ETH Bushwick Primer

Background

Although crypto is primarily thought of as a technical innovation, its true magic lies in the culture that pushes it forward. Just as a body without a soul cannot have life, technology is nothing without a prevailing culture driving it forward.

Eth Bushwick started as all great cultural phenomena do — as a meme. A meme that developed a life of its own and has taken crypto by storm. While the ambiguity of Eth Bushwick has left many in a state of entertained curiosity, it has inspired others to make memes of their own. Group chats are buzzing about booking flights, and sponsors have flooded our DMs asking how they can get involved. The energy surrounding Eth Bushwick is undeniable, and the mystery surrounding it only adds to its lore.

Context and Confluence

Historically, Brooklyn holds a unique place in the crypto zeitgeist. It was in Bushwick, back in 2017, where Consensys emerged and made the first efforts to create real use cases beyond digital cash. This attracted hundreds, if not thousands, of builders to the surrounding area, away from the boisterous establishment types in Manhattan. Although Consensys would take a different direction in the years to come, its impact is undeniable. Today, Brooklyn is recognized as one of the major crypto hotspots, not just in the US, but globally.

Hundreds of startups across different verticals call the city home, paying tribute to its renegade roots. In the '80s, it was the East Village arts scene; in the '90s and '00s, it flowed into the underground music scene in Williamsburg. Today, that rebellious heart has made its way to Bushwick, our generation's current mecca of counter-cultural energy, driving society forward even in the face of mass conformity — making it the perfect home for crypto. Yet, an irony exists between crypto calling Brooklyn home and the reality of those working in the space day to day.

As an industry, crypto has one of the most aggressive conference circuits relative to its peers. It’s not uncommon for community members to attend 4-8 conferences a year, traveling the globe once every several weeks. Over time, this circuit has become increasingly monotonous, outdated, and exhausting. Speakers often find themselves addressing sparse audiences, feeling fortunate if they attract more than a handful of attendees. Participants are disillusioned and weary of the repetitive nature of these events, which often rehash the same insular topics in a cyclical fashion. The real value during these conference weeks lies not in the “big-name” events, but in opportunities to forge genuine connections. Whether it’s meeting online friends for the first time or running into a promising builder in real life, it’s these interactions that often lead to the real magic that happens down the line.

Bushwick has long been the home of the rebellious creative spirit that makes crypto great — it’s never been about going with the script. So, why not have a conference that mirrors that same spirit?

Sample Programming

Eth Bushwick is a one day event, scheduled for October 17th (proposed date), from 12 PM to 7 PM, at a yet to be determined venue in Brooklyn. The main event will feature content across three categories: History, Technology, and Consumer. The programming will flow from where we came from, to where we are now, and finally to where we are going. Our goal is to avoid product pitches and business development shills entirely. Instead, we aim to create a space to discuss historical developments, pressing issues, and meaningful debates about the future, giving the stage to those who can provide valuable insights.

History
- Where we came from
- Ex.
  - Consensys alum to talk about the early days of crypto in Bushwick
Technology
- Where we are now
- Ex.
  - Alignment anon panel
  - Are L2s parasitic to Ethereum/Should we make the L1 great again?
  - What is the endgame for the numerous L1, L2, and more recently L3 networks with diverse VMs and tech stacks that have emerged in recent years? How does this ecosystem diversity impact interoperability and widespread adoption?
Consumer
- Where we are going
- Ex.
  - ETH vs. Solana on the consumer level
  - What are the consequences of a hypergamblized society? Is onboarding the next billion users a meme?
  - Decentralized social networks - Lens, Farcaster, DSNP - where do we go from here?
  - Crypto’s pervasive and lingering PR issue

Conclusion

Our goal is to bring Bushwick an event that truly does it justice. It just so happens that crypto calls this cultural epicenter home, sitting at the intersection of technology, intellect, and, of course, art. If Eth Bushwick embodies anything, it’s hope — hope that crypto can live up to the promise of empowering the masses, not just a select few; hope that we can engage beyond our crypto bubble and genuinely connect with the Bushwick community; and hope that, as an industry, we can create a cultural hallmark whose value is derived from its impact.

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