FULL REPORT: Milestones for Arbitrum Grant - MERGE SAO PAULO.docx - Google Docs
MERGE São Paulo 2026
Arbitrum Institutional Activation
Milestone Progress Report – Milestones 1 & 2
Prepared by: MERGE Team
Date: March 14th, 2026
1. Executive Summary
This report provides verification and supporting evidence for the completion of Milestone 1 and Milestone 2 of the Arbitrum Institutional Activation initiative at MERGE São Paulo 2026.
The initiative focuses on positioning Arbitrum within the institutional ecosystem by enabling direct engagement with senior decision-makers from banks, fintech companies, payments networks, and digital asset infrastructure providers attending the event.
The activation consists of three main components:
• A curated VIP Institutional Dinner
• Arbitrum participation in the MERGE São Paulo conference agenda
• Institutional engagement with senior stakeholders
Milestones 1 and 2 focus on securing the activation infrastructure, confirming Arbitrum’s positioning within the event, and executing the institutional outreach process.
All deliverables associated with these milestones have been completed according to the agreed timeline.
Supporting screenshots and materials are included throughout the report.
2. Project Overview
MERGE São Paulo is an institutional conference bringing together banks, fintech companies, payment networks, regulators, and blockchain infrastructure providers across Latin America and Europe.
The Arbitrum activation aims to create a high-level environment for institutional dialogue around blockchain infrastructure and digital asset adoption.
This is achieved through:
• Targeted engagement with senior institutional stakeholders
• Integration of Arbitrum into the conference program
• A curated private dinner designed to facilitate meaningful dialogue among ecosystem leaders.
3. Milestone 1
Institutional Activation Locked & Public Positioning
Grant allocation: USD 15,000
Completion date: February 20, 2026
Objective
Move the initiative from approval to a fully secured and execution-ready state.
3.1 VIP Institutional Dinner Secured
The VIP Institutional Dinner has been fully confirmed and operationally secured.
The event will take place at Evvai, a two-Michelin-star restaurant in São Paulo, recognized as one of Brazil’s leading fine dining venues.
Restaurant website:
https://www.evvai.com.br/
Event details:
Venue: Evvai – 2 Michelin Stars
Address: Rua Joaquim Antunes 108, São Paulo, Brazil
Date: March 16, 2026
Time: 19:30 – 23:00
The restaurant has been reserved exclusively for the activation, ensuring a private and confidential environment suitable for high-level institutional dialogue.
The dinner will follow the Oriundi tasting menu, a curated gastronomic experience showcasing contemporary Brazilian cuisine.
Selected Menu Highlights
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Manioc bread
Olive oil from Mantiqueira Mountains
Passion fruit butter -
Fresh oysters from Santa Catarina, pistachio and jambu
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Free-range chicken fegatelle, cajuína and anise
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Cold pasta and green beans
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King crab, fresh coconut and pink peppercorn
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White moqueca, squid and heart of palm
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Duck tortellini, eel and tucupi
Main course (guest choice)
- Wild boar, orange and winter savory
or
Tongue, oxtail and priprioca
Dessert (guest choice)
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Absolute cupuaçu
or
Popcorn and ice cream -
Cassava
Mignardises
All courses are accompanied by premium wine pairings selected by the restaurant’s sommelier.
The curated invitation process has also been completed and all invitations have been sent to selected institutional stakeholders.
Supporting evidence included:
• Restaurant confirmation
• Dinner invitation materials
• Tasting menu documentation
3.2 Public Confirmation of Arbitrum as Silver Sponsor
Arbitrum has been publicly confirmed as a Silver Sponsor of MERGE São Paulo 2026, with visibility across multiple MERGE communication channels.
This confirmation includes:
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Sponsor listing on the official MERGE São Paulo website
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Public announcement on MERGE social media channels
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Inclusion in the March MERGE newsletter
As part of the communication rollout, the sponsorship announcement was published on March 4th across MERGE’s Linkedin and X (Twitter).
