Major crypto events in Dubai, including TOKEN2049 (postponed to 2027) and TON Gateway (canceled), were disrupted by security concerns and travel issues related to the conflict. The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Grand Prixs directly impacts multi-million dollar sponsorships from major crypto exchanges like OKX, Crypto.com, and Bybit. TOKEN2049 Dubai, one of the largest crypto conferences in the world, will not take place this year. Organizers said the event, originally scheduled for late April, has been postponed to April 21–22, 2027, due to ongoing uncertainty in the region.
TON Gateway Dubai, another crypto gathering, has been canceled outright. The event focused on The Open Network ecosystem and was expected to bring developers and partners working on the TON blockchain together in early May. The team behind the event said it scrapped the in-person conference due to heightened security risks in the region, and that those who purchased tickets received full refunds. The Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled for April 12 and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on April 19 are set to be canceled due to safety risks tied to the conflict, including nearby military strikes, disrupted airspace and travel complications for teams and staff.
Formula 1 and the FIA are expected to formally confirm the decision over the weekend. For Dubai-based and regional exchanges, the Bahrain and Saudi races were especially valuable because they connect global broadcasts with a local audience in the Gulf, one of the world’s most active crypto markets. OKX, which was recently valued at $25 billion, has been a primary partner of McLaren since 2022. Crypto.com serves as a global Formula 1 partner.
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