Almost a month after Devconnect, I finally feel like I’ve been able to process everything that happened during that intense week in Buenos Aires. The event was so big, so full of stimuli and encounters, that I needed some time to digest it and find the right words.

Today, I can finally put together a complete record of that experience, one that undoubtedly marked a before and after in my relationship with the Ethereum ecosystem.

I also hope it inspires those who haven’t yet attended an event like this to consider doing so in the future.

When the Scholars program for Devconnect Buenos Aires was announced, it immediately felt like a perfect opportunity. The requirement of not having attended Devcon or Devconnect before fit me perfectly, and as a Paraguayan, the fact that it was taking place in Argentina made it incredibly accessible. Even if I wasn’t selected, I already knew this would be my first Devconnect no matter what.

The purpose of the program was to bring together 100 leaders who are expanding Ethereum’s reach into new communities, industries, and ideas. The cohort was diverse: community organizers, legal and public sector professionals, journalists, artists, developers, and builders in general. The idea was not only to attend the event but also to learn together, share experiences, and create connections that transcend Devconnect.

I decided to apply and later had an interview where I met the wonderful Perrie from the Ethereum Foundation team, who leads the Scholars program.

As a small side note, I admire Perrie immensely for everything she does to make this program a reality, especially her ability to coordinate so many logistical details.

Weeks later, I received an email that I still mentally cherish as a very special moment: I had been selected! Out of more than 900 applicants, being part of this program remains one of the achievements I’m most proud of in my overall crypto journey.

The “Magical City of Buenos Aires,” as Tan Biónica sings, is one of my favorite places on earth. Its architecture, vibrant streets, culture, and people make every visit memorable. This time was no exception.

It was my sixth or seventh time visiting the city, but it never feels repetitive. There are always new corners, new dynamics, new impressions. Argentina also holds a special emotional place for me, since many of my friends live there and every time I visit, I feel right at home.

But this visit had something extra. Thousands of people from the Ethereum ecosystem were arriving in the same place. The city felt different, as if, for one whole week, Buenos Aires had become the global epicenter of crypto, with technical discussions blending into casual conversations in every café and on every street.

Even knowing in advance that La Rural would be massive, nothing prepared me for what I felt when I walked in for the first time. As one Argentine influencer would say: “Masivo, bro!” The scale was impressive. Endless hallways, huge pavilions, hundreds of projects showcasing what they’re building, and a beautiful mix of languages that made it clear that Ethereum is truly global.

It took me about a day and a half to fully understand the layout. Every time I thought I had seen everything, another area, another booth, another space appeared. The magnitude is hard to capture in words.

The Green Pavilion, home to the Social and DeFi districts, ended up being my favorite part of the entire fair.

Being able to speak with people I’ve admired for a long time was one of the highlights of my week. Meeting and chatting with Lefteris, an Ethereum OG, about Rotki and how useful his tool was during situations like the one on the first day of the fair when the internet connection barely existed, exchanging ideas with Linda from the Farcaster team and giving feedback on tools I use daily, or discovering Burner directly from its founder, David, were genuinely meaningful experiences.

Burner was, without a doubt, the gadget that surprised me the most. I had heard about it, but trying it in person was a completely different experience. It’s practical, convenient, and very intuitive, and I believe it plays a huge role in onboarding new people into Ethereum.

Something I loved was seeing how each booth put effort into creating a small experience that reflected their product. The people hosting the booths were kind, patient, and had a special energy. Talking with each of them was genuinely enjoyable.

I have to admit that I didn’t attend any talks. I learned this from previous conferences, most sessions get recorded and watching them later, calmly, is often more efficient. What you can’t experience later are the spontaneous conversations, the human connections, the unexpected encounters. Those only happen when you’re out there, moving through the crowd.

And that’s exactly what Devconnect aimed to strengthen, the human relationships within the community. You could feel it in every corner of the fair.

Being part of the Scholars program added a completely different dimension to the week. From the very first day, it was clear that the purpose was to connect people with very different backgrounds but a shared motivation: using Ethereum to improve our lives and our communities.

During our first in-person gathering, we had a very emotional session where each Scholar shared their name, how they were feeling, and what they hoped for during the week. It was an intimate moment, since everyone opened up to share their thoughts.