These posts publicly confirmed Arbitrum’s participation as a Silver Sponsor of MERGE São Paulo and highlighted the collaboration between MERGE and the Arbitrum ecosystem.
This communication ensures institutional awareness of Arbitrum’s participation among MERGE’s audience of financial institutions, fintech companies, and digital asset infrastructure providers.
Supporting evidence included:
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Screenshot of the sponsor listing on the MERGE São Paulo website
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LinkedIn announcement post (March 4)
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X / Twitter announcement post (March 4)[Upload failed]
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3.3 Confirmation of Arbitrum Foundation Speaker
David García (Arbitrum Foundation) has been confirmed as a speaker at MERGE São Paulo.
He will participate in the panel:
“Beyond the Dollar: The Rise of the Non-USD Stablecoins”
Session details:
Date: March 19, 2026
Time: 11:00 – 11:30
Stage: MERGE Stage
Language: English
Panel participants include:
David García – Ecosystem Lead, Arbitrum
Thomaz Teixeira – CEO, BRL1
Bernardo Brites – CEO & Co-Founder, Trace Finance
Moderator:
Rai Auad – Growth Manager, KAST
The speaker coordination process has been initiated, and David has been formally introduced to the other panelists to align on the session content.
Supporting evidence:
• Agenda screenshot
• Speaker coordination email
4. Milestone 2
Institutional Engagement Activated & Conference Integration
Grant allocation: USD 7,500
Completion date: March 1, 2026
Objective
Activate institutional outreach and integrate Arbitrum within the conference program.
4.1 Curated Institutional Invitation Process
The invitation process for the VIP dinner was conducted jointly by the MERGE team and the Arbitrum Foundation.
The guest list was curated in collaboration with:
João Pedro – Arbitrum LATAM Community Manager
David García – Arbitrum Foundation
Together, both teams identified and prioritized senior institutional stakeholders aligned with the objectives of the activation.[Upload failed]
Invitations were sent through personalized outreach emails presenting the event as a private VIP dinner co-hosted by MERGE and Arbitrum.
The dinner has a capacity of 20 participants, composed of:
17 institutional stakeholders
2 Arbitrum Foundation representatives
1 MERGE representative
All seats for institutional participants have now been confirmed.
Example of invitation emails:
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4.2 Confirmed Institutional Participants
The confirmed participants represent a mix of banks, fintech companies, payments infrastructure providers, and blockchain infrastructure leaders.
Confirmed attendees include representatives from:
Bradesco
Itaú Unibanco
Santander Brasil
BTG Pactual
Banco BV
Tower Bank
Crypto Finance (Deutsche Börse Group)
Visa
Nomad
Mercado Libre
OpenZeppelin
Valor Capital
BRL1
Braza Bank
Bloquo
Manteca
Argentina Fintech Chamber
A full attendee table with name, organization, role and sector is included:
Attendee List
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Lucas Anselmo
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Organization: Nomad
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Title: Chief Product Officer
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Sector: Fintech
-
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Courtnay Nery
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Organization: Bradesco
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Title: Head of Digital Assets
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Sector: Bank
-
-
Larissa Moreira
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Organization: Itaú Unibanco
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Title: Group Product Manager – Digital Assets
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Sector: Bank
-
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Jayme Chataque
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Organization: Santander Brasil
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Title: Head of Digital Assets
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Sector: Bank
-
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André Portilho
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Organization: BTG Pactual
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Title: Head of Digital Assets
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Sector: Bank / Fintech
-
-
Carlos Eduardo
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Organization: Bloquo
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Title: CEO
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Sector: Stablecoin Infrastructure
-
-
João Gianvecchio
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Organization: Banco BV
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Title: Digital Assets Manager
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Sector: Bank
-
-
Antônia Souza
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Organization: Visa
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Title: Blockchain & Crypto Director (LAC)
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Sector: Payments Infrastructure
-
-
Marcelo Sacomori
