• Cosmoverse 2024 took place from October 21st–23rd.
• Figures from the Sentinel Growth DAO and third-party partner Breadcrumbs represented Sentinel at the conference.
• Breadcrumbs CEO Zac Wickstrom made four on-stage appearances at the event, including an AI panel and a rousing pitch for his app on the main stage as the event drew to a close.
• Project consultant Dmitry participated in a panel on DePIN for Interchain Day.
• Conferencegoers were thrilled by Sentinel's lighthearted approach, from its humorous introductory video to the blue frog mascot manning the project's booth.
For more details, continue to the full article below.
In this article, we'll provide you with a summary of Sentinel and Breadcrumbss' participation at Cosmoverse 2024, including contributions from attendees, videos of Sentinel speakers, and other happenings from the course of the three-day event.
Cosmoverse 2024 took place at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Representatives from the Sentinel Growth DAO, third-party team Breadcrumbs Data, and a Sentinel ambassador were in attendance. The latter two parties made onstage appearances, including a dVPN app pitch by Breadcrumbs CEO Zac Wickstrom in front of thousands on the main stage shortly before the conference closed.
Over two thousand people attended the conference this year, including Cosmos figures and community members; blockchain industry professionals and insiders; media and journalists; and even members of the Dubai civic government and other Emirati officials. Sentinel was not only visible at the event; it was one of the upper-tier sponsors of the entire thing.
The effort to bring Sentinel back to Cosmoverse for the first time since 2021 was spearheaded by the Sentinel Growth DAO (with the support of the Sentinel Foundation) using funds earmarked for the effort by the Sentinel community via governance.
Our Coverage
dVPN News published several articles over the course of the conference, with the objective of bringing the rest of the Sentinel community to Dubai in spirit and emphasizing the overall significance of the project's visibility there.
Sentinel's community is arguably unmatched in its dedication, involvement in project development, and longevity within the DePIN space—but the project itself has remained an underground sensation of sorts for years.
Cosmoverse 2024 represented a significant step back into the "real world" for Sentinel, after years of percolation in exclusively digital spaces.
Sentinel Independent News
Our extensive preview of the conference, containing more information about the host city and venue.
Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
The Pitching Competition at Cosmoverse 2024 is a golden opportunity for upcoming innovative projects to showcase their ideas to potential investors and/or advisors.
Breadcrumbs has had difficulty finding the spotlight within the competitive Sentinel application ecosystem over the past two years—quietly building their innovative application on the project's open source architecture.
At Cosmoverse 2024, their CEO got their marketing efforts got off to a running start and solidified their visibility within Sentinel and the wider Cosmos Ecosystem.
Lock up your daughters; Zac our CEO will be speaking at @CosmoverseHQ in Dubai on the 21st October. pic.twitter.com/LtBAP6k0HW
— Breadcrumbs (@get_breadcrumbs) October 7, 2024
What truly sets Breadcrumbs apart from other applications powered by Sentinel's technology is its personal data marketplace, which allows subscribers to both take control over their personal data and monetize it, if they so choose. Thus, the Breadcrumbs app is a hybrid between a dVPN and a personal data manager—the first consumer blockchain app of its kind.
The application's main interface and AI assistant, as depicted on the Google Play Store.
This data management is aided and facilitated by AI; including an in-app assistant named Atlas. This groundbreaking suite of features, combined with the excitement generated by the launch of Sentinel's AI data acquisition protocol Scout over the summer, earned Breadcrumbs and Sentinel a spot at the conference's AI Track discussion.
Downloads for Android and iOS are available on the Breadcrumbs website. Desktop versions of the application and complementary browser extensions are in development.
But that was far from the highlight of Breadcrumbs' time in Dubai. Wickstrom would go on to represent both his company and Sentinel at the Cosmoverse Pitching Competition during the final two days of the event—finishing as one of three finalists and thereby earning the opportunity to pitch the Breadcrumbs app before thousands of attendees and viewers on the main stage.
