Speakers

Michael Saylor
Founder & Executive Chairman
Strategy

Michael Saylor
Founder & Executive Chairman
Strategy
Michael Saylor is the Founder & Executive Chairman of Strategy (MSTR), a publicly traded business intelligence firm & holder of more than ₿700,000 that he founded in 1989. He is also the founder of Alarm.com(ALRM), named inventor on 48+ patents, & author of the book “The Mobile Wave”. He founded the Saylor Academy (saylor.org), a non-profit that has provided free education to over 2 million students. He is an advocate for the Bitcoin Standard (hope.com) with dual degrees from MIT in Aerospace Engineering & History of Science. He posts his views on X @saylor and his website Michael.com. His 4 hour interview with Lex Fridman summarizes his thoughts on Bitcoin, Inflation, and the Future of Money with ~11 million views on YouTube.

Paul Atkins
Chairman
Securities and Exchange Commission

Paul Atkins
Chairman
Securities and Exchange Commission
Paul S. Atkins was sworn into office as the 34th Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 21, 2025, after being nominated by President Donald J. Trump on January 20, 2025, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 9, 2025.
Prior to returning to the SEC, Chairman Atkins was most recently chief executive of Patomak Global Partners, a company he founded in 2009. Chairman Atkins helped lead efforts to develop best practices for the digital asset sector. He served as an independent director and non-executive chairman of the board of BATS Global Markets, Inc. from 2012 to 2015.
Chairman Atkins was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as a Commissioner of the SEC from 2002 to 2008. During his tenure, he advocated for transparency, consistency, and the use of cost-benefit analysis at the agency. Chairman Atkins also represented the SEC at meetings of the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets and the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Economic Council. From 2009 to 2010, he was appointed a member of the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Before serving as an SEC Commissioner, Chairman Atkins was a consultant on securities and investment management industry matters, especially regarding issues of strategy, regulatory compliance, risk management, new product development, and organizational control.
From 1990 to 1994, Chairman Atkins served on the staff of two chairmen of the SEC, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt, ultimately as chief of staff and counselor, respectively. He received the SEC’s 1992 Law and Policy Award for work regarding corporate governance matters.
Chairman Atkins began his career as a lawyer in New York, focusing on a wide range of corporate transactions for U.S. and foreign clients, including public and private securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions. He was resident for 2½ years in his firm's Paris office and admitted as conseil juridique in France.
A member of the New York and Florida bars, Chairman Atkins received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1983 and was Senior Student Writing Editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review. He received his A.B., Phi Beta Kappa, from Wofford College in 1980.
Originally from Lillington, North Carolina, Chairman Atkins grew up in Tampa, Florida. He and his wife Sarah have three sons.
Prior to returning to the SEC, Chairman Atkins was most recently chief executive of Patomak Global Partners, a company he founded in 2009. Chairman Atkins helped lead efforts to develop best practices for the digital asset sector. He served as an independent director and non-executive chairman of the board of BATS Global Markets, Inc. from 2012 to 2015.
Chairman Atkins was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as a Commissioner of the SEC from 2002 to 2008. During his tenure, he advocated for transparency, consistency, and the use of cost-benefit analysis at the agency. Chairman Atkins also represented the SEC at meetings of the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets and the U.S.-EU Transatlantic Economic Council. From 2009 to 2010, he was appointed a member of the Congressional Oversight Panel for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Before serving as an SEC Commissioner, Chairman Atkins was a consultant on securities and investment management industry matters, especially regarding issues of strategy, regulatory compliance, risk management, new product development, and organizational control.
From 1990 to 1994, Chairman Atkins served on the staff of two chairmen of the SEC, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt, ultimately as chief of staff and counselor, respectively. He received the SEC’s 1992 Law and Policy Award for work regarding corporate governance matters.
Chairman Atkins began his career as a lawyer in New York, focusing on a wide range of corporate transactions for U.S. and foreign clients, including public and private securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions. He was resident for 2½ years in his firm's Paris office and admitted as conseil juridique in France.
A member of the New York and Florida bars, Chairman Atkins received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1983 and was Senior Student Writing Editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review. He received his A.B., Phi Beta Kappa, from Wofford College in 1980.
Originally from Lillington, North Carolina, Chairman Atkins grew up in Tampa, Florida. He and his wife Sarah have three sons.

