Consensus 2018 Sees over 8,000 Attendees vs Expected 4,000
Cryptovest
Published May 16, 2018 04:31AM ET
Updated May 16, 2018 05:00AM ET
Consensus 2018 Sees over 8,000 Attendees vs Expected 4,000
Consensus 2018 is by far the most popular blockchain event this month. So popular, in fact, that the organizers have to deal with double the number of attendees initially anticipated, according to Ronnie Moas, who runs market research company Standpoint.
The blockchain and cryptocurrency conference is held at New York Hilton Midtown hotel from May 14 to May 16. The organizers had been expecting over 4,000 attendees this year, up from about 2,700 at the 2017 event. However, Moas reports that more than 8,000 people are attending, while Digital Currency Group CEO Barry Silbert estimates the number at minimum 8,500.
Moas was apparently disappointed with the large number of participants, saying in a tweet it felt like New York’s Grand Central Station during rush hour. A sports arena may have been a better location than a convention center, he concluded.
https://twitter.com/RonnieMoas/status/996117361353740289
“It is a bit chaotic in here. I think they sold too many tickets,” he told CNBC.
In an earlier tweet, Ronnie complained about computers being down, causing people to wait in long queues.
https://twitter.com/RonnieMoas/status/995734480399814656
Moas is not the only one with gripes. A CNBC reporter had to wait one hour to get her entrance badge, the news portal writes. Jeff Denton of AmerisourceBergen (NYSE:ABC), who is also an attendee, said:
“I've never seen anything like this for registration. I've been on line for an hour.”
However, these inconveniences did not stop people from flocking to the event. With the average ticket price being $2,000, the organizers have generated at least $17 million from ticket sales.
CoinDesk, which was responsible for organizing the event, declined to comment on the revenue figures. However, the company’s director of marketing Jacob Donnelly came up with an apology for the inconveniences:
“Whilst we apologize for any delays, Consensus 2018 has received overwhelming interest and is the largest blockchain-focused event ever held in the United States. We are working to reduce the wait time.”
Many blockchain and crypto stars were booked as speakers at the event, including Emmanuel Aidoo, head of blockchain and cryptocurrency strategy at Credit Suisse (SIX:CSGN); Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle; former JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) blockchain strategy chief Amber Baldet ; Brian Behlendorf, executive director at Hyperledger; and ConsenSys executive director Vanessa Grellet.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin refused to participate or support the event, saying the ticket prices were too high and CoinDesk's use of off-the-record quotes was wrong.
Get The News You Want
Read market moving news with a personalized feed of stocks you care about.Get The App“I refuse to personally contribute to that level of rent-seeking.”
This article appeared first on Cryptovest
Written By: Cryptovest
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.