ETHDenver 2025 includes policy at developer-centric event

Roughly 25,000 people gathered in Colorado for the 2025 ETHDenver conference from Feb. 23 to March 2 — an event that included the state’s governor and representatives from many crypto companies and US lawmakers. 

The annual Ethereum-focused event launched in 2017 kicked off this year with its traditional BUIDLWeek, bringing developers together for technical presentations, boot camps, networking events and socializing. Though some attendees commented on the “gloom and doom” of major token prices falling, the general atmosphere seemed optimistic.

Many children attended with their parents, likely entertained by a variety of mascots dancing across the venue floor, including the traditional ETHDenver Bufficorn — a combination of a buffalo and unicorn. Adults could also find wholesome entertainment in poker games, Dogecoin (DOGE)-branded vehicle giveaways, and spork-themed merch — SporkDAO manages the event. 

Colorado Governor Jared Polis spoke at the opening ceremony of the event on Feb. 27, jokingly telling attendees that he helped arrange the unseasonably warm weather in Denver — easily above 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16º Celsius). Though many panels focused on a variety of issues in the space, from trolling North Korean hackers to crypto in banking, the event also featured a stage on Feb. 28 exclusively for policy concerns.

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Policymakers like Gov. Polis and others have allowed Colorado residents to send cryptocurrency for tax payments since 2022. The US state is also one of the only jurisdictions permitting locals to use a digital identification card on their phones in certain cases. These may be a few of the reasons why ETHDenver founder John Paller suggested that the conference wasn’t planning on relocating to another state anytime soon.

“We are central, easy to get to, fun, and we are a center of innovation,” said Gov. Polis at ETHDenver, referring to Colorado. 

In the shadow of dropped SEC cases

Hester Peirce of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) spoke at ETHDenver in 2024. Though the commissioner did not appear in person this year, the regulator’s actions seemed to impact the crowd following the SEC’s Feb. 27 announcement that it would dismiss an enforcement action against crypto firm Consensys.

“Like many others in the community, we’ve been unshackled recently,” said Consensys CEO Joe Lubin during a Feb. 27 panel. “The attacks of the former SEC are behind us, and we are excited to step up and resume our loud and active advocacy for Ethereum, Metropolitan Ethereum, and the industry as a whole.”

Bo Hines, executive director at President Donald Trump’s crypto working group, canceled his ETHDenver appearance the day he was scheduled to speak. Hines will be administering a crypto summit at the White House on March 7, which many digital asset CEOs and leaders are expected to attend.

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