NEWSROOM

The Input | Output (IO) Asia Tour rolled into Ho Chi Minh City, a place that never seems to slow down. Motorbikes weaving through crowded streets, markets bursting with life, and a community ready to channel that same energy into shaping the future of blockchain.

It wasn’t about a singular conversation, it was the spark that ignited a wave of future opportunities. The spirit of collaboration drove dialogues that centered around asking the right questions, listening to feedback, and imagining what’s possible beyond the limits of technology. 

From every corner, connecting ideas and people

The Cardano Community Event was buzzing, with each voice adding another layer to the story unfolding in the room. 

Charles Hoskinson, Founder and CEO of IO, opened the stage by reminding us why we’re all here: blockchain’s promise only matters if it serves people, and trust must remain the foundation everything is built upon. But what does that trust look like? Charles said it best: the magic of our industry is that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, what language you speak, or your cultural and political beliefs - the beauty of blockchain is that it recognizes you’re human and the things that make us different are much smaller than the things that bring us together. 

United by principles 

And as we work towards building a world where everyone has the same access - a world where truly everyone is equal - the enthusiasm from global innovators is what will drive us to architecting technology that can’t be evil by design. This is how we capitalize on innovation, turning it into the art of the possible for what humanity needs tomorrow, today. 

There’s where the intersection of community and the future of technology converge - and IO’s Venture Builder Trym Bruset outlined how Quantum Hosky encapsulates that vision. Quantum Hosky represents where artificial intelligence is powered by you and for you, not for misaligned corporate interests. The world of gaming is changing as technology evolves and we want local communities to help us shape that future. To stay connected, sign up for updates and be at the forefront of the future of gaming.  

Global communities, not siloed conversations

Bringing home the idea of decentralized innovation, Kriss Baird, GM for Project Catalyst at IO, brought Catalyst into focus, celebrating how community-led funding continues to empower builders across the globe by breaking down barriers. As the country across Asia with the most Catalyst submissions, the Vietnamese community represents the heartbeat of collaboration. And to fuel that cross-chain sentiment, Kriss announced that for the first time ever, Project Catalyst will include a category for Midnight projects in Fund15. 

So, what is Midnight? Well, Lauren Lee, Director of Developer Relations at Midnight Foundation, outlined not only why the world needs Midnight, but how developers can start building on it today. With the project at the start of its journey, and already pushing the boundaries of innovation, she invited developers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers to step in and help shape what it becomes. 

Together, the conversations proved an industry that is dynamic and full of opportunity, and a community determined to play a role in defining what comes next.

Next up on the Asia Tour

As Charles noted, greatness doesn’t come from the top, it’s built from the bottom up, through communities united by shared purpose. And through it all, we’ve never lost our principles. Cardano remains one of the most decentralized networks, guided by the same belief that the future of blockchain must always be built by and for the people. Thank you Vietnam for demonstrating what true collaboration and openness looks like! 

Next up we’ll be sharing our takeaways from the Asia Tour so far at one of the world's biggest stages: TOKEN2049.