BlockStart Scotland

27/06/2025

It is with deep regret that we have decided to postpone this year’s BlockStart Scotland event until further notice due to a serious family illness.

We are truly saddened that it will not be possible to deliver another high-impact event this year, especially given the success of BlockStart 2024. However, some things are simply more important and must be prioritised.

All hope is not lost — our monthly Building Blocks events will continue across Scotland and the UK, keeping the momentum going into 2026, when we hope to deliver another fantastic Web3 event.

We also recently announced our in aid of Unite Against Cancer, which will go ahead as planned on the 6th of August. If you'd like to participate, you can sign up here: https://lu.ma/cryptogolfday. There are only four team spaces remaining, so you'll need to act fast to avoid disappointment.

We brought you Scotland’s first major Web3 event, and it certainly won’t be the last — you’ll just have to wait a little longer for the next one.

As always, we wish everyone good health, happiness, and a successful 2025!

14/03/2025

🚀 How epic is our Official NFT Ticket?! 😎🔥

Designed by the legendary OSF, Co-founder of Rekt Brands Inc —this is one for the collectors!

Want to get your hands on your very own Highland Bull NFT? Secure your ticket for BlockStart 2025 now: https://app.moongate.id/e/blockstart2025

23/01/2025

The Future of Music: How Web3 and Blockchain Are Empowering Artists & Fans

This dynamic panel discussion explores how blockchain technology and Web3 are transforming the music industry—giving artists greater control, fairer monetisation, and direct fan engagement like never before.

Led by Michael Harding from Blockchain Sensei, the panel dives into the shifting landscape of music ownership, revenue models, and artist empowerment. Tommy Danvers (TokenTraxx), Ryder Havdale (HIO Music), Emma Miller (Music NFT Pioneer & Artist), and Acutek (Techno Producer & DJ) share their experiences on:

🎵 Breaking free from traditional gatekeepers – How blockchain reduces the influence of intermediaries who take the lion’s share of artist earnings.
🎵 NFTs & digital ownership – How musicians are leveraging Web3 to create new revenue streams and stronger fan communities.
🎵 Fairer revenue models – The role of tokenised music assets, smart contracts, and decentralisation in ensuring artists get paid fairly.
🎵 Enhanced fan experiences – How blockchain enables direct engagement, loyalty rewards, and transparent streaming revenues for both artists and fans.

📽 Watch now to discover how blockchain is reshaping the music industry, making it fairer, more transparent, and fan-driven: https://youtu.be/MROETMKQN5w.

23/01/2025

Trevor Jones – Keys to a Successful (Art) Career

Trevor Jones shares his incredible journey of innovation and success, from traditional painting to becoming a trailblazer in digital art and Web3.
Trevor’s curiosity led him to experiment with QR codes in art, creating interactive experiences that bridged the physical and digital worlds. Partnering with creative technologist David Oxley, he explored AR and NFC-enabled paintings.

His crypto journey began in 2017, inspiring him to paint iconic figures from the blockchain space and sell his artwork for Bitcoin—a move that gained global recognition. His pivotal piece, Bitcoin Angel, became a defining moment, selling 4,158 editions in just seven minutes and generating $3.2 million.

📽 Watch now to uncover the lessons behind Trevor’s groundbreaking career and his insights into the future of art in Web3: https://youtu.be/ExVugJ2yPn0

22/01/2025

Addressing Telecom Challenges with DePIN

In this insightful presentation, Maria Lema, CEO of Weaver Labs, delves into the pressing issues within the telecom industry, highlighting how traditional models and outdated architectures are failing to meet modern demands.

Maria introduces Cell-Stack, Weaver Labs' innovative network orchestration software, designed to transform private network operations. By enabling infrastructure owners to operate, manage, and monetise their telecom assets, Cell-Stack turns networks into scalable, on-demand services that enhance connectivity and revenue streams.

Weaver Labs envisions a future where networks function as service-running environments, incentivising users to contribute positively. This approach ensures accessibility, security, and efficiency, paving the way for a more connected world.

📽 Watch now to discover how DePIN is reshaping telecoms and unlocking new opportunities for decentralisation and innovation: https://youtu.be/d4BWuUzmcjc.

14/01/2025

Scottish Blockchain Leaders: Sharing Insights & Tackling Regulations

As part of the 3rd Edition of BlockStart: Building Blocks at St. Andrew's University, this engaging panel discussion brought together four prominent Scottish blockchain leaders to explore opportunities and challenges in the industry.

The panelists shared unique insights into their projects, discussed strategies for navigating the evolving blockchain landscape, and provided candid perspectives on regulatory challenges impacting innovation. From cutting-edge solutions to real-world applications, the conversation offered valuable takeaways for anyone interested in the future of blockchain and Web3.

📽 Watch now to hear how these Scottish founders are shaping the blockchain industry and driving progress amid regulatory uncertainty: https://lnkd.in/epN-5UAU.

The panel features:
• Osian Guthrie, President of The St Andrews Blockchain Society (Moderator)
• Nikos Koukos, CMO of Hubz
• Andrew MacKenzie, CEO of Agant
• Michael Beer, Founding Engineer at Helio

The session was introduced by Thomas Andrew Burton, Co-Founder of Static St Andrews.