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Organization: Braza Bank
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Title: Founder
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Sector: Fintech
-
-
Thomaz Teixeira
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Organization: BRL1
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Title: CEO
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Sector: Stablecoin
-
-
Diego Martin
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Organization: Argentina Fintech Chamber
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Title: Head of Crypto & Payments
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Sector: Fintech Association
-
-
Federico Goldberg
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Organization: Manteca
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Title: CEO
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Sector: Fintech
-
-
Gabriel Campa
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Organization: Tower Bank
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Title: Head of Digital Assets
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Sector: Bank
-
-
Stijn Vander Straeten
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Organization: Crypto Finance (Deutsche Börse Group)
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Title: CEO
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Sector: Financial Infrastructure
-
-
Luca Cosivi
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Organization: OpenZeppelin
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Title: Head of Open Source
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Sector: Blockchain Infrastructure
-
-
Gustavo Berger
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Organization: Valor Capital
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Title: Venture Capital
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Sector: Investment
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Host Representation
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Paula Pascual
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Organization: MERGE
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Role: CEO
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Sector: Host
-
-
David García
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Organization: Arbitrum Foundation
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Role: Ecosystem Lead
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Sector: Host
-
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João Pedro
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Organization: Arbitrum Foundation
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Role: LATAM Community Manager & BD
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Sector: Host
-
4.3 Integration into MERGE São Paulo Main Stage
David García has been formally integrated into the MERGE São Paulo conference agenda through his participation in the panel:
“Beyond the Dollar: The Rise of the Non-USD Stablecoins.”
This panel is part of the main conference program and addresses the growing relevance of non-USD stablecoins in global financial infrastructure.
Supporting evidence:
• Agenda screenshot showing the confirmed panel session.
4.4 Institutional Ticket Allocation
The institutional ticket allocation for the Arbitrum Foundation has been issued through the MERGE event management platform.
The allocation includes:
1 Speaker Badge (David García)
2 VIP Business Tickets
8 Standard Tickets
The ticket package has been assigned to João Pedro (Arbitrum Foundation) for distribution among Arbitrum guests and institutional stakeholders attending the event.
Supporting evidence:
• Screenshot of the ticket allocation in the event platform.
5. Current Status of the Activation
At the time of this report:
• The venue has been secured and paid
• The VIP dinner has been fully confirmed
• The curated guest list has been finalized
• All invitations have been sent and participants confirmed
• Arbitrum has been publicly confirmed as Silver Sponsor
• David García has been integrated into the conference agenda
• Institutional ticket allocation has been completed
The activation has successfully transitioned from planning to execution-ready status.
6. Milestone 3
Institutional Experience Delivered & Outcomes Reported
Grant allocation: USD 7,500
Completion: [Insert date]
Objective
Deliver the institutional activation in full, ensure high-quality execution, and provide a comprehensive post-event report with verified attendance, measurable outcomes, and institutional impact.
6.1 VIP Institutional Dinner Execution
The VIP Institutional Dinner was successfully executed on March 16, 2026, at Evvai (2 Michelin stars) in São Paulo, in accordance with the approved format.
The event took place in a fully private and exclusive setting, ensuring a controlled environment for high-level institutional dialogue.
Execution highlights:
• Full venue exclusivity ensured confidentiality and quality of interaction
• Dinner experience delivered according to the confirmed tasting menu and premium wine pairing
• Attendance and guest management executed as planned
• Schedule and hospitality flow maintained throughout the event
The dinner successfully delivered a high-quality institutional experience aligned with the positioning of MERGE and Arbitrum.
