From Crypto Bros to Banks: Michael Amar on What Changed

Summary

Michael Amar discusses the rebrand of Paris Blockchain Week to Signal Week, reflecting the institutional shift and convergence of crypto with AI and traditional finance. He observes a rapid increase in bank participation and expects a wave of acquisitions to revive startup funding. The interview covers industry maturation from hype-driven gatherings to business-focused events.

• Paris Blockchain Week rebrands to Signal Week to reflect broader industry shift.
• Institutional attendance surged from 15 banks two years ago to 250 this year.
• Crypto and AI are now deeply interconnected, with major tech leaders attending.
• Michael Amar anticipates many acquisitions of crypto startups by banks and exchanges.
• The conference is shifting from networking to business deal-making.
• NFTs may return in a more utility-driven form tied to real-world assets.