In its latest study, Crypto Nomads examines the sometimes staggering fees for speaking at major crypto conferences. A closer look at these figures.
Conference speaking fees reach new heights
In an article published Monday, the Crypto Nomads team presented a summary of 30 sponsorship proposals for major crypto events in 2026.
In this summary, generated using Claude’s AI, it emerges that the starting price for taking the stage at one of these major events could reach up to $800,000. This would be the case for TOKEN2049 Dubai, whereas the starting price for speaking at EthCC[9] in Cannes next month would be $70,000:
Entry fees to speak at major crypto events
Highlighting that the price listed for TOKEN2049 Dubai refers to a 15-minute talk, Crypto Nomads reports a rate of $33,000 per minute. Although this is not specified in the report, this amount appears to refer to a different offer than the one mentioned in the chart above, as the rate indicated here would instead result in a price of $53,300 per minute.
It should also be noted that all the rates mentioned are negotiable, while some speakers may just as easily be invited for free. Furthermore, certain crypto event stages remain free, such as the Ethereum Foundation’s Devcon or the Solana Foundation’s Breakpoint.
Beyond the fees for speaking on stage, it’s worth taking a look at the expected number of attendees. While EthCC[9], for example, expects to welcome 6,500 visitors, TOKEN2049 Singapore is setting the bar high by projecting 25,000 attendees:
Number of expected visitors at major crypto events
In reality, Crypto Nomads estimates that no crypto event to date has exceeded 15,000 paying attendees, while fewer than five conferences have surpassed the 10,000 mark. Thus, the figures may include seats reserved for partners or could be inflated for marketing purposes.
In any case, the report also notes an institutionalization of conferences, with events moving to major financial hubs, such as London, to attract capital. At the same time, crypto players are also adapting their business models by sponsoring conferences historically dedicated to traditional finance.
With the bear market, it remains to be seen whether major annual events will survive, especially since we have already seen cancellations, such as the famous NFT Paris, which was scheduled to take place last month.
