By André Beganski
Compiled by Luffy, Foresight News
Bitcoin enthusiast Kenneth Bosak at the Bitcoin 2024 conference. Image credit: André Beganski/Decrypt
The bitcoin fans who flocked to Nashville this year weren’t focused on price. Instead, they were soaking up the bull market and chatting with like-minded attendees.
For many, this wasn’t their first Bitcoin conference. But it was nothing like it was 14 months ago in Miami, when the price of Bitcoin was hovering around $28,000.
At the main entrance of the conference, there was a warning sign prohibiting items from being brought in, with the warning "No bears allowed" being very prominent, and the participants from all over the world seemed to be delighted by this.
Melanin Solar CEO John Karanja at the Bitcoin 2024 conference. Image credit: André Beganski/Decrypt
John Karanja, CEO of Kenya-based Melanin Solar, a bitcoin mining company, almost missed the conference. A technical glitch with CrowdStrike software put his travel plans in jeopardy, and he was scrambling to find a flight that would arrive at the last minute.
“I had a hard time getting here because of flight restrictions,” he told Decrypt, “so I’m excited about the great atmosphere and the music, especially country music. I want to enjoy the experience.”
The entrepreneur attended his first Bitcoin conference in Amsterdam in 2014. Although he believes 2023 will be a down year for Bitcoin, he has high hopes for this year, expecting 20,000 attendees to attend the event.
Keiko Yoshino, executive director of the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association, at the Bitcoin 2024 conference. Image credit: André Beganski/Decrypt
Keiko Yoshino, executive director of the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association, said one of her favorite things about bitcoin conferences is being able to network with people from similar backgrounds.
On her way to a “Women in Bitcoin lunch” event, Yoshino said the industry has come a long way since she last attended the annual conference in Miami in 2021. Tickets for the event are already sold out, according to conference organizers.
“It’s predominantly white male, let’s not kid ourselves,” she said, “but at the same time you see all kinds of people from all over the world.”
She was looking forward to Thursday’s screening of “Dirty Coin,” a documentary chronicling the changing bitcoin mining industry. For her, seeing people walk into the venue also gave her a tangible insight into an industry that exists primarily online.
“I think it’s awesome that the community has grown so big, because sometimes I felt like it was too small or everyone was against it,” Yoshino said. “But it’s awesome to see so many people believe in decentralization.”
Kenneth Bosak, the Philadelphia crypto enthusiast pictured at the top of this article, was excited to be at the Nashville conference this year, though he said it was like the “300th crypto conference” he’d attended.
“I got this Bitcoin wallet tattoo when Bitcoin hit $1,000,” he said, pointing to a QR code on his arm that served as proof of his OG status. “Now I feel a little closer to mass adoption every day.”
Bosak said he no longer uses the Bitcoin address on his tattoo. But it was his first Bitcoin wallet address, so it's still special to him. He also has a "diamond hand" tattoo, which further demonstrates his love for cryptocurrency.
Red Jacket Capital co-founder Dave Sanderson at the Bitcoin 2024 conference. Image credit: André Beganski/Decrypt
Before the conference's opening keynote, Dave Sanderson, co-founder of Canadian financial advisory firm Red Jacket Capital, sat at the front of the event's main stage.
“I’ve never been to Nashville before, so this is a great opportunity,” he said. “You can watch the show on YouTube, but it’s hard to be here and talk to the people and hang out.”
Sanderson, who has a background in traditional finance, believes bitcoin fans are unique. He said bitcoin prices are less important to them than those in traditional finance, who feel asset price declines more acutely.
“I’m in the traditional investing world, and in that world, when prices go down, people get upset,” he said. “But I come here and people don’t seem to care about prices. They’re less tied to the current market price of an asset.”
