Crypto goes off-field at the Polo Cup

What if tech networking didn't happen under conference hall spotlights, but under the sun, beside a polo field?

That’s the idea behind the Crypto Polo Cup, an unconventional event created by Nikita Sachdev, founder of Luna PR. It brings together crypto founders, investors, and industry leaders – not for panels and pitches, but for real conversations, live sport, and community.

“We thought that these conferences, they're so transactional, they're so like, people go in on a mission, they know who they want to meet, they listen to talks, and people are selected to go on stage,” Sachdev told The Crypto Radio.

With the Crypto Polo Cup, she wanted to flip the format – turning structured agendas into spontaneous connections, where the focus is on building long-term relationships rather than closing short-term deals.

This year’s edition takes place on Sunday, April 27 at the Dubai Equestrian & Polo Club.

From genius code to global messaging

Now in its third year, the event is more than just a showcase of polo. It reflects Sachdev’s wider belief in translating emerging technologies for broader audiences.

“You are speaking in genius code. Let me take that and translate it to the rest of the world,” she said.

That focus on translation runs through everything Luna PR does. Every team member is expected to engage directly with the technology they promote.

“I tell my team, you got to trade crypto. You can't work in this company if you don't trade crypto, because that's how you're going to learn,” she said.

The same ethos led her to launch Studio 36 – a sister agency that helps early-stage projects develop the foundations they often lack: messaging, branding, and a clear sense of purpose.

Sachdev’s connection to the industry isn’t just professional – it’s deeply personal. “I fell in love with blockchain technology. Started investing in crypto. I had skin in the game. I was totally rooting for this industry,” she said.

Not just hype: learning the hard way

The approach is working. Despite torrential floods in Dubai last year, the event went ahead – and overdelivered.

“Last year it was the floods, Dubai floods, it was so crazy. It was like we were nervous that people weren't going to be able to come in. A lot of roads were closed. We had invited 500 people. 1,000 showed up,” Sachdev recalled.

High-profile attendees have included Roger Ver and executives from major exchanges like Solana and Binance. The event has clearly hit a nerve – offering something fresh in an industry that often relies on recycled formats.

Expanding beyond Dubai

With plans to take the concept global, Sachdev is exploring locations that merge cultural relevance with crypto enthusiasm.

“We are considering doing it in Argentina. Argentina is like, they're massive on Polo. It's a big market. They're also big on crypto,” she said.

She’s also looking at potential editions in the UK and Switzerland – including a snow polo event.

Making web3 more human

While the guest list includes many familiar names from the web3 space, the atmosphere isn’t overly exclusive. People are encourgaed to bring their partners, families, and collaborators – creating a more relaxed setting where conversations unfold naturally, beyond business.

“Let's just bring visionaries together and create friendships and long-term relationships over a game of sport,” said Sachdev.

Her broader mission is to help people understand that blockchain isn’t just for developers or traders. It’s a tool with the potential to reshape industries – and one that shouldn’t be gatekept by jargon.

For Sachdev, the Crypto Polo Cup isn’t just an event – it’s a statement. That human connection still matters. That innovation can happen on grass just as much as on GitHub.

With each edition, the event is becoming less of an experiment and more of a fixture – a reminder that how people meet matters just as much as what they’re building.