Join the Future of
Blockchain Innovation
We're selecting up to 200 participants who will shape the next generation of decentralized applications.
Individual Builders
Developers, researchers, designers, operators, product/growth minds—anyone who builds or wants to build something meaningful in the blockchain space.
Scholarship Application
Get financial support for your journey
Builder Application
Join as a project builder and creator
Startups & Teams
Early-stage teams (valuation <$30M) building real-world applications across Ethereum, AI, or frontier tech—with ambition to shape how people coordinate, create, and interact.
Mentorship & Speakers
Share knowledge and guide others
Partnership Application
Collaborate as a strategic partner
Support the Community
Help us build something extraordinary together through volunteering or sponsorship.
Volunteer Program
Help shape the future of Zukas
Sponsorship
Partner with us to support innovation
Ready to Build the Future?
Join with a prototype or just an idea. What matters is your intent to build something real that impacts the world.
What is ZuKas & Why Does it Exist?
ZuKas is a living initiative rooted in the historically rich lands of the Mediterranean where early democratic traditions first emerged. It brings together Web3 technologies, participatory governance, and cosmolocalism to prototype future civilizations. Inspired by ZUZALU, it reimagines this idea by grounding it in deep local and historical contexts, transforming it into a hybrid laboratory that builds bridges between the past and the future.
A hybrid laboratory that builds bridges between the past and the future.
Key Themes
Discover the foundational pillars that will shape the future of decentralized innovation
Economy
Exploring new economic paradigms rooted in both history and innovation — from barter and coinage to token economies and value-aligned currencies.
Governance
Decentralized, transparent, and participatory governance models that challenge hierarchical structures — with a strong focus on pluralism, consent, and shared responsibility.
Democracy
Reimagining democracy through the lens of ancient models like Patara, combined with modern-day digital democracies and quadratic voting mechanisms.
Network States
Community-first, digitally-native models of citizenship and coordination — exploring how global communities form sovereign identities and purpose-driven digital nations.
Zero-Knowledge (ZK)
Privacy-preserving technologies for identity, voting, and governance. ZK enables trustless collaboration without compromising individual rights.
Autonomous Agents & AI
From decision-making DAOs to on-chain AI wallets — ZUKAS explores how artificial intelligence and autonomous systems can responsibly participate in governance and value exchange.
ReFi (Regenerative Finance)
Finance designed for planetary health. ReFi tools redirect capital to local regeneration, climate action, and long-term sustainability.
d/acc (Decentralized Accelerationism)
Harnessing the momentum of technology with ethics in mind — pushing innovation while remaining aligned with community well-being.
Public Goods
Building infrastructure, culture, and tools that serve everyone — prioritizing open-source, community-owned, and long-term value systems.
DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks)
Deploying community-owned infrastructure — such as mesh networks, energy grids, and sensors — that operate on-chain. DePIN enables local empowerment through globally coordinated, token-incentivized physical systems.
Economy
Exploring new economic paradigms rooted in both history and innovation — from barter and coinage to token economies and value-aligned currencies.
Why ZUKAS?
Zuzalu, initiated by Vitalik Buterin, was a prototype of a borderless society, built on temporary cohabitation and co-creation. It was bold, experimental, and influential.
ZUKAS inherits its spirit, but adds:
Patara Assembly
The birthplace of recorded democratic practice
Lycian Way
A cultural memory trail across the region
Natural Beauty
Sea, mountains, history, biodiversity
Digital Nomad Hub
A rising remote work destination post-COVID
Local-Global Bridge
Craft meets code; heritage meets future
Patara Assembly
The birthplace of recorded democratic practice
Lycian Way
A cultural memory trail across the region
Natural Beauty
Sea, mountains, history, biodiversity
Digital Nomad Hub
A rising remote work destination post-COVID
Local-Global Bridge
Craft meets code; heritage meets future
Activities & Experiences
Discover the unique activities and experiences that make Kaş a perfect destination
Unique Natural Beauty
Yoga and Meditation
Paragliding
Kaputas & Patara Beaches
Scuba Diving
Saklıkent Canyon
Long Bazaar and King's Tomb
Lycian Way Trekking
Antiphellos Ancient City
Sea Canoeing
Ready to Experience ZUKAS?
