Proposed location: Warsaw, Poland 
Warsaw is a natural gathering point for crypto builders and innovators in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). At a historic moment of rapid economic growth, Poland is emerging as a regional leader in the blockchain industry, powered by a vibrant and collaborative Ethereum community. For years, ETHWarsaw has organized the largest and most impactful Web3 events in the region, regularly attracting developers, founders, and enthusiasts from across Europe.
Notably, over 1,000 participants from Poland and all around the world (40% international ratio) came together for ETHWarsaw 2024, creating one of the largest blockchain events in the region. This grassroots initiative brought together over 114 hackers competing for $86,000 in prizes, demonstrating that Poland is not only keeping up with global trends but actively shaping the future of Ethereum.
The energy and engagement of the community have even drawn the attention of public officials and leading regulators, with increasing support for crypto as a catalyst for economic innovation.
Warsaw offers world-class infrastructure suited to hosting an event on the scale and reach of Devcon, with very positive feedback about bringing the flagship Ethereum event to Poland. As a modern European capital, it combines accessibility, affordability, and a growing tech ecosystem – all within a safe and welcoming environment.
Country and Entry
1. What are the visa restrictions for the country?
Visa Access – As part of the EU Schengen Area, Poland offers visa-free access for most international visitors, with standard EU procedures for others
2. How easy is the international access?
Direct flights from major global hubs, excellent train links across Europe. Chopin Airport is 20–25 minutes from the city center.
3. What about the safety and political stability of the region?
Poland is widely regarded as one of the safest countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw provides a secure environment for international events, with low crime rates in the city center and reliable public infrastructure.
Politically, Poland is a stable member of the European Union, offering a solid legal framework, strong rule of law, and dependable public services. Warsaw is also a diverse and increasingly international city, home to communities from across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
4. How expensive are venue rentals, accommodation, food, and transport?
Highly competitive by European standards – significantly more affordable than other major capitals, with excellent quality-to-price ratio.
5. When is the climate the best?
- Q2 (April–June): Spring arrives in full by April, bringing longer days and mild temperatures ranging from 10°C to 22°C. May and June are especially pleasant, with increasing sunshine and ideal conditions for both indoor and outdoor events.
- Q3 (July–September): Warm and pleasant, with average temperatures between 18°C and 26°C. September is especially mild and sunny – ideal for outdoor activities.
- Q4 (October–December): Cooler weather ranging from -2°C to 18°C. Occasional rain or light snow is possible, but public transport and indoor venues ensure smooth logistics.
City and Venue
1. How easy is the transportation in the city (between venues, airport, etc.)?
- Chopin Airport (WAW) – Located just 20–25 minutes from the city center, with direct flights to major cities in Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East. Train connections to Berlin, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest make it ideal for attendees from across Europe
- Modlin Airport (WMI) - Located about 40 minutes from Warsaw’s city center, Modlin is served mostly by low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, offering affordable connections across Europe. Key routes include London (Stansted) and Manchester in the UK, Barcelona and Madrid in Spain, as well as Paris (Beauvais). International attendees can reach Warsaw easily via direct shuttle buses or train connections from Modlin to the city center, making it an accessible and budget-friendly option for international attendees.
Warsaw’s public transport connects every part of the city, with affordable tickets, student discounts and - most importantly - it’s a single system for all modes of transport.
The Uber/Bolt situation is also extremely good - one can get around very easily without your wallet being drained 
2. Are there modern venues (WiFi/Maneuverability/Catering)?
yes
3. Are there venues with the capacity to host between 5-10k+ people?
- EXPO XXI Warsaw (technicals)– A modern conference center with over 20,000 m² of space, including 13,500 m² across four halls and 1,500 m² in ten conference and meeting rooms. The largest hall accommodates up to 5,250 people, and the venue hosts over 200 events annually.
- 4 halls + 5 rooms
- total capacity: 15,000 pax
- PGE National Stadium Conference Centre (technicals) – The largest conference facility in Warsaw, with capacity for up to 1,920 attendees across 10 areas. It offers six modular conference rooms and state-of-the-art infrastructure.
- modular (the field can be arranged into multiple stages)
- total capacity: 50,000 pax
- Palace of Culture and Science – Warsaw Congress Centre (technicals) – Iconic architecture with room sizes ranging from 150 m² to 1,200 m², suitable for 50–2,880 attendees. The main congress hall can host up to 2,880 people and offers a unique blend of history and functionality.
