Consensus, the tech titan industry conference geared towards the crypto curious, took place last week in Toronto. Backed by Coindesk, this summit is the largest gathering of blockchain and crypto enthusiasts in all of North America.
And, with a keynote speaker like Eric Trump, the conference was ripe with fresh faces looking to learn more and listen in. Politics, AI, the economy and our sovereignty seemed like too much to tackle in just three days, but buckle up, the recap you’ve been waiting for is here.
The Future of Crypto is at Consensus
With almost 15,000 attendees from over 100 countries, speakers lit up the various stages that operated like mini-hubs of emerging tech.
The three-day event was positioned as the industry’s premier “big tent” gathering, bringing together voices from TradFi, DeFi, policymaking and beyond to examine the future of digital assets.
With 500 speakers across six stages, Consensus 2025 offered a high-level view of the crypto landscape. Core themes included DeFi, real-world assets (RWAs), decentralized AI, stablecoins, global adoption, and regulatory shifts—each explored by leading figures across the ecosystem. North America’s largest in-person blockchain hackathon also took place onsite, drawing over 1,000 developers.
Consensus Toronto featured sessions with major players from finance, tech, and government, including Coinbase, BlackRock, Google, and representatives from the White House. Eric Trump, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of American Bitcoin, appeared on two panels, joined by high-profile speakers such as Kevin O’Leary (O’Leary Ventures, Shark Tank), Dave Portnoy (Barstool Sports), and Anthony Scaramucci (Skybridge Capital).
Check out our TikTok to hear Eric’s keynote below.
Toronto was selected for its stature as a financial hub, strong base of Canadian crypto leaders, and growing reputation as a centre for blockchain innovation. It also holds symbolic weight as the birthplace of Ethereum.
Think You Know Crypto? A Primer For the Consensus Newbs
Diamond hands or not, crypto is not for everyone. A deep understanding of the technical aspects of how to mine, navigate, store and sell is only the start. Do not enter the crypto market like a rookie. Start by learning the ins and outs of the various ‘coins’. Study the market. Go slow.
While BTC has been around for over a decade, this technology is still emerging. Even ‘experts’ on the subject can be easily fooled. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Here’s a rundown of the most popular coins, not including Eric Trump’s newly minted American Bitcoin.
🟡 Original Bitcoin (BTC)
- The OG. Invented in 2009 by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto.
- Designed to be digital cash that isn’t controlled by any government or bank.
- Focuses on being secure, decentralized, and hard to mess with.
- Super popular, but can be slow and expensive when things get busy.
🍴Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- “We need faster transactions!” said some folks.
- Split from Bitcoin in 2017 to allow bigger blocks (more transactions at once).
- Aimed to be more like actual cash — quick, cheap, everyday use.
- Still around, but not nearly as popular as BTC.
⚡ Bitcoin Lightning Network
- Not a new coin, but a layer built on top of Bitcoin.
- Makes sending Bitcoin almost instant and super cheap.
- Great for small payments like buying a coffee.
- Think of it like a fast lane added to a crowded highway.
⚙️ Bitcoin SV (BSV)
- “SV” stands for Satoshi’s Vision.
- Split from Bitcoin Cash in 2018 — yep, a split of a split!
- Claims to follow what Satoshi originally wanted: massive scaling, big blocks.
- Controversial and much less adopted.
🌐 Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC)
- A version of Bitcoin used on the Ethereum network.
- Lets you use Bitcoin in DeFi apps (like earning interest or trading on Ethereum).
- It’s like Bitcoin in a costume — still BTC at heart, but fits in on another platform.
🧪 Other Projects Inspired by Bitcoin
- Tons of copycat or inspired coins like Litecoin, Dash, or Dogecoin.
- Not Bitcoin itself, but took ideas from it and did their own thing.
Want more? Consensus 2026 will take place in Hong Kong (February) and Miami (May).
All photos courtesy of CoinDesk.