The organizers of Token2049 Dubai say that one of the year’s biggest crypto conferences, set to take place this spring, is going forth as planned amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.
“Token2049 Dubai remains scheduled as planned and preparations continue in full as we build toward the event at the end of April,” said an event spokesperson, in a note to Fortune. “Registrations track toward a sold-out event, and the exhibition floor is already fully secured. Preparations with our venue and partners continue as planned.”
The crypto event’s decision to continue as planned comes at a time when other conferences have been postponed, and when sporting events have been canceled. The Megacampus Summit, a Dubai and Abu Dhabi-based entrepreneurship and innovation conference, made the decision to postpone the event from March to September. An ATP tennis tournament in Dubai scheduled for last week was also canceled, as some top players, like Daniil Medvedev, were stuck in the region.
Several of this year’s Token2049 speakers declined to comment when asked if they were still planning on attending the event. Considering that the conference doesn’t take place until the end of April, the organizers may be hopeful that the conflict will subside by then.
Last week, after the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, Dubai’s main airport was partially damaged by a suspected airstrike. Four people were injured as missile debris came down on the Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island known for its luxury hotels. After retaliatory strikes from Iran, there were reports of several Americans who were stuck in Dubai and were not getting help from the U.S. to get out.
Token2049 Dubai is considered one of the biggest crypto events of the year. Some of its most notable speakers this year are President Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump, Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan, and Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino.
Last year, over 15,000 people attended the event, according to Token2049’s website. The conference included a zipline from an 18-meter tower, and the organizers said that it transformed “the unique indoor-outdoor venue at the luxurious Madinat Jumeirah Resort into an extraordinary, festival-like environment.”
