The event took place from April 14th to 16th, 2023, fostering innovation and providing a platform for developers, researchers, academics, and the local and global Ethereum community to connect, learn, experiment, and build. The main event was hosted and co-organized by the University of Zurich Blockchain Center and attracted over 500 developers, researchers, and enthusiasts. Accompanying side events brought together hundreds of people, including industry experts and emerging Ethereum startups in the Greater Zurich Area.
The blockchain community in Switzerland is robust and vibrant. The country is globally recognized for its prominent position in digital innovation and blockchain technology. Its startup-friendly and pragmatic regulatory environment, long-standing commitment to protecting privacy, and the high concentration of service providers and world-class research institutions make it one of the most crypto-friendly countries in the world. The Greater Zurich Area has established itself as a global hub of the blockchain industry in this supportive environment, and it is the home of many prominent crypto projects, companies, and organizations, including the Ethereum Foundation.
Besides the presence of established projects, businesses and financial institutions that are already embracing the technology, the talent pool for blockchain solutions in the Greater Zurich area is also remarkable. Several Swiss universities and research centers collaborate with blockchain and distributed ledger technology experts to support the next generation of blockchain developers and engineers.
The University of Zurich (UZH) Blockchain Center is a leading institution in this regard. With 62 members and researchers from the University of Zurich and top international scholars of the community, it is not only the largest academic initiative in Switzerland, but it was also ranked as the best university in Europe for blockchain in 2022 and the third best worldwide, where research is having the biggest impact. The UZH Blockchain Center is serving as a world-leading competence center and blockchain hub that fosters and coordinates excellent interdisciplinary research across a variety of fields. Furthermore, the UZH Blockchain Center is actively supporting the advancement of Ethereum research and development through collaboration with the Ethereum Foundation on various research projects and initiatives.
With these amazing advantages, it is quite astonishing that Zurich had not previously hosted a significant Ethereum event focusing on research and development. However, the organizers believed it was about time to rectify that and establish a partnership with the UZH Blockchain Center to introduce EthereumZuri.ch to foster connection and collaboration among local and global talent, academics, researchers, and developers.
Attendance at the conference was provided at no cost approach to ensure accessibility for all participants. This allowed them to acquire knowledge and valuable insights regarding the latest Ethereum research, ecosystem, and protocol development updates, as well as providing an opportunity to connect with researchers and experts in the field. There were over 100 talks, workshops, and panel discussions in total throughout the 3 days, focusing on technical topics, with an emphasis on the following subjects: Programming Languages, Cryptography, Zero-Knowledge Proofs, Data Availability, Peer-to-Peer Networking, Regulations and Compliance, Tokenomics, Cybersecurity, and Ethereum Community.
The conference was opened by the organizers, Prof. Dr. Claudio J. Tessone, Chairman of the UZH Blockchain Center, and Josef J. The hackathon rules, tracks, and deadlines were also outlined by the hackathon contributors during the opening ceremony. You can watch the full session below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIjb0WzZyuo&list=PLtd18ZNqUprgXCpWnVVmC_naqy2H2r11W&index=1
After the opening session, there was an informative and engaging panel discussion with Prof. Dr. Claudio J. Tessone, Marc Degen, and Nicolai Reinbold.
This panel offered attendees an opportunity to gain insights into the dynamic and rapidly evolving Swiss Blockchain Ecosystem. The discussion covered a wide range of topics, including the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the Swiss Blockchain industry. Attendees were able to hear firsthand from local experts and were equipped with valuable knowledge and practical tips to navigate the ever-changing landscape of blockchain technology.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mamilxe9HT0&list=PLtd18ZNqUprgXCpWnVVmC_naqy2H2r11W&index=2
As the event took place shortly after the activation of the Shapella upgrade on the Ethereum network, an exciting panel discussion on the Ethereum staking landscape was held. The panelists, including Mário Havel, Nik Kunkel, Michael, Mara Schmiedt, and Lior Zaks, provided valuable insights and perspectives on the impact of this significant protocol upgrade. They discussed the potential benefits and challenges that the upgrade brings to the Ethereum network and the staking community.
Recording:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgyLUQjf1iE&list=PLtd18ZNqUprgXCpWnVVmC_naqy2H2r11W&index=29
Client diversity is a frequently discussed and emerging topic in the Ethereum ecosystem. Piper Merriam from the Ethereum Foundation gave a very interesting talk on The Portal Network about the process of building the peer-to-peer protocols required to deliver lightweight and decentralized Ethereum clients.
Recording:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3HExSykXFI&list=PLtd18ZNqUprgXCpWnVVmC_naqy2H2r11W&index=26
Besides academics, developers, researchers, and enthusiasts, EthereumZuri.ch had a couple of special guests. One of them was Jupiter, a cat who officially became a Catropy contributor during Mário Havel’s session on (Proto)Danksharding and the collective KZG ceremony.