The CryptoCanal FAQ

An honest attempt to answer all your burniiiing questions 🔥

What’s not changing?

We are the same passionate team, organizing crypto shenanigans since 2017. Common S3nse (previously ETHDam) will remain a niche conference and hackathon, gathering the best privacy and security folks ✊️.

Over the years, we have enjoyed bringing freedom fighters, philosophers, and cypherpunks together, while you have enjoyed the deep technical discussions, sprinkled with some spicy controversial debates, which made our favorite bowtie MC sweat. We truly cherish that special vibe we have created, this is why we vow, to remain edgy, political, cosy, and a place for kewl nerds to always hang out.

So what’s changing? Just the name?

We were never just an Ethereum conference per se, and we wanted our name to reflect that. In addition, by having a chain agnostic name, we hope we can bring and attract different blockchain ecosystems together for an epic event.

Why Common S3nse?

The name randomly came up in a team discussion, as the 1st name ideation around “confackathon” was not a success 🙃. We got a few laughs but it just didn't stick. Bottom line, we want Common S3nse, our annual conference and hackathon to feel grounded. It might be a bit on the nose, but see it as an honest attempt to move away from the noise, to promote a sustainable builder/startup ecosystem, and host challenging conversations.

Where is it going to take place?

Since Devconnect in 2022, our HQ had been Pakhuis de Zwijger. We loved it there. However, in our search for something better and different, we wanted to get even closer to the center of Amsterdam and have more life around to enable more spontaneous get togethers during the conference, and this is how we landed on the bustling de Hallen Studio’s, also known as the Food Hallen 😋. A place, to eat, live and breathe like a local Amsterdamer. Try some kibbeling 🐟 at the local food market. Grab a 🍔 at the food stall. Need a break? Slide next door for a movie. You name it. Everything is happening and bursting with life in that area. Of course, we have many recommendations for all the side events you can dream of 👀

When when when?

Save the date! Come to Amsterdam next Summer, as Common S3nse will take place on June 19-20 2026! 🌼 A two day conference and hackathon. Yes, only 2 days. We are not getting any younger, is your back also hurting? and the days of confackathoning for more than 48h are over.

In all seriousness, we want the event to be more of a showcase event. This is why, the hackathon will start earlier, online, as of the 15th of June. You can expect some webinars, workshops and some IRL hang outs but we want you hackers/builders to do the work in advance, and for Common S3nse to be more of a showcase your work kinda moment. More details on hackathon rules and format coming soon.

Why change the hackathon format?

One topic came to haunt us 😳. What had been built over the last few hackathons that we had organised, and that was still going strong? Crickets. 🦗 Yes people had made friends for life, and were busy hustling in the crypto industry. Maybe that was our one true contribution to the space. However, we just couldn’t pin point a 🦄 project born at one of our events. So here goes nothing, what if we changed things around, tried to slow down and tackle the hackathon hoping, gave the hackers more time and pushed them to showcase something more robust, more polished and well thought out? At least, that's our hope, that with this new format, inspired from our OtterTrack🦦 that we will witness and foster more quality projects with a chance at becoming proper crypto startups.

Are you keeping the Otter Track? 🦦

Yes, absolutely! More than ever, we want to lean into supporting the local and international startups.

I want to get involved!

We are so happy you want to join our shenanigans! 😎 Maybe you want speak? Hack? Sponsor? Your startup is ready to pass the rough seas of the OtterTrack? Our doors are always open, you can follow us on X and join our Telegram to get all the juiciest info. We will be opening the registration for the hackathon soon, the forms to apply as volunteer, or to speak as well. If you have more to share, you can always write to hello@cryptocanal.org, we will get back to you asap!

Anything else?

We just added an Otter Membership for our monthly meetups, and a ticketed option for those who would like to just have a name card. No worries, we also kept the free option, as we always want our meetups to be open to new, curious peeps about crypto. As such, for 15EUR/month the Otter membership gives you a few perks, like a fancy magnetic name card, a shoutout during the meetup and discounted tickets for Common S3nse.

Allow us to thank our sponsors who make this all possible 💜.

• Bitvavo

  • Bitvavo is the biggest crypto exchange in the Netherlands! Founded in 2018. It allows users to buy, sell and store a wide range of cryptocurrencies easily and securely. Bitvavo is known for its low trading fees, EU regulation compliance, and user-friendly platform aimed at both beginners and experienced traders.

• VanEck.

  • VanEck is a global investment management firm based in New York, known for its exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, and digital asset products. They offer a wide range of investment solutions, including crypto ETFs like Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, giving investors regulated access to digital assets through traditional markets.

• Edge Wallet

  • Edge is a privacy preserving, self-custody crypto trading wallet where you can buy, sell, swap hundreds of assets including privacy coins like Monero, Zcash, Zano, and Piratechain. Edge is open source, requires no KYC, and client-side encrypts all data in-app so not even Edge knows your settings or transaction info. Using simple login credentials, user wallets are automatically encrypted, backed up, and secured with 2FA without ever needing to write down seed phrases. Give it a try at edge.app/cryptocanal

• Cyber Capital

  • Since 2016, Cyber Capital has established itself as one of Europe’s most experienced cryptocurrency investment funds. In a sector defined by rapid change and high volatility, their high-conviction, fundamentals-driven strategies have consistently delivered results. (If you invest, do tell them we sent you!)

“Money is too important to be left to central bankers.” Milton Friedman, often quoted in interviews and lectures (1960s–1970s)

“I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.” Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison (1787)