Bitcoin Chronicles: Youth, Community, and Conference Reflections

This article was written for the Magazine published by Bitcoin FilmFest (BEHIND THE BIG SCREEN, BEHIND THE STORIES UNFOLD) on the occasion of the second annual edition of their festival.

Dear Reader, I don't know how old you are or how many bitcoin events you've been to. But numbers are not the most important thing right now! What I really want to share with you are my personal experiences, observations and reflections.

I also want to show you that while every conference has its own vibe, I really hope that most of them will start including youngsters in their program. Without further ado, let's take a quick journey through my last few years with bitcoin, events, and communities.

My Exploration of Bitcoin Events

I’ve been to many Bitcoin conferences in the last four years, and they’ve always been such great fun. Each conference brings old friends back together, and welcomes new friends into the mix… and each conference has its own charm. 

Surfin’ Bitcoin in Biarritz was the first conference I went to, and while it’s not my favorite event, it’s where I first met most of the people I know until now, those who happily I call also my uncles and aunts. 

While others could assume that the best conference I went to was Bitcoin Amsterdam 2022 because of how big and how extravagant it was, that's not true. Of course it was amazing in many ways — fun, dynamic, and well arranged, but my two favorite conferences were Liberty in Our Lifetime organized by the Free Cities Foundation, which by the way, isn’t all about bitcoin, but rather about freedom and the sense of community, as well as Baltic Honeybadger in Riga, which I joined in September 2023.

By the way, if you've never been to an event in Riga and you're wondering why it's on my favorites list, let me give you a little more insight.

It wasn't as large as BTC Amsterdam, nor was it set by the beach like Surfin' Bitcoin… Certainly, it was different, genuine, and somehow even homey in its own way. It was the unique vibe that made this event so memorable. The building wasn't too big, nor was it too small.

It wasn’t overcrowded, but it didn't feel empty — it had a lively and cozy atmosphere. Baltic Honeybadger felt for me, or maybe still is, so different from most conferences I've been to. Everything about it just felt perfect, simply better in many ways.

Still, Riga holds a special place in my heart — as the whole experience, from the first speakers' night to the last evening at the Basement bar, was not just because of the program, but also because of the people I met there. Some of them I’ve also invited to join me to the kids stage in Madeira, at Bitcoin Atlantis, which did bring a great result. 

Actually, it was at Baltic Honeybadger where I first tweeted about having a Bitcoin conference for kids, or at least having a stage. It wouldn't have happened this year at Atlantis if it weren't for Riga — without the mentors I met there.

Why am I talking about this? Well, there are a few reasons:

One is to share my experiences, and another, which is perhaps even more important, is to show you that there should not be official rankings for conferences being better or worse.

• It's all about how you feel about certain things.
• It's up to you, as a participant, to decide what matters most.
• It's about the experiences you seek and the memories you carry after each event. 

Free nations and free generations

The reasons I enjoy the Free Cities Foundation conference so much aren't too different from why I liked Riga’s Honeybadger so much. The building was lovely, again not too big, not too small, which may have helped me experience something unique and beautiful. In fact, something that I will tell you about in just a minute... At that event I didn’t watch any of the panels, presentations or talks (Oops, sorry for that), but I definitely made the most of my time.

It is because I found a friend; and more importantly, a friend my age!
We spent the whole weekend together, hanging out at the conference hall all day, going to the speakers' dinner, getting to know each other better, and enjoying every moment.

I hope that the Bitcoin film festival you are attending this year, especially since it is combined with the European Halving Party, will be really special for you. At the end of the day, it is not another conference, but more like an experience. It is mixing together films, culture, fun and games while bringing inspiration, education and networking with others.

The Power of Youth

I started writing this text just before Bitcoin Atlantis, and now, finishing it a few days after the conference, I can honestly say that the March event in Madeira is now at the top of my list.

Ah, Bitcoin Atlantis! The conference itself was a huge success, but what truly touched me was the dedicated stage for kids and teens. The dream I've had for a long time and finally started talking about during the previously mentioned event in Riga.

Yet, it wasn’t just an achievement for me and Frankee, the co-producer of the kids' area. It was an achievement for André Loja, who organized the entire conference and was the first to incorporate a dedicated space for younger participants.

It was also an achievement for all those families that got to come together, for the speakers on all stages, and most of all, it was an achievement for the kids who joined us there—either to watch their parents on stage or to be on stage themselves. They made the entire experience by watching, talking, winning prizes for games they played, and being involved in the program.

This conference has changed our community!

I’d love to know that the organizers of other events and conferences were watching closely and that they will consider doing what we just did there, in Madeira at Bitcoin Atlantis.

It has a bright future and is definitely something we all need.

I understand that it may not be easy to implement, but the hard work of including everyone pays off so much! Not only were adults thanking me, but kids were also expressing their gratitude and eagerness to be part of it, asking what they can do and how they can help educate our peers.

These moments are absolutely priceless, and I really hope that we can all have them more often.

If you like this idea, looking to contribute, or know anyone who may be, reach out to me on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Thank you.
Sophia