Day One: AI Track Discussion
Tracks at Cosmoverse 2024 were ten specialized segments focusing on various blockchain topics (such as DeFi, modularity, or NFTs). Track attendees were treated to lectures, workshops, hacker lounge discussions, and hands-on activities related to the segment's topic.
The AI Track took place at mid-afternoon local time on the conference main stage. It began with a keynote address by Akash Network CEO and longtime Sentinel booster Greg Osuri, and was followed about twenty minutes later by a panel discussion featuring Wickstrom, Akash marketing chief Zachary Horn, Warden Protocol CTO Antonio Pitasi, and OraiChain ambassador Cosmos Hoss.
The AI Track discussion featuring Zac Wickstrom begins at 6:43:52.
On the panel, Wickstrom discussed topics including:
- Data acquisition for AI models such as ChatGPT.
- How blockchain can be used to facilitate data provenance.
- Sentinel's AI data layer, Scout.
- Making blockchain-powered apps accessible to consumers.
- Privacy legislation such as the European Data Act of 2024.
Sentinel Independent News
Our original coverage of Breadcrumbs at the AI Track panel.
Day Two & Three: Pitching Competition
The first stage (technically the qualifying round) of the Pitching Competition took place in the late morning on the second day of the conference in the Executive Lounge—a far more intimate setting than the main stage. Wickstrom made a strong effort in front of an audience described thusly by organizers:
The first round of pitches will take place in a closed environment, in front of angel investors, venture capital firms, family offices, HNWIs, and other founders.
Breadcrumbs prevailed in this initial stage and became one of the three competition finalists; winning the company and Sentinel a game-changing moment of glory under the main spotlight the next day.
Day 2 of Cosmoverse has flown by!
— Sentinel ⚛️ #DePIN dVPN and AI Data Layer (@SentinelDVPN) October 22, 2024
Mitch the Bluefrog made lots of frens, and we're almost out of merch after some great convos.
Congrats to Zac Wickstrom from @get_breadcrumbs for making it to the pitching finals, he'll be there tomorrow at 4pm on the mainstage! pic.twitter.com/dnQVctNxSz
Sentinel Independent News
Our coverage of Breadcrumbs at the first stage of the pitching competition, complete with video.
On day three, industry insiders, venture capitalists, Cosmos Ecosystem community members, government officials, journalists, and stream viewers from around the globe were all tuned in as Wickstrom took to the main stage for his final pitch in the late hours of the afternoon. Less than two hours remained before Cosmoverse drew to a close.
Zack Wickstrom's final pitch begins at 5:23:46.
During his final pitch, Wickstrom:
- Highlighted the issues which his company's app is attempting to tackle, including the data fingerprints left by internet users and the profits which data broker companies make off of them.
- Discussed some recent legislation which has challenged their practices.
- Criticized dVPN's centralized predecessors such as NordVPN, and current data management services such as DeleteMe for falling short in protecting customers.
- Played a video showcasing the Breadcrumbs app's features, including Atlas and direct integrations with other popular mobile apps.
- Explained why his company chose to partner with Sentinel.
- Announced that the Breadcrumbs app will be adopting a "freemium" payment model.
- Unveiled the Breadcrumbs Personal Data Marketplace and how it empowers users to take control over their information.
Wickstrom finished the presentation with a quote from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman:
"The killer app for AI will be... A super-competent colleague who knows absolutely everything about my whole life; every email, every conversation..."
Following the quote, Wickstrom concluded that the Breadcrumbs app was a manifestation of that vision—and that it manages to do so while respecting user privacy.
After the final pitch, Wickstrom went on to participate in the "Iz Cosmos Ded" discussion panel as part of the conference's closing sequence. It will come as no surprise that the answer was a resounding "No."
During the lighthearted sunset segment, Wickstrom discussed the backend features which brought him to Sentinel and the Cosmos Ecosystem, his experience being at his first Cosmoverse, and making Web3 accessible to the mainstream.
At some point, we [the blockchain industry] gotta be born... We need to take all this incredible work that we've done to build tools for builders, and reach the end of the food chain where we're building something for consumers.
