Private Onchain Banking Community Hub - Devcon 8 India

Community Hubs
1

Hi everyone, we’re putting forward a Community Hub around Private Onchain Banking for Devcon 8 India. It takes the conversation ahead, as a follow-up of Fintech & Onchain Banking Hub at Devconnect ARG, and the importance of privacy, also as part of CROPS.

This hub is for tech as well as non-tech audiences, and will be a neutral platform for everyone to examine the current onchain banking landscape, and use its benefits while preserving individual privacy.

Summary

In recent years, DeFi has made a significant positive mark by issuing crypto cards all around the world and making onchain finance as easy as TradFi. It solves for global access, self sovereignty, and 24x7 availability of markets and also potentially unlocks consumers who do not fully understand crypto. As of today, there are over 100 cards, doing a monthly payment volume of $1.5 Billion USD. However, the lack of privacy is stalling its mass adoption. This Community Hub will explore the current infra of onchain banking, urgent need for privacy, ZK solutions, pros and cons of no-KYC cards, and go from theory to practice.

How would this Community Hub enhance the attendee experience?

All known Ethereum users are currently either using a crypto card or looking for one that meets their ideal conditions. This Community Hub will touch upon all points that need to be answered before getting a crypto card and while using one. It would educate attendees of the current available options, address their privacy concerns, and talk to developers on how to provide solutions.

How would it complement Devcon 8 India? In what ways does it add a unique piece to the overall experience?

It would give everyone a chance to learn and possibly get (if not already) a crypto card, which can be loaded with stablecoins on Ethereum, and can be used during their Devcon experience and outside of the venue. It also touches upon the privacy part of CROPS, and brings the private banking discussion on the forefront.

Why is this topic significant, and why is a Community Hub the best format to address it instead of a one-time talk or workshop?

Private Onchain Banking is currently being built by many players in the Ethereum ecosystem, whether by issuing cards, or providing tools to earn yield, or developing ZK technology. Community Hub allows all of them to come together and have discussions, fireside chat, and debate on the best path moving forward, instead of presenting what already exists or simply one POV.

Devcon is the global Ethereum gathering for builders of a free, open, private, and verifiable future. How would this Devcon Community Hub support builders and their journey?

With the talks, discussions, and workshops at Private Onchain Banking Community Hub, builders receive the tools with which to protect their identity onchain when using DeFi, and especially stablecoins and crypto cards.

Implementation

Most of the things mentioned in RFP-13 are adequate to host this Community Hub.

We need the following for our programming:

  • A dedicated physical space within the Devcon 8 venue (capacity ~30 people)

  • 10 bean bags / cushions / chairs

  • 1 LED TV screen on a stand + HDMI connection

  • 2 wooden or cork boards

  • 2 whiteboards

  • 1 worktable for up to 6 people

  • Power outlets

  • Small cabinet

  • 1 Ethernet cable (20/20 mbps)

  • Shared storage space for bigger items

  • A limited number of Devcon 8 tickets for the organizing team and engaged contributors

  • Coordination support from the Devcon Community Hubs team

  • Inclusion in official Devcon communications and the Community Hubs program

Programming

Private Onchain Banking Hub will host talks, discussions, workshops, gamified exercises on understanding crypto cards, ZK solutions, and risks of no-KYC cards. It will cater to both tech and non-tech audiences.

  • Discussions on pros and cons of crypto cards

  • Talks on understanding risks and compliances

  • Fireside chat with card issuers

  • Workshops on ZK technology

  • Build sessions for private banking

  • Interviews with consumers, and BDs about local regulations

  • Gamified exercises to learn about privacy

  • Community board where anyone can share their experiences and suggestions

Sessions will run for 5 to 6 hours each day, with a few breaks in between to allow attendees to simply log off and have conversations.

Example Day

  • Panel: Crypto cards are only useful if they are private by default. Q&A to card issuers about why it wasn’t there since the beginning, how it is going to get added now, and educating users to not reveal sensitive information.

  • Fireside chat: What role do local compliances play in issuing crypto cards? Discussion with legal and BD personnel from different regions: US, EU, APAC.

  • Workshop: Using ZK for KYC to protect consumer identity. How to choose from all available solutions? How to integrate in consumer apps? Limitations.

  • Discussion: Changing consumer habits and building trust. A discussion among consumers of crypto cards on how cards can build trust, provide insurance, and encourage users to use their crypto card as the primary card.

  • Talk: Using private onchain banking for payroll. Presented by a Finance leader, on how to ensure employees and contractors are getting paid in crypto without letting everyone else see the amount. Tips and best practices for employees.

Topic Pool

(Flexible formats: fireside chat, panel, workshop, talks or open discussions)

  • Privacy-preserving KYC

  • Onchain to card rails

  • Zero-knowledge proofs for spend verification

  • Metadata leakage in “private” crypto cards

  • Multi-chain card infrastructure

  • Travel Rule meets card networks

  • Sanctions screening without over-collection

  • Global regulatory patchwork

  • Card networks as choke points

  • Financial surveillance by default

  • The “nothing to hide” fallacy applied to crypto cards

  • Data minimization vs. business model

  • Cash parity

  • Deanonymization attacks on crypto card users:

  • Custodial risk vs. privacy tradeoffs

  • Card fraud vs. privacy tech

  • Builders vs. Regulators

  • Can Privacy and Compliance Coexist?

  • The Future of Private Payments

We are open to more topic ideas for the community which can lead to constructive discussions instead of shilling any cards or infra.

Team

Chandresh - Marketer with experience working for Gnosis, Circles, and IDRISS. Worked on Gnosis app, payments app powered by Gnosis Pay and Circles. Leading ETHMumbai since 2023, by hosting hackathons, conferences, and meetups.

Aman - Active member of Web3 Mumbai community and ETHMumbai team. Helping events across Mumbai by volunteering and supporting logistics and operations.

Jinia - Part of the events team at Blockwee, a tech-native content and video studio. Core Team member of ETHMumbai, leading hackathon experiences.

Parth - Co-founder of SE7EN & Co., a crypto marketing agency. Core Team member of ETHMumbai, leading all things operations, and on-ground logistics.

Vedant - Leads product and UX for crypto projects at [redacted]. Core Team member of ETHMumbai, leading operations, and conference programming end-to-end.

Bhuvana - Coder and marketer in one. Part of ETHMumbai 2026 team, leading content and marketing.

We remain open to adding more core team members, and guest contributors to host the event programming.

Neutrality & Code of Conduct

This hub is a neutral, cooperative space. Organizers and contributors represent different projects and companies, often competitors, but all agree:

  • No project or token promotion.

  • No branding or shilling.

  • Every session is curated by at least 3 organizers from different orgs to ensure neutrality.