Eman Pulis

Eman Pulis is a Maltese entrepreneur best known as the founder of SiGMA Group, a media and events business that runs international conferences across iGaming and adjacent technology verticals. In the crypto and digital assets context, Pulis is also associated with AIBC, an events brand that has hosted programming focused on blockchain, Web3, AI, and digital innovation, often with an emphasis on how emerging technology intersects with regulated industries such as gaming and payments.

Overview

Pulis’ influence in the broader blockchain ecosystem is primarily market-facing rather than technical. SiGMA and AIBC function as convening platforms where operators, vendors, investors, and service providers meet to discuss product trends, compliance expectations, and cross-border commercial opportunities. This role has become more relevant as crypto payment rails, on-chain identity tooling, and blockchain analytics have increased their presence in gaming, fintech, and online commerce.

History and Background

SiGMA Group states that it was founded by Pulis in 2014, with the original SiGMA event positioned around the iGaming sector. In a 2025 interview published by SiGMA World, Pulis described growing up in Malta and moving from nightlife event organizing into conference production, framing the first SiGMA summit in 2014 as the starting point for the group’s subsequent expansion.

SiGMA Group and Core Initiatives

SiGMA Group describes itself as an events and media organization focused on gaming, emerging tech, digital health, and affiliate marketing. The company also states that it employs over 340 people and operates offices in Malta, Limassol, Manila, São Paulo, Yerevan, and Belgrade. SiGMA Group outlines four primary pillars that support its business model, combining conferences with digital properties and ecosystem initiatives.

• SiGMA Events, a multi-region conference series that SiGMA says includes thousands of exhibitors and delegates across multiple summits annually.
• SiGMA Play, an affiliate-oriented platform that SiGMA says launched in 2020 to connect players with casino and sportsbook operators through reviews, guides, and related content.
• Venture activity via Ikigai Ventures, described by SiGMA as a seed-stage vehicle that focuses on areas including esports, blockchain, fintech, and AI.
• SiGMA Foundation, the group’s philanthropic arm, which the company frames as supporting fundraising and skills-based initiatives.

AIBC and Blockchain-Adjacent Programming

AIBC traces its origins to Malta in 2018 and positions itself as a platform at the intersection of crypto, blockchain, Web3, and AI. SiGMA World’s coverage of AIBC has described the brand’s mission as connecting emerging technologies with iGaming, including practical topics such as crypto-enabled payments and the application of AI in responsible gaming and compliance workflows. As a result, AIBC has often attracted a mix of technology vendors, industry operators, and policy-adjacent speakers, reflecting the regulatory sensitivity of both gaming and digital assets.

Use Cases and Market Position

For crypto companies, conferences like SiGMA and AIBC can function as distribution and partnership channels. Payment processors, stablecoin and settlement providers, on-chain monitoring vendors, and identity verification platforms frequently compete for adoption in sectors that operate across jurisdictions and require sophisticated risk controls. CryptoSlate has referenced this overlap in coverage of the Malta conference scene and its “Blockchain Island” narrative, including reporting around the Malta Blockchain Summit and related events.

SiGMA-branded events have also appeared in CryptoSlate’s sponsored press release stream as venues where crypto payment companies market to iGaming operators, reflecting a sustained commercial link between the two industries. For example, CryptoSlate has published announcements tied to participation in SiGMA Europe Rome 2025. Within CryptoSlate’s sector framing, this relationship often falls under the broader umbrella of gambling-related crypto markets, where the operational realities of payouts, KYC, and cross-border settlement can shape adoption decisions.

Risks and Considerations

Event-driven businesses face cyclical exposure to sponsorship budgets, travel demand, and macroeconomic shifts that affect marketing spend. In iGaming and crypto-adjacent verticals, reputational and regulatory risks are also material, since licensing rules and advertising standards vary widely by jurisdiction. For conferences that position themselves at the intersection of regulated gaming and emerging technology, careful curation and clear compliance messaging can be important to avoid amplifying unverified claims from exhibitors or speakers. Finally, the pace of change in crypto markets can alter attendee composition and vendor priorities quickly, creating pressure to keep programming current and practically relevant.

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