Dubai crypto event cancelled amid Iran conflict

DUBAI: A major Dubai crypto conference scheduled for the end of April has been cancelled, ​the organisers said on Friday, citing “uncertainty in the region”.

The annual TOKEN2049 ‌conference will be “postponed” until April 2027, the organisers said in a statement on their website, with tickets carried over to next year’s event.

The ​U.S. and Israeli war against Iran has caused widespread disruption across ​the region, putting Dubai’s status as a tourism and business ⁠safe-haven at risk.

Two drones fell near Dubai’s main airport on Wednesday, and ​debris from a successful interception caused minor damage to the facade ​of a building in the centre of Dubai, the emirate’s media office said on Friday.

Millions of dollars in crypto left Iranian exchanges after strikes

TOKEN2049’s announcement did not explicitly mention the war but said the ​decision was because of “ongoing uncertainty in the region and its impact ​on safety, international travel, and logistics.”

Last year’s event featured U.S. President Donald Trump’s ‌son ⁠Eric Trump and Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao.

The United Arab Emirates has become a key location for crypto traders and companies. The world’s largest crypto exchange, Binance, deepened its ties to the UAE last year.

“Dubai ​remains one of ​the most important ⁠hubs for the digital asset ecosystem. We remain confident in the city and its continued leadership ​as a global center for innovation and digital ​assets,” TOKEN2049 ⁠said.

The conference attracts 15,000 attendees, its website says, and the CEOs of Binance, stablecoin Tether and messenger app Telegram had been due ⁠to ​appear.

Various sports events in the wider region have ​also been affected.