In the months leading up to the event, we had a series of calls, group activities, conversations, and shared spaces, but doing it all IRL was a completely different experience. The most valuable part of this program wasn’t the content itself, but understanding the realities of other Scholars, how they work in their countries, what challenges they face, what solutions they’re building, and how we can support and amplify each other’s efforts.

Listening to these stories was one of my biggest learnings from Devconnect. It broadens your perspective. It pushes you to look beyond your own reality and understand how diverse Ethereum’s impact truly is around the world.

Devconnect was intense on many levels, and that intensity leaves a mark. Some of the things that resonated with me the most were:

• Privacy and payments are the topics of the moment. These were the two themes that shaped the entire week. It’s becoming clear that Ethereum needs to be increasingly easy to use and, at the same time, that privacy plays a crucial role in that process.

• Ethereum is bigger than we imagine. Seeing so many use cases in person helps you understand its reach, from Burner, a hardware wallet that costs less than 10 dollars, to Offramp, a crypto debit card you can use to buy a coffee anywhere, to Kleros, a decentralized justice protocol for resolving disputes. The possibilities are endless.

• LATAM is growing and has a key role. Anyone who attended the conference likely came to this conclusion. Latin American talent is growing at an impressive pace and the industry is noticing.

• I returned with a desire to keep building. Devconnect pushes you to raise your personal standard, no matter what area you’re working in. We all have something to contribute to the ecosystem, and this week made that clearer than ever.

On the last day, as I walked through the almost empty fair, I felt a mix of nostalgia and gratitude. After days of constant movement, noise, and conversations, the sudden quiet made everything hit all at once.

And I understood something important: Devconnect doesn’t end when the booths close. It continues through the connections that were formed, the ideas that emerged, and the projects that will begin to grow from here.

Yes, absolutely.

Even if you’re not technical.
Even if you’re just getting started.
Even if you’re still figuring out your role within the ecosystem.

Devconnect is a space where technology and community come together in a unique way. It’s where Ethereum stops being just a protocol and becomes people, collaborations, stories, and opportunities.

For me, experiencing my first Devconnect in Buenos Aires was an enormous privilege and something I will remember forever.

Almost a month after Devconnect, I finally feel like I’ve been able to process everything that happened during that intense week in Buenos Aires. The event was so big, so full of stimuli and encounters, that I needed some time to digest it and find the right words.

Today, I can finally put together a complete record of that experience, one that undoubtedly marked a before and after in my relationship with the Ethereum ecosystem.

I also hope it inspires those who haven’t yet attended an event like this to consider doing so in the future.

When the Scholars program for Devconnect Buenos Aires was announced, it immediately felt like a perfect opportunity. The requirement of not having attended Devcon or Devconnect before fit me perfectly, and as a Paraguayan, the fact that it was taking place in Argentina made it incredibly accessible. Even if I wasn’t selected, I already knew this would be my first Devconnect no matter what.

The purpose of the program was to bring together 100 leaders who are expanding Ethereum’s reach into new communities, industries, and ideas. The cohort was diverse: community organizers, legal and public sector professionals, journalists, artists, developers, and builders in general. The idea was not only to attend the event but also to learn together, share experiences, and create connections that transcend Devconnect.

I decided to apply and later had an interview where I met the wonderful Perrie from the Ethereum Foundation team, who leads the Scholars program.

As a small side note, I admire Perrie immensely for everything she does to make this program a reality, especially her ability to coordinate so many logistical details.

Weeks later, I received an email that I still mentally cherish as a very special moment: I had been selected! Out of more than 900 applicants, being part of this program remains one of the achievements I’m most proud of in my overall crypto journey.

The “Magical City of Buenos Aires,” as Tan Biónica sings, is one of my favorite places on earth. Its architecture, vibrant streets, culture, and people make every visit memorable. This time was no exception.

It was my sixth or seventh time visiting the city, but it never feels repetitive. There are always new corners, new dynamics, new impressions. Argentina also holds a special emotional place for me, since many of my friends live there and every time I visit, I feel right at home.

But this visit had something extra. Thousands of people from the Ethereum ecosystem were arriving in the same place. The city felt different, as if, for one whole week, Buenos Aires had become the global epicenter of crypto, with technical discussions blending into casual conversations in every café and on every street.

