Cryptist is node101's flagship gathering for zero-knowledge, cryptography, and privacy-focused research in Türkiye. First launched in Istanbul in 2022, the event has grown into a curated meeting point for researchers, builders, protocol teams, and technically curious participants working at the intersection of cryptography and decentralized privacy. Rather than optimizing for scale, Cryptist is designed to prioritize depth, strong conversations, and high-quality technical exchange.
Cryptist 2022
This was the first edition of node101's zero-knowledge and cryptography summit in Istanbul, created to open a dedicated space for technically serious conversations around privacy, ZK systems, and cryptographic research. The event brought together 150+ attendees and 14 speakers at SALT Galata, laying the foundation for what would later become one of the region's recurring ZK-focused gatherings.
The first edition was supported by a strong sponsor group that included the Ethereum Foundation, Aleo, Manta Network, 0(1) Labs, Scroll, dYdX Foundation, and Paribu Ventures. It also brought together speakers and contributors from organizations such as Ethereum Foundation, Aleo, Scroll, Manta Network, O(1) Labs, Polychain Capital, Helium Foundation, and Paribu Ventures, giving the event both technical depth and ecosystem credibility from the start. Rather than being shaped like a large commercial conference, Cryptist 2022 was built as a more curated and technically grounded summit, setting the tone for future editions.
Cryptist 2023 Cryptist 2023 marked the second edition of the summit and expanded its reach into a much larger gathering for the zero-knowledge community in Istanbul. Held at Grand Pera, the event brought together 600+ attendees and 12 speakers, strengthening Cryptist's position as a recurring meeting point for researchers, developers, and privacy-focused builders working across zero-knowledge systems.
The 2023 edition was supported by Ethereum Foundation, Aleo, Manta Network, 0(1) Labs, Scroll, dYdX Foundation, and Paribu Ventures. It featured speakers such as Emre Tekişalp, Toghrul Maharramov, Kaan Uzdoğan, Doğan, Andy Guzman, Anish Mohammed, and Diego Kingston, giving the event a more international and technically diverse profile. Compared with the first edition, Cryptist 2023 felt larger, more visible, and more established, while still preserving the focused, community-driven character that defined the event from the start.
Cryptist 2025 The third edition of the summit, held on September 4, 2025, in Istanbul as a one-day event focused on cryptography, zero-knowledge proofs, and privacy-enhancing technologies. The event brought together 204 cryptographer and mathematician participants and 14 speakers, marking a more curated and research-oriented edition within the wider momentum of Builders Week Istanbul. Over three editions, Cryptist reached 1,017 total participants, making the 2025 edition part of a growing long-term community effort rather than a one-off gathering.
The 2025 edition was sponsored by Babylon, Citrea, Avalanche, Paribu Custody, and Rise Chain. More than scale alone, this edition stood out for its sharper positioning: a technically serious environment built for cryptographers, ZK builders, privacy researchers, and adjacent ecosystem teams. With its stronger editorial direction, more specialized audience, and mature event framing, Cryptist 2025 reinforced the summit's role as one of the region's most focused gatherings for cryptography and zero-knowledge.
