ETHCapital

ETHCapital is a single-day conference series designed to connect the Ethereum ecosystem with institutional capital and promote enterprise adoption. The platform serves as a curated, Ethereum-exclusive forum with a stated mission to bridge the gap between blockchain protocol founders and institutional entities such as sovereign wealth funds, asset managers, VCs, and corporate treasuries. The inaugural event, ETHCapital 2026, is scheduled to be held in Seoul, South Korea. ^[1] ^[2]

Overview

ETHCapital positions itself as a high-level, neutral platform focused solely on the Ethereum ecosystem. Its primary objective is to facilitate direct engagement and investment opportunities between Ethereum-based projects and traditional financial institutions. The event's tagline is "Where Ethereum Meets Institutional." ^[1] The target audience for the summit includes institutional investors, asset managers, corporate treasuries, venture capitalists, and the founders of projects building on Ethereum. The conference format is structured around keynotes, expert panel discussions, and dedicated networking sessions to foster connections. ^[3]

The platform was established to address the growing interest from institutional players in the decentralized finance (DeFi) and broader blockchain space, creating a dedicated environment for discussions centered on institutional-grade infrastructure, investment strategies, and large-scale enterprise use cases for Ethereum. Kevin Lepsoe, founder of ETHGas, is identified as a founder and organizer of the event, a role underscored by his position as a speaker and his public promotion of the summit. ^[2] ^[4] The official mission statement for the event is: "ETHCapital is the premier institutional summit for the Ethereum ecosystem. Our mission is to bridge the gap between Ethereum's top projects and institutional investors, venture capitalists, and asset managers." ^[2]

ETHCapital 2026: Seoul Summit

The first event in the series, ETHCapital 2026, is scheduled to take place in Seoul, South Korea. The selection of Seoul highlights the region's significance in both the cryptocurrency market and the traditional finance sector. ^[1]

Event Details

Date: April 15, 2026
Duration: One full day, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time.
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Structure: The summit is designed to feature over 14 distinct sessions and include more than 30 confirmed speakers from various sectors. ^[1]

Venue

Official sources for the event provide conflicting information regarding the specific venue in Seoul. One source identifies the location as THE RAUM, a premier social venue in the Gangnam District known for its European-style architecture. This location is noted for its proximity to public transit, being a five-minute walk from Seonjeongneung Station. ^[3]

However, another official source from the event's website lists the venue as Seoul Dragon City, located at 222 Cheongpa-ro in the Yongsan-gu district. This venue is described as the first "lifestyle hotel-plex" in Korea, containing four Accor brand hotels and extensive convention facilities, indicating a focus on a professional, large-scale event. ^[2]

Agenda and Themes

The agenda for ETHCapital 2026 is organized into eight technical tracks that cover critical infrastructure and adoption pathways for Ethereum. The primary themes for the summit are concentrated on institutional and enterprise integration. ^[1]

Key themes include:

Stablecoins
Institutional Adoption
Retail Applications
Enterprise Use Cases

The program includes a series of keynotes and panel discussions designed to explore these themes in depth. Notable featured sessions on the agenda include:

Keynote: Welcome & Vision for ETHCapital
Keynote: Ethereum Today and Beyond
Keynote: From Skepticism to Integration: Opportunities and Challenges ahead for Institutional Adoption
Panel: Ethereum Meets Institutional: Bridging Traditional Finance and Decentralized Systems
Panel: When Money Moves Like Data: Agentic Payments & Machine-Scale Transactions
Panel: The Future of Won-Pegged Stablecoins in Korea
Panel: What Initiatives should the EF be Prioritizing?

This agenda structure aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the Ethereum ecosystem and its future potential from an institutional perspective. ^[1]

Key Individuals

Organizers

Kevin Lepsoe, the founder of ETHGas, is a primary founder and organizer of ETHCapital. In addition to his organizational role, he is also a listed speaker for the inaugural summit. ^[2] ^[4]

Speakers

The speaker lineup for ETHCapital 2026 is curated to represent a cross-section of the Ethereum ecosystem, traditional finance, and crypto-native enterprises.

Ethereum Foundation

Tiena Sekharan: Head of Institutions, Ethereum Foundation
Adrian Li: Asia EcoDev Liaison, Ethereum Foundation

Traditional Finance & Securities

Jongmin Son: Chief Strategy Officer, Hanwha Investment & Securities
Jinhyun Hong: Analyst, Samsung Securities

Crypto-Native Companies and Projects

Kevin Lepsoe: Founder, ETHGas
Mike Silagadze: Founder & CEO, ether.fi
Joseph Chalom: CEO, Sharplink
James Kim: Co-founder & CEO, Xangle
Michael Dong: CEO, Brevis
Youbin Kang: CEO, Nonce Classic
WanKyu Kim: Chief Business Officer, IoTrust
Jinseok Cho: CEO, KODA
Terry Kim: Co-founder & CSO, BDACS

The inclusion of these speakers from diverse backgrounds is intended to facilitate dialogue between the crypto and traditional financial worlds. ^[2] ^[1]

Partnerships and Collaborations

ETHCapital has established several key partnerships to support its mission of bridging ecosystems. These collaborations extend to foundational blockchain organizations, traditional finance firms, and other event platforms.

Ethereum Foundation

A significant relationship with the Ethereum Foundation is demonstrated through the active participation of two of its key members as speakers: Tiena Sekharan, the Head of Institutions, and Adrian Li, the Asia EcoDev Liaison. Their involvement signals alignment with the Foundation's goal of fostering institutional engagement. ^[2]

South Korean Financial Institutions

The summit emphasizes its connection to the local traditional finance industry in South Korea. This is highlighted by the inclusion of speakers from major domestic firms, including Jongmin Son, Chief Strategy Officer at Hanwha Investment & Securities, and Jinhyun Hong, an analyst at Samsung Securities. This representation is central to the event's goal of connecting Ethereum with established capital in the region. ^[2]

Crypto Investment Show (CIS)

ETHCapital has a formal partnership with the Crypto Investment Show (CIS), a separate event focused on the retail investor community in Korea. To leverage this collaboration, the organizers offer a joint "ETHCapital x CIS: 3-Day Pass." This pass provides attendees with access to ETHCapital's institutional focus on Wednesday, April 15, as well as the CIS Retail Summit, which takes place on Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, 2026. This strategic partnership aims to offer attendees a comprehensive view of both the institutional and retail investment landscapes in Korea. ^[1] ^[3]