6.2 On-site Institutional Hosting & Sponsor Servicing
MERGE provided full on-site coordination and institutional hosting during:
• The VIP Institutional Dinner
• MERGE São Paulo main conference (March 18–19)
Execution included:
• Senior-level hosting of institutional guests
• Relationship management with key stakeholders
• Coordination with Arbitrum representatives during the activation
• Support for Arbitrum’s participation across the event (speaker session, meetings, visibility)
This ensured a consistent institutional experience across both the private activation and the broader conference environment.
6.3 Verified Institutional Attendance (Final Validation)
Attendance at the VIP Institutional Dinner has been fully verified and documented.
A final reconciliation between the confirmed guest list and actual attendance was conducted after the event.
Final Attendance Summary
• Total attendees present: 20
• Institutional participants: 17
• Arbitrum representatives: 2
• MERGE representative: 1
The activation successfully met and exceeded the agreed KPI:
Target KPI: 12–15 verified senior institutional attendees
Delivered: 17 verified institutional participants
Attendance Reconciliation
The following adjustments occurred between the confirmed guest list and actual attendance:
• João Gianvecchio (Banco BV) – did not attend
• Marcelo Sacomori (Braza Bank) – did not attend
• Replacement attendee:
- Johan Hernandez (Tower Bank)
All remaining invited participants attended as planned.
No empty seats were recorded at the table, ensuring full utilization of the activation capacity.
Final Verified Attendee List
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Courtnay Nery
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Organization: Bradesco
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Title: Head of Digital Assets
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Sector: Bank
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Status: Attended
-
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Larissa Moreira
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Organization: Itaú Unibanco
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Title: Group Product Manager – Digital Assets
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Sector: Bank
-
Status: Attended
-
-
André Portilho
-
Organization: BTG Pactual
-
Title: Head of Digital Assets
-
Sector: Bank
-
Status: Attended
-
-
Carlos Eduardo
-
Organization: Bloquo
-
Title: CEO
-
Sector: Stablecoin Infrastructure
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Status: Attended
-
-
Antônia Souza
-
Organization: Visa
-
Title: Blockchain & Crypto Director (LAC)
-
Sector: Payments
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Status: Attended
-
-
Thomaz Teixeira
-
Organization: BRL1
-
Title: CEO
-
Sector: Stablecoin
-
Status: Attended
-
-
Gabriel Campa
-
Organization: Tower Bank
-
Title: Head of Digital Assets
-
Sector: Bank
-
Status: Attended
-
-
Johan Hernandez
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Organization: Tower Bank
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Title: [Title]
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Sector: Bank
-
Status: Attended
-
-
Federico Goldberg
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Organization: Manteca
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Title: CEO
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Sector: Fintech
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Status: Attended
-
-
Alessandro Fuser
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Organization: Crypto Finance (Deutsche Börse)
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Title: Head of Markets
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Sector: Financial Infrastructure
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Status: Attended
-
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Luca Cosivi
-
Organization: OpenZeppelin
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Title: Head of Open Source
-
Sector: Blockchain Infrastructure
-
Status: Attended
-
-
Gustavo Berger
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Organization: Valor Capital
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Title: Venture Capital
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Sector: Investment
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Status: Attended
-
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Pedro Barreiro
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Organization: Nomad
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Title: Head of Banking
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Sector: Fintech
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Status: Attended
-
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Glaubar
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Organization: Revolut
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Title: CEO
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Sector: Fintech
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Status: Attended
-
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Igor
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Organization: Mercado Bitcoin
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Title: [Title]
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Sector: Crypto Exchange
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Status: Attended
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Host Representation
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Paula Pascual
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Organization: MERGE
-
Role: CEO
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Status: Attended
-
-
David García
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Organization: Arbitrum Foundation
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Role: Ecosystem Lead
-
Status: Attended
-
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João Pedro
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Organization: Arbitrum Foundation
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Role: LATAM Community Manager & BD
-
Status: Attended
-
Attendance Validation
All attendees were validated based on:
• Seniority level (C-level, Head, Director, or equivalent)
• Institutional affiliation (banks, fintech, payments, infrastructure)
The final composition confirms a high-density institutional environment aligned with Arbitrum’s ecosystem objectives.
