The Consensus 2024 conference is set to be an unmissable event for anyone in the blockchain and crypto space. Scheduled from May 29 to May 31 in Austin, Texas, this three-day festival will feature over 600 speakers, 300 sessions, and a plethora of side events, including a Pitchfest and Hackathon. With so much happening, here’s a comprehensive guide to ensure you don’t miss any highlights.

Keynote Speakers and Sessions

Consensus 2024 boasts an impressive lineup of blockchain pioneers and industry leaders. Notable speakers include:

• Sergey Nazarov of Chainlink
• Casey Rodarmor, developer of Bitcoin Ordinals and Runes
• Joe Lubin, co-founder of Ethereum and CEO of ConsenSys
• Emin Gün Sirer, CEO of Ava Labs
• Rune Christensen, co-founder of MakerDAO

These experts will delve into topics ranging from Bitcoin layer 2s and Ethereum restaking to interoperability, AI, and next-generation cryptography.

Must-Attend Panels and Interviews:

Wednesday Highlights

• 1:45 p.m. (Mainstage): Joe Lubin discusses Ethereum with Michael Casey.
• 2:45 p.m. (Mainstage): Emin Gün Sirer on blockchain’s role in AI and vice versa.
• 3 p.m. (Town Square): Bryan Bishop and other crypto OGs talk about Bitcoin’s early days.

Thursday Highlights

• 12:45 p.m. (Mainstage): David Marcus discusses his digital-payments startup, Lightspark.
• 1:15 p.m. (Mainstage): Sergey Nazarov talks about Chainlink’s work with Swift.
• 4:15 p.m. (Town Square): John Adler and Austin Federa debate blockchain scalability.

Friday Highlights

• 10 a.m. (Money Reimagined Stage): Rune Christensen on the future of DeFi.
• 10:40 a.m. (Mainstage): Raj Gokal on Solana’s future and Firedancer software.
• 11 a.m. (Money Reimagined Stage): Abhay Kumar on decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN).
• 11:30 a.m. (Mainstage): Casey Rodarmor discusses his vision for Bitcoin.
• 11:45 a.m. (Money Reimagined Stage): Liquid staking and restaking discussion led by Margaux Nijkerk.
• 12:15 p.m. (Startup Village): Eric Chen on the future of finance.
• 3 p.m. (Money Reimagined Stage): Tarun Chitra on de-risking DeFi.

Protocol Village: A Hub for Developers

Protocol Village will host a series of dedicated sessions for blockchain projects, making it a crucial spot for developers and investors. Highlights include:

Wednesday

• 10:30 a.m.: XRP Ledger
• 11 a.m.: Avalanche
• 12:30 p.m.: Chainlink
• 1:30 p.m.: Solana
• 2:45 p.m.: NEAR
• 3:45 p.m.: Stellar

Thursday

• 10:30 a.m.: Ethereum/L2s half-day session
• 1:30 p.m.: Bitcoin half-day session

Friday

• 10 a.m.: Panel on appchain stacks
• 11:30 a.m.: Zero-knowledge proofs panel
• 12:30 p.m.: Coinbase security with Jeff Lunglhofer
• 1 p.m.: Sei
• 1:30 p.m.: Cosmos (on Bitcoinization)
• 2 p.m.: Microsoft

Workshops: Hands-On Learning

Workshops will provide hands-on learning experiences for attendees. Key sessions include:

Wednesday

• 11:30 a.m.: Rohan Thomare on building the next killer dapp.
• 1:30 p.m.: Marcin Kazmierczak on Pull vs. Push Oracle.
• 3:30 p.m.: Konstantin Richter on navigating restaking.
• 4:30 p.m.: Greg Osuri on decentralization and AI.

Friday

• 1:30 p.m.: Jacob Creech on building consumer apps on a blockchain.

Exploring the Intersection of AI and Blockchain

The AI Summit, held from 10:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday at the Gen C Stage, will explore the synergy between blockchain and AI. Notable speakers include Tezos co-founder Arthur Breitman and Morpheus contributor Erik Voorhees.

Startup Village: PitchFest and Beyond

The Startup Village will be bustling with activities on Thursday and Friday, including the PitchFest semifinals and finals. Sessions will cover topics such as securing funding, winning pitch competitions, and the future of Web3 gaming.

Side Events: Networking and More

In addition to the official events, Consensus 2024 will feature numerous side events, both official and unofficial. These provide excellent opportunities for networking and exploring additional blockchain innovations.

With such a packed agenda, Consensus 2024 promises to be a landmark event for the blockchain and crypto community. Whether you’re a developer, investor, or enthusiast, there’s something for everyone. Make sure to mark your calendar and plan your schedule to make the most of this exciting event.