Upbit D Conference (UDC) is an annual blockchain conference held in South Korea and organized by Dunamu, the operator of the Upbit cryptocurrency exchange. It serves as a platform for industry leaders, developers, and policymakers to discuss trends, innovations, and the future of blockchain technology.

Overview

The Upbit D Conference (UDC) is recognized as a major event in the Asian blockchain and digital asset landscape, often described as South Korea's leading conference on the subject. Organized by Dunamu, the parent company of the country's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit, the conference aims to foster growth, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing within the global blockchain ecosystem. Its primary purpose is to provide a comprehensive forum where participants can explore the expanding influence of blockchain technology across various sectors, including finance, technology, policy, and culture. The event brings together a diverse audience of developers, researchers, investors, corporate executives, regulators, and individuals interested in the technology's potential. ^[6]

Since its inception, UDC has focused on bridging the gap between the technical complexities of blockchain and its practical, real-world applications. The conference agenda typically covers a wide range of topics, from deep dives into specific protocols and decentralized finance (DeFi) mechanisms to high-level discussions on global regulatory trends and the integration of Web3 concepts into mainstream industries. A Dunamu official articulated the conference's mission by stating, "As blockchain establishes itself as a transformative force reshaping industries beyond just technology, UDC 2025 will serve as a platform to spotlight and explore this pivotal moment." This highlights the event's focus on capturing the evolving narrative of blockchain as it moves from a niche interest to a foundational technology with broad societal impact. The format includes a mix of keynote speeches, expert panel discussions, fireside chats, and technical sessions, complemented by exhibition booths and dedicated networking opportunities designed to facilitate meaningful connections among attendees. ^[6]

History

The inaugural Upbit D Conference was held in 2018, establishing an annual tradition in the blockchain community. The timing of its launch coincided with a period of significant global interest and development in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space, allowing UDC to quickly position itself as a key forum for dialogue and education in the region. Held annually since its first edition, the conference has demonstrated consistent growth in both scale and influence. Through its first seven iterations, from 2018 to 2024, the event accumulated a total of approximately 27,000 participants. This cumulative attendance figure underscores its sustained relevance and its ability to attract a large and engaged audience year after year. ^[6]

Over the years, UDC has hosted more than 200 distinct sessions, featuring a wide array of speakers from around the world. These sessions have covered the entire spectrum of the blockchain industry, from foundational concepts and technological breakthroughs to market analysis and regulatory challenges. The conference has evolved in lockstep with the industry itself, with early themes focusing on the potential of cryptocurrencies and the basics of distributed ledger technology, while later editions have delved into more complex and mature topics such as DeFi, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), scalability solutions, and the emergence of Web3. This thematic evolution reflects UDC's commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends and providing timely, relevant content to its attendees. The consistent organization by Dunamu has provided stability and a clear vision for the event, helping it build a strong reputation for quality content and high-caliber speakers. ^[6]

Past Editions

UDC 2025

The eighth annual Upbit D Conference was held on September 9, 2025, at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas. The theme for the 2025 event was "Blockchain, to the Mainstream," signaling a focus on the technology's transition from a specialized field to an integral part of everyday life and business. The conference was designed as an immersive experience, open to anyone with an interest in the blockchain industry. Organizers had expressed a desire for attendees to "experience firsthand the future of the blockchain industry" through a diverse and interactive program. Keynote sessions were streamed live for free via the official UDC YouTube channel and website. The inclusion of global figures such as Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization, was intended to "shed new light on the global influence of blockchain and digital assets," according to Dunamu CEO Oh Kyung-seok.

The event's format was structured to cater to a broad audience and facilitate various forms of engagement. The program included:

• Fireside Chats: Intimate and in-depth conversations with prominent industry figures.
• Panel Discussions: Sessions bringing together multiple experts to debate and discuss key industry topics.
• Mentoring Sessions: Opportunities for emerging talent and entrepreneurs to receive guidance from established professionals.
• Exhibition Booths: A space for companies and projects to showcase their latest products, technologies, and services.
• Dedicated events and spaces designed to encourage collaboration and connection among participants.

This multi-faceted approach aimed to provide a holistic view of the blockchain ecosystem, combining high-level insights with practical demonstrations and valuable networking. ^[6]

Themes and Topics

The agenda for UDC 2025 was curated to address the most pressing and relevant issues facing the blockchain industry, reflecting the overarching theme of mainstream adoption. The discussions were organized around several key pillars, each featuring specialized speakers and sessions.