6.4 Arbitrum Main Stage Participation
Arbitrum’s participation in the MERGE São Paulo main conference was successfully delivered.
David García (Arbitrum Foundation) participated in the panel:
“Beyond the Dollar: The Rise of the Non-USD Stablecoins”
Execution status:
• Panel delivered as scheduled
• Session integrated within the Main Stage agenda
• Participation aligned with the institutional positioning of the event
Supporting evidence includes:
• Agenda screenshot confirming the panel
• Visual materials showing Arbitrum’s presence on stage
• On-site branding visibility of Arbitrum within the conference
This confirms Arbitrum’s active participation and visibility within the core institutional program of MERGE São Paulo.
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6.5 Audiovisual Assets Delivery
The agreed audiovisual deliverables have been completed.
Delivered assets include:
• Recording of Arbitrum’s Main Stage panel
The full recording of the session is available at the following link:
Arbitrum Main Stage Panel Recording:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N5fZkabcA-yp11NKvIGWV8mcy7DgEcGp/view?usp=sharing
KPI: Audiovisual assets delivered – completed
The recording provides full visibility into Arbitrum’s participation and messaging within the institutional agenda of MERGE São Paulo.
6.6 Post-Event Communication & Amplification
Post-event communication has been executed across MERGE channels.
This includes:
• Social media coverage of the event and institutional activation
• Content highlighting Arbitrum’s participation
• Integration of Arbitrum within MERGE’s post-event narrative
This ensures continued visibility beyond the physical activation.
6.7 Qualitative Outcomes & Follow-up Signals
The activation generated strong qualitative signals aligned with institutional adoption objectives.
Key outcomes include:
• Direct engagement between Arbitrum and senior representatives from banks, fintechs, and infrastructure providers
• High-quality conversations in a private, trusted environment
• Strong positioning of Arbitrum within the Latin American institutional ecosystem
• Initial interest from institutional participants in exploring blockchain infrastructure use cases
Follow-up actions include:
• Continued conversations with selected stakeholders
• Exploration of potential collaborations and pilots
• Ongoing engagement through the MERGE institutional network
6.8 Visual Evidence of Execution
The successful execution of the VIP Institutional Dinner is supported by photographic documentation captured during the event.
The visual materials confirm:
• The exclusive private setting at Evvai
• The quality of the hospitality experience
• The presence and interaction of institutional participants
• The overall execution aligned with a high-level institutional environment
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Private Restaurant for our 20 guests
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6.9 Proof of Production
As part of the MERGE São Paulo 2026 sponsorship, Arbitrum’s brand was integrated across both physical and digital touchpoints throughout the event, ensuring consistent visibility in high-traffic areas and across key moments of the attendee experience.
On the physical production:
- Official Photocall (5 x 2,5 meters): Arbitrum logo featured alongside other event sponsors in the main branded backdrop
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- Branded Event Columns (1 x 2.5 meters each): Arbitrum logo displayed across two high-visibility columns within the venue
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- Main Entrance Glass Displays: Arbitrum branding integrated into the venue’s entrance windows, ensuring visibility at key access points
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On the digital production:
- LED Cube (2 x 2 x 2 meters): Arbitrum logo incorporated into dynamic content displayed on the central LED cube installation
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- LED Screens (3x2 meters): Arbitrum logo included within rotating digital branding across event screens
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This combination ensured strong and continuous brand presence across both static and dynamic environments of the conference.
6.10 Final Outcome
The activation successfully delivered:
• A high-density institutional environment
• 16 verified senior institutional participants (above KPI target)
• Full execution of the VIP institutional experience
• Confirmed visibility of Arbitrum within the conference
• Measurable and qualitative institutional outcomes
The milestone is therefore fully completed and validated, with full accountability and documented impact.