Bitcoin Amsterdam Above Euro Crisis – Bitcoin Magazine
This is an opinion editorial by Adam Taha, an entrepreneur with two decades of experience from government and corporate finance. Disclosure: Bitcoin Magazine is owned and operated by BTC Inc, the organizer of Bitcoin Amsterdam.
Speaking from the day one after party, Bitcoin Amsterdam is grand. BTC Inc knows how to throw a party in Miami, as we’ve all seen the huge success of the annual Bitcoin conferences there. Now BTC Inc has gone to Europe.
I have to admit that I was a little skeptical when I first heard about the conference in Amsterdam. I was wrong. Sitting here at the Westergas site, I can see the amount of enthusiasm and excitement surrounding Bitcoin. Companies, journalists, participants, entrepreneurs and others are all excited about this conference.
Plan B when Europe collapses
The backdrop to this Bitcoin conference is complete confusion in the UK and European fiat systems. EU lawmakers are in the process of finalizing a deal on a bill targeting Bitcoin, and the Bitcoin Conference is now coming as a form of response to that bill. People from all walks of life in Europe are here in Amsterdam to send EU lawmakers a message, loud and clear: People want Bitcoin, and no bills can quell it.
In addition, one of the world’s largest central banking events (Sibos) is held just six miles from the Bitcoin conference. One can only imagine their frustration as their system crumbles in slow motion. Not to forget, the chaos in Britain when Liz Truss today confirmed in the House of Commons that she “will not cut public spending.” Minutes later, Chris Philp (the UK Secretary of State for the Treasury) confirmed that the announced tax cuts will not be reversed. Many observers including myself are scratching their heads wondering where the money will come from if they don’t cut spending or reverse tax cuts? The fiat system is broken and central banks can’t fix it. With the US Inflation and Consumer Price Index (CPI) due to print tomorrow, Bitcoin’s case will only get stronger and central bankers will only get weaker as they venture further into chaos.
A bright, global future
Today I met people from Lebanon, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Morocco, Sweden, Iceland and many other places, all brought together by Bitcoin. What stood out to me was how eager bitcoiners were to help each other. Some talked about their experience with Lightning Network payments, others talked about entrepreneurial ideas, some talked about mining, others discussed different techniques to run their own nodes. Of course, this is not unusual for Bitcoiners, but it was very vivid today because this conference is the first of its kind in Europe, and most of the participants have never been to the conference in Miami. The desire to help each other, connect, guide and exchange ideas without looking for anything in return is truly unique and refreshing.
It was also powerful to see Greg Foss speak. He outlined in very simple terms how Bitcoin is mathematically inevitable, and how fiat is unsustainable. A unique exchange I had was inside the exhibition hall with an elderly and beautiful lady from Amsterdam named Brechtje. She told me that she had no idea how Bitcoin worked or how to use it, but she is participating out of curiosity and to learn more.
The first day of the conference was a great success, and the second day will be filled with more activities and events, plus more enthusiasm. I think this is the start of something big and maybe even more Bitcoin conferences in several other EU cities, as well as maybe conferences in Asia and Latin America in the future, who knows. For a few minutes I lost myself in a conversation with other Bitcoiners about the pros and cons of various other cities around the world to hold a Bitcoin conference in, with the same excitement as one talks about a vacation or a campaign or a new adventure. Every Bitcoiner wants to be an ambassador for Bitcoin. We reminded ourselves that for now, Amsterdam is the perfect place to be to support Bitcoin and watch the fiat system implode.
This is a guest post by Adam Taha. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.