Even knowing in advance that La Rural would be massive, nothing prepared me for what I felt when I walked in for the first time. As one Argentine influencer would say: “Masivo, bro!” The scale was impressive. Endless hallways, huge pavilions, hundreds of projects showcasing what they’re building, and a beautiful mix of languages that made it clear that Ethereum is truly global.

It took me about a day and a half to fully understand the layout. Every time I thought I had seen everything, another area, another booth, another space appeared. The magnitude is hard to capture in words.

The Green Pavilion, home to the Social and DeFi districts, ended up being my favorite part of the entire fair.

Being able to speak with people I’ve admired for a long time was one of the highlights of my week. Meeting and chatting with Lefteris, an Ethereum OG, about Rotki and how useful his tool was during situations like the one on the first day of the fair when the internet connection barely existed, exchanging ideas with Linda from the Farcaster team and giving feedback on tools I use daily, or discovering Burner directly from its founder, David, were genuinely meaningful experiences.

Burner was, without a doubt, the gadget that surprised me the most. I had heard about it, but trying it in person was a completely different experience. It’s practical, convenient, and very intuitive, and I believe it plays a huge role in onboarding new people into Ethereum.

Something I loved was seeing how each booth put effort into creating a small experience that reflected their product. The people hosting the booths were kind, patient, and had a special energy. Talking with each of them was genuinely enjoyable.

I have to admit that I didn’t attend any talks. I learned this from previous conferences, most sessions get recorded and watching them later, calmly, is often more efficient. What you can’t experience later are the spontaneous conversations, the human connections, the unexpected encounters. Those only happen when you’re out there, moving through the crowd.

And that’s exactly what Devconnect aimed to strengthen, the human relationships within the community. You could feel it in every corner of the fair.

Being part of the Scholars program added a completely different dimension to the week. From the very first day, it was clear that the purpose was to connect people with very different backgrounds but a shared motivation: using Ethereum to improve our lives and our communities.

During our first in-person gathering, we had a very emotional session where each Scholar shared their name, how they were feeling, and what they hoped for during the week. It was an intimate moment, since everyone opened up to share their thoughts.

In the months leading up to the event, we had a series of calls, group activities, conversations, and shared spaces, but doing it all IRL was a completely different experience. The most valuable part of this program wasn’t the content itself, but understanding the realities of other Scholars, how they work in their countries, what challenges they face, what solutions they’re building, and how we can support and amplify each other’s efforts.

Listening to these stories was one of my biggest learnings from Devconnect. It broadens your perspective. It pushes you to look beyond your own reality and understand how diverse Ethereum’s impact truly is around the world.

Devconnect was intense on many levels, and that intensity leaves a mark. Some of the things that resonated with me the most were:

• Privacy and payments are the topics of the moment. These were the two themes that shaped the entire week. It’s becoming clear that Ethereum needs to be increasingly easy to use and, at the same time, that privacy plays a crucial role in that process.

• Ethereum is bigger than we imagine. Seeing so many use cases in person helps you understand its reach, from Burner, a hardware wallet that costs less than 10 dollars, to Offramp, a crypto debit card you can use to buy a coffee anywhere, to Kleros, a decentralized justice protocol for resolving disputes. The possibilities are endless.

• LATAM is growing and has a key role. Anyone who attended the conference likely came to this conclusion. Latin American talent is growing at an impressive pace and the industry is noticing.

• I returned with a desire to keep building. Devconnect pushes you to raise your personal standard, no matter what area you’re working in. We all have something to contribute to the ecosystem, and this week made that clearer than ever.

On the last day, as I walked through the almost empty fair, I felt a mix of nostalgia and gratitude. After days of constant movement, noise, and conversations, the sudden quiet made everything hit all at once.

And I understood something important: Devconnect doesn’t end when the booths close. It continues through the connections that were formed, the ideas that emerged, and the projects that will begin to grow from here.

Yes, absolutely.

Even if you’re not technical.
Even if you’re just getting started.
Even if you’re still figuring out your role within the ecosystem.

Devconnect is a space where technology and community come together in a unique way. It’s where Ethereum stops being just a protocol and becomes people, collaborations, stories, and opportunities.

For me, experiencing my first Devconnect in Buenos Aires was an enormous privilege and something I will remember forever.