Sep 26, 2025
Eight Years Ago, I Made a Bet on Blockchain. This Year, It Comes Home: Devconnect Argentina.
By Milton Berman, co-founder & CEO WakeUp Labs.
“Blockchain is something that will last.”
— Me, in a message to a friend 8 years ago.
Eight years later, my friend sent me that old screenshot from my message — and it proves a point: what once felt like a distant dream is now reality.
By the way, this year one of the world’s most important blockchain development conferences is coming to Argentina.
“You’re crazy. Crypto’s for scammers.”
When I first stepped into the blockchain space, I heard it all. Family, friends, people I trusted told me to stay away.
"That space is just narcos and scams,” they’d say, half-joking, but also kind of serious.
But even back then, I was convinced: This would work. Not by force. Not by hype. But because it makes sense. Because it empowers.
And I’m still convinced today.
The Results Speak for Themselves
“Crypto’s not the future. It’s already here, just unevenly distributed.”
We’re past the speculation phase. Here’s what we’re seeing right now:
Governments are actively embracing crypto. See example.
Legal frameworks catching up with blockchain-based assets. (Examples: Robinhood’s entry into tokenized products + Trump signs stablecoin law as crypto industry aims for mainstream adoption).
Millions of people using onchain systems every day. Data here.
This is no longer a fringe movement. This is infrastructure.
The Cypherpunk Dream Isn't Dead
I get it. Some of the early believers are frustrated. The most widely adopted use cases didn’t come from the pure cypherpunk promise. But let’s be real: the UX just isn’t there yet.
And without seamless user experience, that vision hits a wall, especially with retail users.
Still, hope isn’t lost. In fact, it’s clearer than ever: the blockchains that will truly stand the test of time are those that remain:
Public
Permissionless
Censorship-resistant
Decentralized
Add privacy to that mix (shoutout to teams like Aztec), and we’re building something unstoppable.
Opting Out Is Still the Most Powerful Feature
Here’s what always brings me back: Blockchain gives people the ability to opt out of traditional finance.
Not just access, agency. That alone is a revolution. That’s the game changer.
We’re not just talking about better apps. We’re building the financial rails of an entirely new millennium. It’s possible to reach billions of people without them even realizing they’re using blockchain.
Exponential Adoption Through AI Agents, Not Humans
Think the story ends with human adoption? Nope.
Soon, AI agents will use crypto to transact, both those agents we design and control, and those ones that evolve their own logic, form communities, and coordinate in cyberspace and in the real world.
Will they plug into Banking APIs? Rely on SWIFT? Not at all.
They’ll use crypto tokens, decentralized networks, contracts. The rails we’re building today? They’ll ride them tomorrow.
Devconnect in Argentina: A Turning Point
So yeah, Devconnect coming to Argentina means everything.
It’s a chance for us, the ones who’ve been building from here to show what we’re capable of.
The best minds in the industry are flying in. Founders. Builders. Dreamers. Investors.
Let’s show them we’re not just along for the ride. We’re building this future too. Right here, from Argentina 🇦🇷.
So, when I say it means everything that Devconnect is coming to Argentina, I mean it. This is a window for those of us building here to connect with some of the sharpest minds in the world. To sit down with builders, visionaries, investors. To show the world that we’re not just “catching up” here, we’re shaping this future too.
We’ve got something powerful going on.
It’s time to bring Argentina onchain.
Further Reading / References
Eight years later, my friend sent me that old screenshot from my message — and it proves a point: what once felt like a distant dream is now reality.
By the way, this year one of the world’s most important blockchain development conferences is coming to Argentina.
“You’re crazy. Crypto’s for scammers.”
When I first stepped into the blockchain space, I heard it all. Family, friends, people I trusted told me to stay away.
"That space is just narcos and scams,” they’d say, half-joking, but also kind of serious.
But even back then, I was convinced: This would work. Not by force. Not by hype. But because it makes sense. Because it empowers.
And I’m still convinced today.
The Results Speak for Themselves
“Crypto’s not the future. It’s already here, just unevenly distributed.”
We’re past the speculation phase. Here’s what we’re seeing right now:
Governments are actively embracing crypto. See example.
Legal frameworks catching up with blockchain-based assets. (Examples: Robinhood’s entry into tokenized products + Trump signs stablecoin law as crypto industry aims for mainstream adoption).
Millions of people using onchain systems every day. Data here.
This is no longer a fringe movement. This is infrastructure.
The Cypherpunk Dream Isn't Dead
I get it. Some of the early believers are frustrated. The most widely adopted use cases didn’t come from the pure cypherpunk promise. But let’s be real: the UX just isn’t there yet.
And without seamless user experience, that vision hits a wall, especially with retail users.
Still, hope isn’t lost. In fact, it’s clearer than ever: the blockchains that will truly stand the test of time are those that remain:
Public
Permissionless
Censorship-resistant
Decentralized
Add privacy to that mix (shoutout to teams like Aztec), and we’re building something unstoppable.
Opting Out Is Still the Most Powerful Feature
Here’s what always brings me back: Blockchain gives people the ability to opt out of traditional finance.
Not just access, agency. That alone is a revolution. That’s the game changer.
We’re not just talking about better apps. We’re building the financial rails of an entirely new millennium. It’s possible to reach billions of people without them even realizing they’re using blockchain.
Exponential Adoption Through AI Agents, Not Humans
Think the story ends with human adoption? Nope.
Soon, AI agents will use crypto to transact, both those agents we design and control, and those ones that evolve their own logic, form communities, and coordinate in cyberspace and in the real world.
Will they plug into Banking APIs? Rely on SWIFT? Not at all.
They’ll use crypto tokens, decentralized networks, contracts. The rails we’re building today? They’ll ride them tomorrow.
Devconnect in Argentina: A Turning Point
So yeah, Devconnect coming to Argentina means everything.
It’s a chance for us, the ones who’ve been building from here to show what we’re capable of.
The best minds in the industry are flying in. Founders. Builders. Dreamers. Investors.
Let’s show them we’re not just along for the ride. We’re building this future too. Right here, from Argentina 🇦🇷.
So, when I say it means everything that Devconnect is coming to Argentina, I mean it. This is a window for those of us building here to connect with some of the sharpest minds in the world. To sit down with builders, visionaries, investors. To show the world that we’re not just “catching up” here, we’re shaping this future too.
We’ve got something powerful going on.
It’s time to bring Argentina onchain.
Further Reading / References
