the financial system contributes to the growth of crypto in the region.
• The socio-economic conditions in South America offer unique opportunities for crypto.
• The region’s financial challenges drive the adoption of digital assets.
• Crypto innovation in South America is supported by local economic needs.
• The narrative of South America as a crypto hub is widely recognized.
• The region’s potential for crypto growth is tied to its financial landscape.

Practical applications of Ethereum

• The event’s format emphasizes practical applications of Ethereum.

• We felt that showcasing more apps, more applications of Ethereum was necessary.

  — Nathan Sexer

• Practical applications address past criticisms of the Ethereum ecosystem.
• The focus on applications highlights Ethereum’s potential in daily life.
• The event showcases Ethereum’s real-world use cases and innovations.
• Practical applications are crucial for demonstrating Ethereum’s value.
• The format aims to engage participants with hands-on Ethereum experiences.
• The emphasis on applications aligns with the event’s “World’s Fair” approach.

Visa process and international participation

• A streamlined visa process allowed for over a thousand visas to be issued.

• We’ve been able to set up a streamlined process with the immigration office.

  — Nathan Sexer

• The process facilitated greater international participation in the event.
• The visa achievement underscores the event’s global reach and inclusivity.
• The streamlined process highlights the logistical success of the event.
• International attendees contribute to the event’s diverse engagement.
• The visa process reflects the event’s commitment to a borderless crypto community.
• The success of the visa process demonstrates effective collaboration with the government.

Local engagement and event success

• About 50% of the event’s attendees are local, highlighting local engagement.

• We have about now 20,000 attendees and about 50% of them are locals.

  — Nathan Sexer

• Local involvement is crucial for the event’s success and impact.
• The event’s location in Argentina supports strong local participation.
• Local engagement enhances the event’s relevance and community impact.
• The event’s success is tied to its ability to attract local crypto enthusiasts.
• The high local turnout reflects Argentina’s crypto-native culture.
• Local engagement contributes to the event’s vibrant and dynamic atmosphere.

The role of crypto in Argentina’s economy

• Crypto is used in Argentina for payments due to banking inefficiencies.

• They use crypto obviously for several reasons but for payments because it’s convenient.

  — Nathan Sexer

• The prevalence of crypto transactions highlights its role in the local economy.
• Argentina’s economic situation drives the adoption of digital assets.
• Crypto provides a convenient alternative to traditional banking methods.
• The legal gray area of crypto transactions reflects current practices in the industry.
• The use of crypto for payments is common despite legal uncertainties.
• Crypto’s role in Argentina’s economy is significant and growing.