Mike Selig
Chairman
Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Mike Selig
Chairman
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Michael S. Selig was sworn in on December 22, 2025 to serve as the 16th Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Chairman Selig was nominated by President Donald J. Trump to the post on October 27, 2025, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 18, 2025.
Chairman Selig brings to the role deep public and private sector experience working with a wide range of stakeholders across agriculture, energy, financial, and digital asset industries, which rely upon and operate in CFTC-regulated markets.
Prior to his leadership at the CFTC, Chairman Selig most recently served as chief counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Task Force and senior advisor to SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins. In this role, Chairman Selig helped to develop a clear regulatory framework for digital asset securities markets, harmonize the SEC and CFTC regulatory regimes, modernize the agency’s rules to reflect new and emerging technologies, and put an end to regulation by enforcement. He also participated in the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets and contributed to its report on “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology.”
Prior to government service, Chairman Selig was a partner at an international law firm, focusing on derivatives and securities regulatory matters. During his years in private practice, he represented a broad range of clients subject to regulation by the CFTC, including commercial end users, futures commission merchants, commodity trading advisors, swap dealers, designated contract markets, derivatives clearing organizations, and digital asset firms. Chairman Selig advised clients on compliance with the Commodity Exchange Act and the CFTC’s rules and regulations thereunder, including in connection with registration applications and obligations, enforcement matters, and complex transactions.
Chairman Selig earned his law degree from The George Washington University Law School and was articles editor of The George Washington Law Review. He received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University.
Chairman Selig brings to the role deep public and private sector experience working with a wide range of stakeholders across agriculture, energy, financial, and digital asset industries, which rely upon and operate in CFTC-regulated markets.
Prior to his leadership at the CFTC, Chairman Selig most recently served as chief counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Task Force and senior advisor to SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins. In this role, Chairman Selig helped to develop a clear regulatory framework for digital asset securities markets, harmonize the SEC and CFTC regulatory regimes, modernize the agency’s rules to reflect new and emerging technologies, and put an end to regulation by enforcement. He also participated in the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets and contributed to its report on “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology.”
Prior to government service, Chairman Selig was a partner at an international law firm, focusing on derivatives and securities regulatory matters. During his years in private practice, he represented a broad range of clients subject to regulation by the CFTC, including commercial end users, futures commission merchants, commodity trading advisors, swap dealers, designated contract markets, derivatives clearing organizations, and digital asset firms. Chairman Selig advised clients on compliance with the Commodity Exchange Act and the CFTC’s rules and regulations thereunder, including in connection with registration applications and obligations, enforcement matters, and complex transactions.
Chairman Selig earned his law degree from The George Washington University Law School and was articles editor of The George Washington Law Review. He received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University.

Arthur Hayes
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
Maelstrom

Arthur Hayes
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
Maelstrom
Arthur Hayes is the CIO of Maelstrom, a family office that invests across the crypto and web3 ecosystem. He is also the co-founder of BitMEX – the first crypto unicorn. Prior to entering the crypto industry, he worked as a trader in the capital markets divisions of Deutsche Bank and Citibank. Arthur holds a Bachelors of Economics from the Wharton School of Business. He has appeared on major business news networks including Bloomberg and CNBC. He is active on X (@cryptohayes) and releases a monthly newsletter (Crypto Trader Digest) read by thousands of investors globally.

