CryptoMondays is landing in the region the same way it started in New York in 2018: a room, a few people who actually build things, and a simple rule. You should leave with more than you brought.
On Monday, 28 September, the MENA chapter launches at Tacenda Lounge, 68th floor, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, Tower B, Business Bay. Doors at 7:00 PM. The night runs through panels, a short keynote, a fireside, and then the part most people come for—open conversation when the stage is done.
Vaibhavv Ali, co-founder of CryptoniteUAE and chapter lead for CryptoMondays MENA, is heading the chapter.
“MENA already has the builders,” Ali said. “What it has not always had is a regular, no-theatre room that connects Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Riyadh, Doha, and Cairo. That is the job. Not another booth crawl. A chapter.”
The lineup is local and global in the same breath:
- Saqr Ereiqat, Secretary General, Dubai Digital Asset Association | Board Member, Marmin.ai
- Khalifa Aljaziri Alshehhi, Managing Director, MalyPay
- Aishwary Gupta, Global Head of Business, Polygon Labs
- CJ Anand, Director of Advisory, Ghaf Labs
- Sanjay Saini, Trader | Investor | Creator
- Sweep, Trader | Investor | Co-Founder, GlydeGG
- Vaibhavv Ali, Moderator | Co-founder, CryptoniteUAE
Program & Agenda
7:00 – 8:00 PM: Doors Open & Networking
8:00 – 8:05 PM: Welcome & Intro
8:05 – 8:25 PM: Panel 1: Building Web3’s Next Chapter From Dubai
Speakers: Aishwary Gupta (Global Head of Business, Polygon Labs), CJ Anand (Director of Advisory, Ghaf Labs)
Moderator: Vaibhavv Ali (Co-founder, CryptoniteUAE)
8:30 – 8:35 PM: Keynote Presentation: Minds by Animoca Brands
8:40 – 9:00 PM: Panel 2: Crypto Meets Cash: The UAE’s Wild Payments Future
Speakers: Saqr Ereiqat (Secretary General, Dubai Digital Asset Association | Board Member, Marmin.ai), Khalifa Aljaziri Alshehhi (Managing Director, MalyPay)
Moderator: Vaibhavv Ali (Co-founder, Cryptonite UAE)
9:05 – 9:25 PM: Panel 3: How to Actually Catch a Memecoin in 2026 (Without Getting Burned)
Speakers: Sanjay Saini (Trader | Investor | Creator), Sweep (Trader | Investor | Co-founder, GlydeGG)
Moderator: Vaibhavv Ali (Co-founder, Cryptonite UAE)
9:30 PM: Closing Note
9:35 PM: Open Networking
CryptoMondays now runs 58-plus chapters and more than 150,000 members. The format has not really changed. Builders, founders, investors, operators, and first-timers in one place. Learn, earn, connect. No conference badge required.
The launch is a community night, not an official TOKEN2049 production. Photos may be used on CryptoMondays and partner channels.
RSVP: luma.com/ecox-vhr5
Community: t.me/cryptomondaysmena
Huge shoutout to our incredible partners making this event possible:
Hosts & Organizers:
Crypto Mondays Mena | Minds by Animoca Brands
Event Partners:
- BitAngels
- OffChain Global
- EcoX Dubai
- Cryptonite UAE
- DATS AWARDS (Digital Assets & Tokenized Securities Awards)
- Proof Of Collabs
- D2A2
- DSRPTD
- Aura8
- SINGAPORE BLOCKCHAIN WEEK (OFFICIAL)
- Venture Week
- Washington Elite
- CoinEasy
CryptoMondays began as a New York meetup in 2018 and grew into the largest in-real-life Web3 community in the world. Chapters meet so people can learn, earn, and connect including people who have never been in a crypto room before.
About CryptoMondays MENA
MENA Edition is the regional room: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Riyadh, Doha, Cairo, and everyone building between them. No conference badge required. No pitch-only floor. Same rule as every CryptoMondays chapter since 2018: leave with more than you brought.
This is a community event. Photos may be used on CryptoMondays / partner channels. It is led by Vaibhavv Ali.
Media Contact:
Vaibhavv Ali – CryptoMondays MENA / Cryptonite UAE
Event Page: https://luma.com/ecox-vhr5
