Although this summit purports to be about building the future, it is a rather exclusive affair.

Monaco. The name alone brings to mind thoughts of Formula 1, high-stakes gambling and yachts cruising the Mediterranean. Now, it's aiming for another title: Europe's Web3 and AI hub, kicking things off with the WAIB Summit 2025. As the champagne corks pop at One Monte-Carlo on June 27th and 28th, a crucial question lingers: Will this Web3 oasis be a playground for the privileged, or a truly inclusive space for innovation?

Luxury Web3 Or Real Progress?

The WAIB Summit, with its focus on connecting "global visionaries, top VCs, and HNWIs," immediately raises eyebrows. Attracting investment is incredibly important to making it all happen. Wealth-centricity quickly leads to an echo chamber that drowns out the voices we need to implement a truly decentralized and equitable future.

Picture what it was like at the internet’s birth. It was messy, democratic, and accessible. Now, the vast majority of it is in the hands of a few mega-corporations. Are we fated to go down the same road with Web3? Monaco aims to be a future tech hub. Is this ambition building a gilded cage, where only the rich get to decide what innovation looks like?

Now picture this same developer sitting in a developing nation, full of the same ideas for using blockchain to address local community challenges. Can they afford a ticket to Monaco? Can their voice hold firm against the cacophony of entrenched competitors such as Microsoft and AWS? We’re thrilled to have both tech giants proudly listed among the Summit partners!

This isn’t only a question of fairness, it’s a question of opportunity lost. Paradigm-shifting innovations usually come from the most surprising places. These young people have experienced those issues themselves and are passionate about developing solutions to address them. By prioritizing access for the elite few, are we perhaps preventing the next generation of Web3 pioneers from joining us?

AI, Web3, And Social Responsibility?

The summit's agenda touches on fascinating themes: AI Agents, NFTs, Real-World Assets. How many sessions are focused on the ethical implications of these rapidly changing technologies? Or how much attention will go toward leveraging Web3 and AI for the common good, solving urgent social and economic challenges?

We’re all overwhelmed by doom-and-gloom headlines about AI wage-stealing robots, algorithms baked with bias, and data privacy going up in smoke. If the WAIB Summit is serious about "redefining Europe's tech innovation landscape," it needs to proactively address these concerns.

I’m looking forward to more panels that discuss how Web3 can help improve financial literacy, give access to education. Second, I want to learn more about how it can address climate change. I want to actually hear from you, innovators creating real-world, decentralized solutions. We should be supporting meaningful works, not the next Bored Ape Yacht Club.

The resulting list of confirmed speakers and partners is a virtual who’s who of major tech firms and Web3 platforms. And while their presence is valuable, it's equally important to amplify the voices of underrepresented groups: women, minorities, and people from developing countries. What kinds of programs are in place that ensure a diversity of perspective both on the stage and in the audience?

Inclusive Innovation: A Real Call?

Like any big idea, the ultimate success of the WAIB Summit — and Monaco’s Web3 aspirations — will come down to how serious it is about being truly inclusive. Paying lip service to it is not sufficient. Real action is required.

Here are some questions I hope the organizers are asking themselves:

  • Accessibility: Is the summit affordable for the average person? Are there scholarships or subsidized tickets available?
  • Language: Are presentations and workshops accessible to those who don't speak English fluently?
  • Technical Expertise: Are there introductory sessions for those without a technical background?
  • Diversity: Are there initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion among speakers, attendees, and sponsors?
  • Community Building: Are there opportunities for networking and mentorship, especially for early-stage startups and entrepreneurs?

With the right vision, the WAIB Summit can be a powerful catalyst for positive change. This community has an extraordinary ability to inspire transformative thought and create innovative partnerships. Here, a diverse and inclusive community is building the future of Web3.

If it remains an exclusive club for the wealthy elite, it risks becoming just another brick in the wall of inequality. And that’s a future none of us should desire.