Polkadot at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: The only blockchain in the room

What you can expect

• How the booth stood out on the show floor
• Who was there and what they focused on
• What worked and what to improve for Web2 events
• A look at what's next

TechCrunch Disrupt isn't a crypto conference. It's where AI startups demo products, enterprise software companies close deals, and investors scout the next big thing in mainstream tech. Polkadot showed up as the only blockchain sponsor at the event, and it proved to be one of the most valuable conferences for the ecosystem in years.

This was an opportunity to position Polkadot at the center of conversations about emerging tech and real-world blockchain applications with thousands of attendees, most of whom had never considered what blockchain infrastructure could enable for their businesses.

The booth: LEDs, color, and curious crowds

Polkadot's 10'x20' booth turned heads. LED screens, a hanging sign, bright Polkadot colors, and comfortable beanbags made it one of the most eye-catching setups on the floor. The design was clean, professional, and welcoming. Strategically located in the center of the venue, it became a natural hub for activity and conversation. And it worked. Hundreds of people stopped by to take photos, with many saying the design is what drew them in.

The booth saw over nearly 10k visitors across three days, most of whom were unfamiliar with Polkadot or blockchain in general. Developers, founders, investors, and people just curious about what blockchain could actually do. The conversations were different. More educational. More grounded.

Functional swag helped keep people engaged. Bluetooth adapters and stickers were a hit, with one attendee even noting that the Polkadot stickers were the best at the show. A raffle for InterMiami soccer jerseys gave people another reason to stop by and connect.

The team on the ground

The Distractive team coordinated the activation closely with Magenta Labs to ensure messaging aligned with Polkadot's broader positioning for a Web2 audience. On the booth floor, Acurast, Frequency, and Magenta Labs joined the Distractive crew to handle hundreds of conversations over three days. Each team played educator, helping people understand blockchain and what Polkadot makes possible.

The most effective talking point? Their own experience building on Polkadot. That's what resonated.

"TechCrunch Disrupt was a great opportunity to showcase Polkadot to the wider tech community as powerful infrastructure, ready for mass adoption. Distractive did a great job positioning us to have a meaningful presence at the event and were able to engage with hundreds of builders and investors, especially ones focused on AI, which is a vertical positioned for ongoing convergence with Web3 and Polkadot." — John Goldschmidt, Magenta Labs

The audience surprised people:

"I was surprised at how receptive and interested people were, especially for an event focused on a different topic (AI). I felt like this event was surprisingly good just for exposure to the Polkadot ecosystem in the wider tech world." — Shannon Wells, Frequency

The team connected with potential partners, developers, and decision-makers throughout the event.

What worked and what to refine

The audience was exactly who Polkadot needed to reach: CEOs, business development professionals, engineers, product managers, and investors. The conversations reflected strong interest from people working in AI, software development, and enterprise technology.

The booth design worked. People loved the LEDs, the hanging sign, the beanbags. The location in the center of the venue helped. The team created a welcoming space that made conversations easy.

But there's room to improve, especially when it comes to bridging Web2 and Web3 terminology. At Web2 events, clearer references to "blockchain" and terms like identity or privacy could help connect faster with audiences exploring infrastructure solutions.

Other ideas for next time: promote the raffle more loudly, add a larger screen running Polkadot videos and partner clips, maybe digitize the raffle to make it easier and boost social engagement.

What's next

TechCrunch Disrupt proved Polkadot can show up in Web2 spaces and command attention. As the only blockchain sponsor, Polkadot established a unique position in conversations about emerging technology and infrastructure with an influential audience that's typically outside the Web3 bubble.

The event was possible because all parties, including Parity, the Web3 Foundation, Distractive, and Magenta, were aligned on how crucial it was for Polkadot to have a presence at TechCrunch. That coordination showed what's possible when ecosystem efforts unite around a clear goal. The booth worked. The conversations were meaningful. Ecosystem teams represented what's possible when you build on Polkadot.

Moving forward, the focus remains on supporting ecosystem teams at major events, refining messaging that bridges Web2 and Web3, and continuing to position Polkadot where real-world builders are looking for scalable infrastructure solutions.