Event Coverage
CoinDCX’s Unfold 2023: Shaping India’s Web3 leadership
Mumbai: Unfold 2023, India’s largest Web3 event organised by CoinDCX from 19 -21 October 2023, was wrapped up on a high note. The sheer scale of the event and the overwhelming success reflects the promising future of Web3 in India. This objective is no less than propelling the nation to the forefront of Web3 leadership, thereby charting the course for the next phase of the internet revolution.
Unfold 2023 witnessed a remarkable turnout of over 2,500 participants during its three-day duration. Eminent leaders from the Ministry such as Priyank Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister IT/BT Karnataka, Jayant Sinha, Chairman PSC-FINANCE and MP and Rajeev Gowda, Vice Chairman, Karnataka Policy and Planning Commission, former- MP, Rajya Sabha, spoke at the event, sharing a firm belief in the potential of Web3 to generate employment opportunities and revolutionize the internet landscape. The Event featured participation both in person and virtually, with over 60 distinguished global Web3 leaders and entrepreneurs, including notable figures such as Base founder Jesse Pollak, Ava Labs founder Emin Gün Sirer, Solana Labs co-founder Raj Gokal, Balaji Srinivasan, BitOasis co-founder and CEO Ola Doudin, and Aptos Mo Shaikh.
Unfold 2023 hosted Asia’s largest multichain multiprotocol hackathon, drawing over 700 web developers who competed for a total prize pool of $85,000. The Demo Day, which was also part of the event, saw some exceptional ideas from the entrepreneurs. The perks of winning the Demo Day included a $1 million pool of funding from CoinDCX Ventures and some of the top-tier Web3 investors, including Pi Ventures, Mumbai Angels, Global Coin Research, Dorahacks Ventures, Hashed EM, Draper Dragon, and IOSG Venture. By every metric, the event stood as the grandest and most significant in the realm of Web3.
CoinDCX also unveiled its upgraded app, offering Indian crypto investors and traders a seamless experience with integrated advanced features from CoinDCX Pro. The user-friendly app launched during Unfold 2023 ensures secure and compliant trading in Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs).
Delivering a keynote at Unfold 2023, Priyank Kharge extended his support for Web3 innovation within the state. He proposed the exploration of a regulatory sandbox for development and innovation until a comprehensive framework is established. “The Government of Karnataka is willing to Listen, Learn and Adapt new technology and we are here to support the industry.In the burgeoning realm of Web3, our government is committed to not only observe and absorb but also to evolve with this digital frontier. We eagerly anticipate the establishment of a regulatory sandbox,” he said.
Jayant Sinha praised CoinDCX for its outstanding initiatives in fostering synergy among developers, startup founders, and other participants within the Web3 ecosystem during Unfold 2023. “India and Indian digital infrastructure has been recognised globally. With the world’s largest open digital ecosystem and a passionate developer community, India is poised to lead the global Web3 revolution. The presence of so many developers at Unfold 2023 hackathon is a testament to this vision,” he added.
Speaking at Unfold, CoinDCX co-founder Sumit Gupta said, “In this transformative decade, the VDA market cap is poised to surge by 15-20%, paving the way for a future that holds incredible promise. By 2030, we anticipate a landscape where over 1 million developers will be actively crafting the web3, ushering in web3 applications that will engage over 1 billion users. Our commitment at CoinDCX extends beyond building a large company. We are dedicated to crafting an open, inclusive, and efficient internet, right here in India, and sharing it with the world. Together, we will build for the long-term and build the right way.”
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the distinguished speakers, valued partners, sponsors, developers who participated in the hackathon, and innovative startups who united with us in this remarkable journey at Unfold 2023. Together, we have taken substantial strides in constructing a unified and collaborative Web3 ecosystem,” Sumit added.
Unfold 2023 stands as a monumental achievement, propelling India to the forefront of the global Web3 arena. With hundreds of startups, five unicorns, and a projected contribution of $1.1 trillion to India’s GDP by 2032, this event underscored the imperative of fostering a unified Web3 ecosystem. India’s pivotal role in grassroots crypto adoption, housing 11 per cent of the global Web3 developer pool, solidifies its position as a Web3 powerhouse. Anticipating a 120 per cent growth in blockchain talent, the nation is poised for remarkable progress. The retail and financial sectors, contributing 37 per cent and 15 per cent respectively, will drive Web3 and metaverse adoption, illuminating India’s dynamic potential. Unfold 2023 has firmly established India as a trailblazer in the ever-evolving Web3 landscape, marking a significant leap towards a collaborative and thriving future.
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
