Last week, thousands of cryptocurrency enthusiasts converged in Austin, Texas, for Consensus 2024. Hosted by CoinDesk, this annual blockchain conference saw attendance swell to 15,000 participants, up from 10,000 the previous year.

The atmosphere at Consensus 2024 was noticeably more energetic and optimistic compared to the prior year. This shift in mood was likely influenced by the recent approvals of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

John Deaton, a U.S. Senate candidate from Massachusetts, shared with Cryptonews that last year’s event was overshadowed by the collapse of FTX and other crypto exchanges, leading to a more somber tone. However, Deaton noted a significant change this year.