Brent Johnson
CEO
Santiago Capital

Brent Johnson
CEO
Santiago Capital
Brent Johnson brings twenty-six years of experience in the financial markets to his position as CEO of Santiago Capital where he manages the assets of high net worth families via a combination of separately managed accounts and private funds.
He enjoyed more than nine years as a Managing Director at BakerAvenue, a $4 Billion Asset Manager and Wealth Management firm, with offices in San Francisco, Dallas and New York. During his time there he was the lead advisor for several of the firms largest clients.
Prior to joining BakerAvenue, Brent spent nine years at Credit Suisse in their private client group. He got his start as part of the training program at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) in New York prior to moving to San Francisco. He joined Credit Suisse in the fall of 2000 when the bank purchased DLJ.
Earlier in his career, Brent was a financial auditor for Philip Morris Management Company in New York City where he performed audits at the company’s headquarters as well as subsidiaries in Germany, Hong Kong, and Richmond, Virginia.
In addition to his role at Santiago Capital, he is also a member of the Advisory Board for Monetary Metals, a platform that allows investors to earn a yield on gold, paid in gold, by leasing and lending to qualified precious metals businesses in the industry.
Brent regularly gives interviews and speaks at conferences regarding precious metals, currencies & macroeconomic trends. He is well known as the originator of the “Dollar Milkshake Theory” and his views have been quoted in numerous print, online and television outlets. He lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico with his wife Mary and son Moses.
He enjoyed more than nine years as a Managing Director at BakerAvenue, a $4 Billion Asset Manager and Wealth Management firm, with offices in San Francisco, Dallas and New York. During his time there he was the lead advisor for several of the firms largest clients.
Prior to joining BakerAvenue, Brent spent nine years at Credit Suisse in their private client group. He got his start as part of the training program at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) in New York prior to moving to San Francisco. He joined Credit Suisse in the fall of 2000 when the bank purchased DLJ.
Earlier in his career, Brent was a financial auditor for Philip Morris Management Company in New York City where he performed audits at the company’s headquarters as well as subsidiaries in Germany, Hong Kong, and Richmond, Virginia.
In addition to his role at Santiago Capital, he is also a member of the Advisory Board for Monetary Metals, a platform that allows investors to earn a yield on gold, paid in gold, by leasing and lending to qualified precious metals businesses in the industry.
Brent regularly gives interviews and speaks at conferences regarding precious metals, currencies & macroeconomic trends. He is well known as the originator of the “Dollar Milkshake Theory” and his views have been quoted in numerous print, online and television outlets. He lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico with his wife Mary and son Moses.

Charles Edwards
Founder, CIO
Capriole Investments

Charles Edwards
Founder, CIO
Capriole Investments
Founder of Capriole Investments, Charles is a systematic macro investor with a decade of experience building trading algorithms. Creator of renown on-chain models including Hash Ribbons, Bitcoin Production Cost and Macro Index, and develops proprietary strategies from 200+ macro and crypto signals. A regular speaker on CNBC, the Investors Podcast, and at global conferences like TOKEN2049 (Singapore), Binance Blockchain Week (Dubai), Global Blockchain Show (Abu Dhabi), Consensus (HK) and Bitcoin2026 (Las Vegas). Featured in Forbes and across global media outlets. Charles shares market insights with 130,000+ X followers.

Caitlin Long
Founder & CEO
Custodia Bank

Caitlin Long
Founder & CEO
Custodia Bank
Caitlin Long is Founder & CEO of Custodia Bank. She became involved with Bitcoin in 2012 while she was a managing director at Morgan Stanley in New York (2007-16). Before that she worked at Credit Suisse (1997-2007) and Salomon Brothers (1994-97). From 2016-18 she jointly spearheaded a blockchain project for delivering market index data to Vanguard as chairman and president of Symbiont, an enterprise blockchain start-up. In 2017, after a flaw in a Wyoming law blocked her from donating appreciated bitcoin to endow a scholarship for female engineers at the University of Wyoming, she volunteered to help fix the statute. That led to her helping spearhead a multi-year initiative to make Wyoming, her native state, an oasis for blockchain companies in the US. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School (JD, 1994), the Kennedy School of Government (MPP, 1994) and the University of Wyoming (BA, 1990).

BTC Sessions
Educator
BTC Sessions

BTC Sessions
Educator
BTC Sessions
BTC Sessions is the world's most trusted bitcoin-only educator since 2016, teaching tens of millions of people how to get, use and secure Bitcoin on YouTube. He also offers custom Bitcoin education with his team at Bitcoin Mentor, and leads various international community initiatives alongside groups like the Human Rights Foundation.