10/01/2025

From Self-Taught Developer to Crypto Innovator

As part of the 3rd Edition of BlockStart: Building Blocks at St. Andrew's University, Michael Beer shared his inspiring journey from a university dropout to a trailblazing crypto founder.

Michael detailed his transition from self-taught developer to becoming the founding developer of Helio, Solana’s leading DeFi payments platform. He also shared the story behind building Moonshot, a memecoin launchpad for Dexscreener, and founding his own development company, CrackedDevs. Through his journey, Michael demonstrated how perseverance, innovation, and a passion for blockchain technology can drive success in the rapidly evolving Web3 space.

📽 Watch now to hear Michael’s unique story and gain insights into the world of crypto innovation and DeFi development: https://youtu.be/dGHCVBw0WEg

From Self-Taught Developer to Crypto InnovatorAs part of the 3rd Edition of BlockStart: Building Blocks at St. Andrew's University, Michael Beer shared his i...

03/01/2025

Using Web3 to Solve Real-World Problems: A DePIN for Better Global Internet

As part of the 3rd Edition of BlockStart: Building Blocks at St. Andrew's University, Keith Dawson, CEO of Qualoo, delivered a compelling presentation on how Web3 and Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) are tackling global internet challenges.

Keith shared his backstory, provided insights into the current state of the industry, and introduced the groundbreaking solution that Qualoo offers. By developing “One Network to Govern All Networks”, Qualoo is revolutionising the way internet infrastructure is managed, fostering a more secure, efficient, and decentralised global internet.

📽 Watch now to discover how Qualoo is leveraging Web3 to solve real-world problems and drive innovation in the internet infrastructure space: https://youtu.be/amX4aD1fXKk.

31/12/2024

What a Year for BlockStart Scotland in 2024!

As we wrap up the year, we’re filled with gratitude for everyone who made BlockStart Scotland a resounding success.

🌟 To our sponsors: Your belief in our vision made it all possible. Thank you for enabling us to bring this event to life and push the boundaries of Scotland’s web3 ecosystem.

🎙️ To our world-class speakers: Your insights and expertise inspired and educated our community, sparking the conversations that drive innovation forward.

🙌 To our incredible community: Thank you for showing up, engaging, and supporting. You’re the heart of everything we do, and your enthusiasm fuels our mission.

Here’s to growing, building, and innovating together in 2025. The best is yet to come!

30/12/2024

Benefits of Blockchain for Public Transport

Divya Prashanth, CEO of JURNYON, explores how blockchain and AI are revolutionising the public transport sector by creating smarter, more efficient, and rewarding experiences for commuters.

Divya delves into the ways blockchain technology ensures transparency, security, and efficiency in transportation systems, while JurnyOn’s subscription-based mobile ticketing service simplifies commutes and enhances user engagement. By integrating conversational AI, dynamic gamification, and a robust loyalty program, JurnyOn is setting a new standard for public transport solutions that are both user-friendly and forward-thinking.

📽 Watch now to discover how blockchain is shaping the future of public transport and driving innovation in the sector:
youtu.be/ZgpXdFq2B3o

Benefits of Blockchain for Public TransportIn this engaging session, Divya Prashanth, CEO of JurnyOn, explores how blockchain and AI are revolutionising the ...

21/12/2024

Integrating Assurance into DeFi: Strategies for Building Trust and Transparency

As Decentralised Finance (DeFi) continues to grow, ensuring trust and transparency within this ecosystem has become more critical than ever. This BlockStart 2024 panel brings together industry leaders to explore how assurance frameworks can help mitigate risk, enhance compliance, and build user confidence in DeFi platforms.

The discussion delves into strategies for integrating transparency into the DeFi ecosystem, the role of assurance providers in fostering trust, and how innovative solutions are addressing the unique challenges of decentralisation. From compliance and reporting to operational efficiency, this panel provides a comprehensive overview of what it takes to create a trustworthy DeFi environment.

Join experts from finance, blockchain technology, and regulation as they share actionable insights and strategies for building trust in the decentralised economy.

🎥 Watch now to gain a deeper understanding of how assurance is shaping the future of DeFi: https://youtu.be/_nZoCJ2H9xs

Speakers
🎤 Moderator:
• Mark Ferraro – FMM Capital LLC
💡 Panelists:
• Sean Kiernan – Greengage
• Alex Pollak – 21 Shares
• Hermant Pandit – Cryptio
• Laeeq Shabbir – EY

Whether you're a DeFi developer, an investor, or someone interested in the intersection of blockchain and assurance, this panel offers essential insights into building transparency and trust in the decentralised future.

Integrating Assurance into DeFi: Strategies for Building Trust and TransparencyAs Decentralised Finance (DeFi) continues to grow, ensuring trust and transpar...

18/12/2024

Unlocking the Power of Web3: Adoption, Sustainability, and Beyond

In this engaging session, Nick Jones, CEO of Zumo, explores the critical need for sustainable foundations and the key building blocks required for the successful adoption of Web3 technologies.

Nick dives into how Web3 can unlock its full potential by addressing sustainability challenges, policy and regulations, technology maturity, and the overall landscape to ensure long-term impact.

📽 Watch now to uncover the power of Web3 and its path toward adoption and sustainability: https://youtu.be/f0ZIpOxPMmg

Unlocking the Power of Web3: Adoption, Sustainability, and BeyondIn this engaging session, Nick Jones, CEO of Zumo, explores the critical need for sustainabl...