ETHDenver 2026 is experiencing a significant decline in side events, with only 56 confirmed compared to 668 in 2025, marking an 85% decrease. This downturn reflects broader industry cooling and concerns over the event's commercialization. Originally celebrated for its grassroots, developer-focused atmosphere, ETHDenver has faced criticism for becoming overly commercialized, with major sponsors dominating the event space. The decline in side events also coincides with broader industry challenges, including unmet expectations from new cryptocurrency policies under the Trump administration and the timing of the event clashing with the Chinese Lunar New Year. Despite these challenges, ETHDenver 2026 aims to maintain its focus on builders and community-driven innovation, emphasizing efficiency and integration in its programming.