Natalie Brunell
Author, Bitcoin is for Everyone
Talking Bitcoin

Natalie Brunell
Author, Bitcoin is for Everyone
Talking Bitcoin
Natalie Brunell a podcast host, educator, media commentator and author of the new book, Bitcoin is for Everyone.
Her popular show, the Coin Stories Podcast, features interviews with Bitcoin thought leaders and covers headlines related to finance and economic issues facing society. Coin Stories is the top Bitcoin education show in the world, and consistently ranks Top 10 in Business News podcasts.
Previously, Natalie was an award-winning TV journalist and investigative reporter. For more than 10 years she covered in-depth local and national news topics and holds a regional news Emmy for breaking news coverage as well as multiple Emmy nominations for investigative news stories.
Natalie was recently an adjunct professor of advanced communication and visual storytelling at the University of Southern California. She holds a Master’s of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University.
Her popular show, the Coin Stories Podcast, features interviews with Bitcoin thought leaders and covers headlines related to finance and economic issues facing society. Coin Stories is the top Bitcoin education show in the world, and consistently ranks Top 10 in Business News podcasts.
Previously, Natalie was an award-winning TV journalist and investigative reporter. For more than 10 years she covered in-depth local and national news topics and holds a regional news Emmy for breaking news coverage as well as multiple Emmy nominations for investigative news stories.
Natalie was recently an adjunct professor of advanced communication and visual storytelling at the University of Southern California. She holds a Master’s of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University.

Miles Jennings
Head of Policy & General Counsel
A16z crypto

Miles Jennings
Head of Policy & General Counsel
A16z crypto
Miles Jennings is Head of Policy & General Counsel for a16z crypto, where he advises the firm and its portfolio companies on decentralization, DAOs, governance, NFTs, and state and federal securities laws. Miles’ experience within the sector stretches back to 2017, when he first began working with ConsenSys and quickly became one of the most sought-after legal minds working in crypto. During his time as a partner at Latham & Watkins, he co-chaired its global blockchain and cryptocurrency task force. In addition, he worked regularly with almost every prominent venture firm operating in crypto, designing several of the investment structures they use today, and he was counsel to dozens of startups in the sector.

Derar Islim
COO and CEO of Americas & EMEA
Antalpha

Derar Islim
COO and CEO of Americas & EMEA
Antalpha
Derar Islim, Ph.D. – Chief Operating Officer, Antalpha Platform Holding Company and CEO, Americas & EMEA
Derar Islim, PhD, is a seasoned financial executive with significant experience in the digital asset industry, building and managing premier digital assets financial services and products globally. Islim’s career reflects a blend of academic rigor and practical experience in high-stakes financial environments. Derar’s leadership at Genesis, particularly during its crisis, showcased his ability to navigate complex operational and financial challenges from execution and governance perspectives.
Derar formerly held the roles of Interim CEO and COO at Genesis and, prior to that, Head of Risk at Hard Yaka. He has an established track record of leading at the forefront of modern financial markets. Early in his career, he served as a senior trader at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he co-managed the Funding Valuation Adjustment (FVA) trading desk and worked on modeling, pricing, and hedging credit structured products.
Derar holds a Ph.D. in Financial Mathematics from Florida State University, focusing on financial derivatives and applied partial differential equations.
Derar is a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, alongside other academic and professional awards.
Derar Islim, PhD, is a seasoned financial executive with significant experience in the digital asset industry, building and managing premier digital assets financial services and products globally. Islim’s career reflects a blend of academic rigor and practical experience in high-stakes financial environments. Derar’s leadership at Genesis, particularly during its crisis, showcased his ability to navigate complex operational and financial challenges from execution and governance perspectives.
Derar formerly held the roles of Interim CEO and COO at Genesis and, prior to that, Head of Risk at Hard Yaka. He has an established track record of leading at the forefront of modern financial markets. Early in his career, he served as a senior trader at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he co-managed the Funding Valuation Adjustment (FVA) trading desk and worked on modeling, pricing, and hedging credit structured products.
Derar holds a Ph.D. in Financial Mathematics from Florida State University, focusing on financial derivatives and applied partial differential equations.
Derar is a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, alongside other academic and professional awards.

