Global Blockchain Show Riyadh 2026: Justin Sun, Yat Siu, and 250 speakers head to Saudi Arabia

The lineup includes TRON founder Justin Sun, Animoca Brands executive chairman Yat Siu, and executives from Binance, Fireblocks, VeChain, and regional blockchain centers. Saudi Arabia continues expanding its Web3 infrastructure as Riyadh competes with Abu Dhabi and Dubai for blockchain capital and talent.

Riyadh hosts another major blockchain conference

The Global Blockchain Show returns to Riyadh after successful runs in Abu Dhabi and previous Saudi editions. Organizers VAP Group and Times of Blockchain lined up 250 speakers, 200 exhibitor booths, and 300 media outlets for the June 29-30 event.

Justin Sun leads the speaker roster. The TRON founder, HTX exchange operator, and former Grenada ambassador to the WTO typically mixes protocol updates with broader geopolitical commentary. Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, joins him to discuss gaming, metaverse investments, and tokenized IP.

The agenda also features Ahmed Bin Sulayem (CEO of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre), John Lilic (Hilbert Group CEO), Dr. Marwan Alzarouni (Dubai Blockchain Center and Dubai AI lead), and Jason Allegrante (Fireblocks Chief Legal Officer).

Previous speakers included Rachel Conlan (Binance CMO), Sunny Lu (VeChain CEO), Abdulla Al Dhaheri (Abu Dhabi Blockchain Center CEO), and investor Murad Mahmudov. As in previous years, the lineup leans toward government officials, protocol founders, exchange executives, and institutional investors.

What you'll actually learn

Instead of generic “blockchain will change the world” panels, the Global Blockchain Show agenda digs into scalability bottlenecks, cross-chain infrastructure, and regulatory compliance frameworks that actually matter for builders.

Sessions cover AI's role in smart contract security, quantum computing threats to current cryptography, and tokenization mechanics for real-world assets. Metaverse infrastructure and Web3 gaming economics also get dedicated tracks.

Regional focus sessions examine Middle Eastern blockchain adoption, covering how Saudi Arabia, UAE, and other Gulf states approach digital asset regulation, startup funding, and talent recruitment.

Workshops run alongside main-stage panels, offering hands-on sessions for developers focused on layer-2 scaling, zero-knowledge proofs, and decentralized identity.

Why Riyadh Wants This

Saudi Arabia launched its National Blockchain Strategy in 2023 as part of Vision 2030, the government's plan to diversify away from oil revenue. The country established regulatory sandboxes, funded blockchain research centers, and simplified company formation for Web3 startups.

Riyadh now competes with Dubai and Abu Dhabi for blockchain talent and capital. The Global Blockchain Show fits into Saudi Arabia’s broader push to promote its Web3 strategy alongside concrete policy updates and funding opportunities.

The event includes a startup pitch competition and investor networking sessions designed to connect Saudi-based projects with international capital.

Event Specs

When: June 29-30, 2026
Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Who: 10,000+ attendees, 250+ speakers, 200 exhibitors
Media: 300+ outlets covering

Registration opens soon via the official website. Media passes available starting March 2026.