The Sentinel Growth DAO
The driving force behind Sentinel at Cosmoverse 2024.
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the Sentinel Growth DAO was instrumental in bringing the project back to Cosmoverse. Dubai 2024 was the second time that Sentinel has participated in the annual event, and a return from a two year absence following Lisbon 2021.
Sentinel was also a headline sponsor of the Cosmos Istanbul event, which took place in August.
Sentinel Introduction Video
"We've grown, but so has the tyranny."
[Credit: Seventh, Growth DAO]
Sentinel was introduced to Cosmoverse by a short video clip, which clocked in at just under two minutes.
The playful greeting to attendees was prefaced by the dark countercultural humor characteristic of the Sentinel community, pillorying contemporary consumerism with a mock advertisement for "Endital," an instant suicide beverage.
The full video is available below in all of its glory. It was developed by the Growth DAO in collaboration with Mortim, a renowned Cosmos Ecosystem content creator and self-proclaimed meme lord of the Cosmos. Mortim was instrumental in the video's production, contributing everything from the frog's synthesized speech to the background graphics and Endital logo.
Non-fatal versions of Endital were also served to conferencegoers during the after hours festivities.
[Source: Sentinel Growth DAO]
Mitch Encounters
Sentinel's mascot Mitch was sighted by many attendees manning the project's booth on the conference floor.
Breadcrumbs CEO Zac Wickstrom with Mitch. [Credit: Seventh, Growth DAO]
The mascot's nickname (Mitch) is just a few months old, but his reign as a beloved Sentinel community icon stretches back over half a decade to 2017. It would be almost impossible to open any Sentinel-related group or page and scroll for more than a second or two before seeing the affable-but-rebellious descendant of Pepe the Frog.
The Growth DAO commissioned the costume in order to acknowledge and honor the uniquely crucial role which community contribution plays in the Sentinel's infrastructure, strategy, development, and ambition.
But what of the most pressing question of all: Who was inside the costume? Unfortunately, some Sentinel mysteries are too deep and enigmatic for even dVPN News to crack.
Dmitry Panel Appearance
Sentinel ambassador, consultant, and longtime community lifeforce Dmitry joined Sentinel's delegation to Cosmoverse and appeared on-stage for a panel during Interchain Day—a complementary side-event within Cosmoverse.
The panel Dmitry participated in, titled "Growing DePIN in the Interchain," was hosted by previously-mentioned Akash CEO Greg Osuri. It also featured representatives from OmniFlix Network and POKT Network. The former project also operates a validator on Sentinel.
[Video Credit: Sergey, Quokka Stake]
During the panel, Dmitry discussed topics such as:
- Sentinel's role as a DePIN (decentralized physical infrastructure network).
- Separation of personal and digital identities.
- The node network.
- Sentinel as a peer-to-peer bandwidth marketplace.
- User safety and security.
- The benefits of chain sovereignty on Cosmos.
While in attendance, Dmitry also collected signatures from more than thirty-five prominent Cosmoverse attendees (including Cosmos Ecosystem personalities, city government representatives, and other figures from the world of blockchain) on his notorious $0.48 Sentinel Coin price projection hoodie—an article of clothing iconic to anybody who frequents the project's price chat on Telegram.
Attendee Perspectives
Dubai experiences from across the Cosmos.
"The sentiment of Cosmos is good. You can speak to anyone here and have a genuine conversation," Sentinel Growth DAO founder Seventh reported to the community after arriving in Dubai before the conference kicked off.
Sentinel's delegation to Cosmoverse 2024 was determined to do everything they could to benefit Sentinel in the short trio of days at their disposal. Though disciplined in maintaining their focus on business, they took every opportunity they had to share their experiences with the broader Sentinel community across the world.
Cosmoverse: A Journey Worth Having
By Sergey (Sentinel Growth DAO/Quokka Stake)
So we’re safe and sound getting home from Cosmoverse.
It was really great experience to have, meeting people you’ve known for a long time by their Discord and Telegram usernames, seeing new and old projects, discussing various things and having a great time!