- total capacity: 5,000 pax
- Legia Warsaw Municipal Stadium
- total capacity: 3,500 pax
4. What are attractions in or around the city, and how close are they to the venue?
Too many to count. We’ve got the Old City, a multitude of theatres, and lot’s of clubs and restairants and of course, the Zoo.
Ethereum Community and Impact
1. How does the Ethereum community look like in this region (e.g.: existing large community/ small but growing rapidly, etc.)?
One of the most active Ethereum communities in Europe, with 2,100+ blockchain developers. ETHWarsaw 2024 had 1,000+ attendees and $200K in prizes.
2. What is the potential of Ethereum to have an impact in that region?
High – with 20% crypto adoption, 950+ registered crypto firms (EU #1), and a strong tech talent tradition.
3. Which event would be ideal here? (i.e. Devcon, Devconnect, or another type of Ethereum community event)
Both Devcon and Devconnect would be a great match.
4. How is hosting events in that city benefiting the Ethereum ecosystem?
It will connect the global community with a dynamic regional talent pool, serve as a platform for Ethereum expansion in CEE, and strengthen bridges between global and local communities.
Concerns and Downsides
Every location has its pros and cons. It’s important to also consider the potential downsides.
-
What are possible risks?
The biggest event spaces have are booked extremely early, so -
What could be the downsides?
To host a single event with a stage and 5k+ people limits the number of available venues.
Additional Information
Thriving Ecosystem and Community
In Poland, and especially in Warsaw, the Ethereum community is active and thriving. ETHWarsaw is fully community driven, born out of grassroots energy and sustained by the dedication of volunteers, builders, and dreamers. It’s not organized by a corporation or agency, but by the people who live and breathe the ecosystem. Those who show up, ship things, and believe that Ethereum can transform economies and empower individuals.
Crypto events have been happening in Warsaw since the early days. At the beginning, there were informal gatherings like Beer & Bitcoin, but as the scene grew, more official initiatives started to emerge, like Blockchain Hub Warsaw, founded in 2018. Blockchain Hub Warsaw organized the Whacked Blocks hackathon that same year and ran regular community events, including TypeScript meetups tailored to crypto developers, until 2020.
Igrzyska Blockchain (blockchain games) hackathon targeting institutions like PKO Bank Polski took place in 2019. Next year, a new initiative called 0xPoland appeared and went on to organize a hackathon in 2021, helping to onboard a new wave of developers.
ETHWarsaw launched in 2022 and quickly became the heart of the local ecosystem. Since then, it has hosted three major conferences and four hackathons, growing into a key gathering point for builders from Poland and beyond.
The next year more initiatives started to appear. In 2023, zkWarsaw joined the ecosystem, organizing zkDay and later the Verifiable Summit in 2024, as well as regular meetups focused on zero-knowledge technology. Around the same time, Degen House was formed, bringing an experimental and playful approach to community building. They hosted a hackathon in 2024, adding even more color to Warsaw’s crypto map.
With a history of successful hackathons and a growing base of technical talent, Warsaw is now ready to welcome even more ambitious collaborations. The ETHWarsaw team is in talks with ETHGlobal to bring one of their hackathons to the city, a move that would further connect local builders with the global ecosystem. Interest is high, and the foundation is already here: a strong track record, an active community, and the drive to build. What’s needed now is deeper integration and shared presence, something Warsaw is fully prepared to support. The year 2026 would be a perfect opportunity to bring both Devcon and ETHGlobal to Warsaw turning it into a landmark moment for Ethereum in the region.
Poland isn’t just home to great events, it’s also home to some of the ecosystem’s most respected teams. Over the years, a number of influential Ethereum-aligned projects have emerged from the Polish developer scene, shaping the global crypto landscape from the ground up.
Key Polish Ethereum projects include:
- Golem – a pioneer in decentralized computing that raised 820,000 ETH in its 2016 ICO
- Nethermind – a leading Ethereum client with over 350 team members worldwide
- L2Beat – a critical analytics platform for tracking Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solutions
- RedStone – top 3 blockchain oracle provider, securing billions in onchain value across Securitize, Compound, Morpho, Euler, Pendle, Spark and 170+ clients
- Ramp Network – simplifying crypto on-ramps and bringing web3 closer to everyday users
With strong local teams, regular events, and a growing network of collaborators, Poland has quietly become one of the most interesting places in Europe for Ethereum builders.
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