The Australian Government has jumped head-first into the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency by sponsoring the industry’s most popular conference, Consensus.

The deal has been organised through Canberra’s trade and investment body, Austrade, which is listed as a ‘two block sponsor’ on the Consensus 2019 website.

The conference, which will be held in New York from May 13-15, is one of the landmark events on the blockchain calendar.

Last year, more than 8,000 people attended from 800 companies and 35 countries.

The Australian companies involved included eNome, Civic Ledger and Enosi.

Australia’s mission to Consensus 2019

Austrade has revealed the Department of Industry, Innovation, and Science will be paying for 30 Australian companies to the conference this year.

The delegation will convene for a pre-departure briefing, a welcome reception and a networking dinner. It will also have along with access to the ‘Australia Lounge,’ which is an exclusive space at the conference venue in the New York Hilton Hotel.

“The Australia Lounge will provide a space for networking as well as a venue for delegates to hold one-on-one client/partner meetings,” Austrade says.

Attendance on the mission is valued at AU$2,800 and includes a conference ticket to Consensus.

Which companies are going?

Austrade says it has chosen companies that have “a blockchain Proof of Concept and are ready to scale internationally.” The companies also needed has a clear motive for attending and were asked to prove they operate ethically.

Here are the businesses that were chosen:

A Backbone Computing Solution

AEM Technologies

BuildSort

CircularTree

Darwin Ledger

Enosi

Flex Apps

Future Focus Hub

Geora

HCash Tech

Horizon State

Impact Tech

InfiniGold

Labrys Group

LAG Foundation

Matrix Thread

Nem Foundation

Novatti Group Limited

Pellar Technology

Power Ledger

Scalamed

Secure Health Chain

Sempo

Sharper Minds

SOBC Global

Tide Foundation

TravelbyBit

Tymlez Grpup Limited

Ultimo Digital Technologies

WeYouMe

Austrade says it worked with the Australian blockchain industry association and New York mission partner, ADCA, to identify and evaluate potential participants.

Micky wishes the Australian delegation all the best!