Thanks to Sentinel, which provided us the opportunity to visit it and to represent it, and to organizers, we think they did a nice job!
Hope to visit Cosmoverse in 2025!
[Original Published on Telegram, 2024-10-25]
Report from the Ground
By Dmitry (Sentinel Consultant and Ambassador)
OG projects at Cosmoverse are very complimentary about Sentinel and are looking forward to it succeeding as a high-cap mass user-focused project.
Some representatives from other projects, influencers, and even regular attendees are using it time to time. One guy came to the booth to ask about Sentinel, I started to explain how it works, and then he showed me that he's using Independent dVPN already.
Even at the current stage of project development, Sentinel has enough to start the giga marketing (as other centralized VPN services have). But on the other side, a proper node network economy and chain upgrade are needed.
As I have stated it for a long time: Sentinel is more of “public good” rather than commercial business project. Due to this, we have really a lot of BlueFrens from different parts of world supporting the network, the people around it, and the mission itself.
[Originally Published on Telegram, 2024-10-22]
Growing DePIN in the interchain is LIVE now with @akashnet_ , @SentinelDVPN & @POKTnetwork at Interchain Day at Cosmoverse 💻 pic.twitter.com/GtfNrlq2G9
— Amanda (@vakaytion) October 22, 2024
Photos and Videos
Sentinel's representatives at the conference took a plethora of photos and videos documenting their experiences in Dubai. Other Cosmoverse attendees shared their experiences with Sentinel at the event on X—photos with Mitch being a particular favorite.
Sentinel Independent News
[Credit: Seventh, Growth DAO]
[Credit: Sergey, Quokka Stake]
[Credit: Seventh, Growth DAO]
[Credit: Dmitry]
[Credit: Sergey, Quokka Stake]
Images created to support Sentinel's presence at Cosmoverse by /imagine Sentinel memes.
I met the Sentinel IRL at @CosmoverseHQ 🧙@SentinelDVPN pic.twitter.com/ETPWfhZqKm
— Alwyn van Wyk🦋ixo🇿🇦younglings (@alwynvanwyk) October 21, 2024
Been using @SentinelDVPN for my VPN on android lately. The cost is less than a dollar in $DVPN at the time of writing and so far pretty much every node I've connected to in Europe (from the US) has had significantly less lag than @ProtonVPN. Usually about half the number of ms https://t.co/ARY2J5cgZf
— Jorsh Trismegistus (@JCMTrismegistus) October 23, 2024
Have you taken any photos with the $DVPN bluefren yet? pic.twitter.com/9TTE0R0FC4
— Alex Cøsmonaut ⚛️ (@AlexCosmonaut) October 21, 2024
Another very interesting talk on DePIN and privacy
— Alex Cøsmonaut ⚛️ (@AlexCosmonaut) October 21, 2024
Go watch it 👀 pic.twitter.com/Rw8XtL1AB8
It’s all about privacy@SentinelDVPN pic.twitter.com/IpOL3g9OSS
— CryptoDanny #Cosmosverse2025🌌 (@CryptoDanvans) October 23, 2024
More from Cosmoverse 2024
Videos of individual segments at Cosmoverse are available on the OmniFlix Network YouTube channel.
Photos from this year's conference will soon be available on the Cosmoverse website.
Special thanks to Seventh, Dmitry, Sergey, Trinity Stake, Mortim, Cosmoverse, OmniFlix Network, and ProjectAutonomy for their contributions of media and information to this article.
Join Our Journey
At dVPN News, every member of the Sentinel community is a contributor. Whether you're writing articles, sharing tutorials, or participating in discussions, your involvement is what drives our collective growth, and best of all it's rewarded! Together, so if you to contribute to the growth of the Sentinel Network, you are in the right place!
Connect with Us
Stay in touch and be part of our growing community:
- Follow Sentinel on X.
- Follow the Growth DAO on X.
- Join the Growth DAO community Telegram Group.
- Join the official Sentinel Subreddit, r/dVPN.