• Global Policy and Regulation: A significant portion of the conference was dedicated to the evolving landscape of digital asset regulation. A central figure in these discussions was Patrick McHenry, former Chair of the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services. His keynote address covered emerging trends and global shifts in the digital asset ecosystem, with a particular focus on policy developments in the United States, including the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century (FIT21) Act. Sandra Ro, CEO of the Global Blockchain Business Council, also provided insights into critical global policy developments. ^[6]
• Crypto Economy Trends: This track featured experts from leading financial and data analytics firms who provided data-driven insights into market trends, institutional adoption, and the tokenization of real-world assets. Speakers included Gene Fang, Associate Managing Director at Moody’s Ratings; Alice Liu, Head of Research at CoinMarketCap; and Paul Bances, Head of Global Enterprise Growth at Paxos. Their sessions examined macroeconomic factors influencing the digital asset market and the growth of stablecoins and tokenized assets. ^[6]
• Web3, Fandom, and Intellectual Property: Reflecting blockchain's expansion beyond finance, this track explored the intersection of Web3 with creative industries. The topic explored how blockchain, NFTs, and decentralized platforms create new models for fan engagement and IP management. The speaker lineup included Par Helgosson, Head of PSG Labs at Paris Saint-Germain, and Steve Jung, Chief Operating Officer of the NFT brand Azuki. ^[6]

Notable Speakers

The UDC 2025 lineup featured a diverse group of global leaders from policy, finance, and technology. Keynote speakers included Eric Trump, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization, and Patrick McHenry, the former Chair of the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services. ^[1] McHenry was joined in a discussion by Yoon Sun-joo, the Chief Branding Impact Officer of Dunamu. ^[6]

The roster of speakers on crypto-economic trends included Gene Fang of Moody’s Ratings, Alice Liu from CoinMarketCap, and Paul Bances of Paxos. The intersection of Web3 and culture was represented by figures like Par Helgosson of Paris Saint-Germain's PSG Labs and Steve Jung, the COO of Azuki. The global policy perspective was further enriched by the participation of Sandra Ro, CEO of the Global Blockchain Business Council. ^[6]

Social Impact

Beyond its role as an industry event, the Upbit D Conference incorporated a philanthropic component. For the 2025 conference, Dunamu announced a youth nurturing initiative where a portion of the registration fees was donated to fund scholarships for young talent in the blockchain sector. This initiative was part of a broader, long-term commitment by Dunamu to support education and talent development. The company has a history of consistently providing support to university students who are pursuing careers in information technology (IT) and blockchain, reflecting a corporate philosophy that invests in the future of the industry's workforce. ^{[6] [5]}

UDC 2024

The seventh conference, themed "The Next Big Thing," was held from November 11-12, 2024, at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul. It focused on emerging trends such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Web3, and the tokenization of Real-World Assets (RWA). The event attracted over 3,700 attendees and featured prominent speakers including Arthur Hayes, Matt Sorg of the Solana Foundation, Mo Shaikh of Aptos Labs, and Brad Garlinghouse of Ripple. ^[2]

UDC 2023

The sixth iteration of the conference took place on November 13, 2023, at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul, under the theme "All That Blockchain."

This edition broadened its scope beyond technology to include discussions on policy, finance, and culture. With over 3,500 participants, the event featured speakers such as U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Commissioner Caroline D. Pham and Yat Siu, the co-founder of Animoca Brands. ^[3]

UDC 2022

The fifth conference was held online from September 22-23, 2022, with the theme "Imagine Your Blockchain Life." The event centered on the growing concepts of Web3, the metaverse, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Notable speakers included Sebastien Borget, co-founder of The Sandbox, and Justin Sun, founder of Tron. ^[3]

UDC 2021

The fourth UDC, themed "Welcome to the Blockchain World," was conducted as a virtual event from September 1-2, 2021. The conference agenda covered the rapid growth of NFTs, Decentralized Finance (DeFi), and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). The speaker lineup included macro investor Raoul Pal and Galaxy Digital CEO Michael Novogratz. ^[3]

UDC 2019

The conference was held from September 4-5, 2019, in Incheon, with the theme "Proof of Services." This event shifted focus to the practical, real-world applications of blockchain technology. It featured speakers from key infrastructure and protocol projects, including representatives from Blockstream and Hedera Hashgraph. ^[4]

UDC 2018

The inaugural Upbit D Conference, themed "Proof of Development," took place from September 13-14, 2018, on Jeju Island. As the first event in the series, it was a developer-centric conference with a strong technical focus. Speakers included influential figures from the early blockchain space, such as Bill Shihara, the founder of Bittrex, and Da Hongfei, the founder of NEO. ^[3]