a crypto culture shift wrapped in champagne and code

When EthCC was first announced to be at Cannes, it raised some eyebrows – for good reasons. Cannes is known for luxury. Between late-night yacht parties and champagne networking, some attendees wondered whether the ecosystem was drifting too far from its roots.

Yet beneath the opulence, something real was happening. Developers still walked the streets of Cannes in startup-branded T-shirts. Technical workshops, side events, and working sessions happened across the city. Builders talked architecture, privacy layers, stablecoin rails, and incentive systems.

The shift in atmosphere wasnt about glamor for its own sake. It was a reflection of where the crypto industry stands today: no longer fringe, but not fully institutional either. The space is still testing its identity.

It would be a mistake to dismiss the setting as frivolous. The proximity of venues, the walkable layout, and the ability to host deep-dive side events in more relaxed settings actually improved knowledge sharing. What the event did highlight, however, was the industrys growing challenge of accessibility.

Web3 has long talked about inclusion, but as conferences evolve into exclusive environments, the risk of alienating early contributors or would-be newcomers becomes real.

said Colin Goltra, CEO of Morph.

Ethereums role is shifting

This year, most of the excitement centered around what‘s built on top of Ethereum: Layer 2s, app chains, decentralized infrastructure layers, and cross-chain liquidity routes. Ethereum’s reliability makes it the staging ground for innovation. Its the default. Thats not glamorous, but it is powerful.

Speakers acknowledged this shift. Shawn ODonaghue of Orbs noted that while Ethereum is no longer the most exciting thing in the stack, it remains the layer people trust to always be there.

Other industry leaders noted the global consistency Ethereum offers. Whether the event is held in Paris, Brussels, or Cannes, Ethereum continues to attract global builders, thinkers, and regulators. That cohesion signals maturity.

It also reflects the protocols growing responsibility to support innovation, governance, coordination, and accessibility across borders.

Stablecoins are leading for a reason

One of the most grounded narratives at EthCC was the growing demand and adoption of stablecoins. Far from the speculative cycles of NFTs and meme coins, stablecoins were at the center of workshops, panels, and product demos.

It wasnt surprising given that stablecoins are where regulators, users, and institutions find common ground.

Michael from Brevis pointed out that launching a stablecoin is easy. Getting people to use it is not. The harder challenge is incentivizing liquidity across decentralized finance in a trustless, scalable way. Thats where infrastructure players are now focused.

In a space often driven by narratives, theyre an anchor to real-world value. Policymakers are starting to recognize that. So are fintechs.

This shift toward utility over speculation suggests the industry is internalizing past mistakes. The loudest voices are no longer always the most influential. Builders are recalibrating toward infrastructure that holds up under scrutiny—legal, technical, and economic.

At EthCC, this became a recurring theme. Regulatory clarity in the EU and parts of Asia is creating tailwinds for projects focused on fiat-on-chain. Panels covered compliance design, CBDC integrations, and how stablecoins can serve as monetary infrastructure in emerging markets.

The focus was measured, and it was clear throughout the event that stablecoins will shape the next phase of cryptos public legitimacy.

said Ian Xu, Vice President at Crypto VC Foresight Ventures.

What Happens Next？

EthCC Cannes signaled that Ethereum and its ecosystem are becoming comfortable with influence. Thats a step forward. But it also means the space must decide what kind of influence it wants to wield.

Crypto doesnt need to be underground to be meaningful. But it does need to remain open, accessible, and committed to its original principles—transparency, decentralization, composability, and user agency. If the move to Cannes helped highlight that tension, then it served its purpose.

said Florian Klein, Lead Commercial Bitpanda Web3.

What EthCC ultimately revealed was a maturing industry in transition. The ideas are stronger. The builders are more pragmatic. The stakes are higher.

And the vibe？ Still creative enough to be interesting, but matured and stable enough to be taken seriously.