Join us in Kaş for an unforgettable experience where ancient wisdom meets modern innovation.
EVENT TIMELINE & DAILY SCHEDULE
ZUKAS will take place from September 9–19, 2025, immediately following Builders Week Istanbul. Each day follows a core theme.
Sep 9 (Tue)
Arrival & Community
Arrival & Participant Check-in
Optional City Walk
Opening Dinner & Party
Open-air venue with music & social mixing
Sep 10 (Wed)
Pluralist Economy
Light Hike on the Lycian Way
Local trail introduction & community warm-up
Pluralist Economy Night
Interactive Panel & Fireside Talks
Sep 11 (Thu)
Isonomia Nights
Sunrise Yoga at the Ancient Theater
Ancient democracy wasn't in a boardroom — it was under the sun, by the sea
Isonomia Nights – A Party for Equals
Interactive voting & collective decisions
Sep 12 (Fri)
ZK Sunrise
ZK Sunrise – Zero-Knowledge in the Sky
Coffee + Concept Session: Intro to Zero-Knowledge Voting
⚠️ LimitedOptional Paragliding Experience: ZK in the Sky
Pluralist Agora Night
Interactive Agora Simulation
Sep 13 (Sat)
Hike into Sovereignty
Hike into Sovereignty
Guided walk on the Lycian Way
Citizens of Nowhere, Builders of Everywhere
Open mic & storytelling night
Sep 14 (Sun)
Boat Trip into Self & Sea
Boat Trip into Self & Sea
Morning boat tour to hidden bays
⚠️ LimitedOptional snorkeling, silence session, open reflections
Meyhane Night: A Taste of Culture
Traditional Turkish meyhane dinner by the sea
Sep 15 (Mon)
Longevity & Local Rituals
Longevity & Local Rituals
Sunrise wellness session + Turkish herbal tea bar
Cypherpunk & D/ACC
Evening session
Sep 16 (Tue)
Patara Field Trip
Patara Field Trip – Origins of Civic Systems
Guided visit to Patara: ancient parliament building
⚠️ LimitedProtocol Celebration Night – Pre-Hackathon Party
1-min open idea sparks
Sep 17-18
HACKATHON
🏆 Winning teams will be recognized in a final ceremony
Sep 19 (Fri)
Silent Goodbye
Silent Goodbye Walk
Guided silent walk from the Ancient Theater to the harbor
🔥 The Grand Finale – ZUKAS Temple Night
Techno & downtempo DJ set until sunrise
Ready to Join ZUKAS 2025?
Experience 10 days of ancient wisdom meets modern innovation in the heart of Kaş.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
ZUKAS is designed for a unique blend of individuals and communities who are not only passionate about innovation, but also eager to embed that innovation in meaningful historical, local, and social contexts.
This is not a typical tech conference. It is a living, co-created experiment for those who want to build the future of decentralized communities with a deep sense of place, history, and participation.
Web3 Developers & DAO Founders
Those building the next generation of decentralized applications, governance tools, and digital infrastructure.
Academics & Researchers
Individuals exploring ancient governance models, participatory democracy, and the socio-political implications of blockchain.
Digital Nomads & Remote Creatives
Professionals seeking purpose-driven community, experimenting with new ways of living, working, and contributing.
Local Artisans & Entrepreneurs
Makers and small business owners interested in integrating their craft and trade with global innovation tools.
Cultural Producers & Artists
Those shaping collective imagination through storytelling, rituals, performance, and community experiences.
📈 EXPECTED OUTCOMES
ZUKAS is not a one-time event. It's the first node of an evolving network of regenerative, decentralized, and culturally rooted communities.
Evolving Network
The first node of an evolving network of regenerative, decentralized, and culturally rooted communities.
Extended Impact
What we build here will extend beyond the event through structures, publications, tools, and collective memory.
Collective Memory
Creating lasting connections and shared experiences that form the foundation for future collaborations.
Innovation Tools
Developing practical tools and frameworks that can be applied in other communities worldwide.
What we build here will extend beyond the event — through structures, publications, tools, and collective memory.