Irene Gao
President of Mining
Bitmain

Irene Gao
President of Mining
Bitmain
Irene has years of experience in the digital currency mining space and is in charge of BITMAIN’s global business development. She is an expert on developing the mining ecosystem with vast knowledge of high-performance mining hardware and data center development. She is an advocate for renewable energy integration for green mining.

Nicki Sharma
Host
The Orange Peel Podcast

Nicki Sharma
Host
The Orange Peel Podcast
As a Computer Science student (Class of 2026), I’m watching the traditional career roadmap become obsolete before I even graduate. Gen Z is witnessing a historic collision: the infinite productivity of AI is making digital labor abundant, while the absolute scarcity of Bitcoin is making digital value immutable.
I believe that for our generation to thrive, we must stop saving in a melting fiat currency that siphons away our time-value and start anchoring our futures in the world’s hardest money. By protecting our savings from inflation, we gain the freedom to stop chasing a paycheck and start building careers we actually love. I’m not just building a career; I’m building a sovereign life.
I started the Orange Peel Podcast to document this transition; peeling back the layers of a broken system to provide my generation with the signal they need to opt into a future where their wealth is truly their own.
I believe that for our generation to thrive, we must stop saving in a melting fiat currency that siphons away our time-value and start anchoring our futures in the world’s hardest money. By protecting our savings from inflation, we gain the freedom to stop chasing a paycheck and start building careers we actually love. I’m not just building a career; I’m building a sovereign life.
I started the Orange Peel Podcast to document this transition; peeling back the layers of a broken system to provide my generation with the signal they need to opt into a future where their wealth is truly their own.

niftynei
Founder
bitcoin++

niftynei
Founder
bitcoin++
niftynei started working in bitcoin in 2018 as part of the engineering team at CashApp. Since then, she's worked on Lightning at Blockstream and founded two foundational projects for the bitcoin developer ecosystem: bitcoin++ a global conference showcasing the cutting edge of bitcoin and Base58 a 501c3 nonprofit focused on translating the bitcoin protocol into technical mastery for the next generation.

Noa Gruman
Lead singer
Scardust

Noa Gruman
Lead singer
Scardust
Noa Gruman is a musician, composer, and creative leader, best known as the founder and lead singer of the progressive metal band Scardust, and the founder and conductor of the metal choir Hellscore. With a deeply hands-on approach to creation, production, and storytelling, she connects naturally to Bitcoin’s values of sovereignty, long-term thinking, and creative freedom. Scardust released a Satoshi-themed music video (“RIP”) and is active on Nostr. Noa brings a cultural perspective to the space - because Bitcoin is metal, and metal thrives on freedom, range, and expression.

OpenMike
Founder
Tunestr

OpenMike
Founder
Tunestr
OpenMike is a veteran of the independent live music industry and founder of Tunestr.io. In his career operating independent venues and traditional concerts, his businesses have promoted over15,000 shows and booked 30,000+ artists.
Tunestr is an open-source live stream application that connects artists and fans over the Nostr protocol and enables direct bitcoin lightning payments during the performance. Tunestr also promotes in-person events around the world, with the focus of educating the music community about Nostr & bitcoin.
Tunestr is where independent music meets independent money.
www.tunestr.io
Tunestr is an open-source live stream application that connects artists and fans over the Nostr protocol and enables direct bitcoin lightning payments during the performance. Tunestr also promotes in-person events around the world, with the focus of educating the music community about Nostr & bitcoin.
Tunestr is where independent music meets independent money.
www.tunestr.io

RAS
Founder
Bitcoin Grove

RAS
Founder
Bitcoin Grove
RAS is a dedicated Bitcoin advocate pioneering the coin standard, promoting fractional Bitcoin units as the future of everyday value, advancing Bitcoin's role in fostering an open society in a digital age, and inspiring builders to focus on innovative solutions that drive adoption and sovereignty.

Red Sheehan
Software Engineer
Taproot Wizards

Red Sheehan
Software Engineer
Taproot Wizards
Red is a software engineer working in Bitcoin. From covering bitcoin and bitcoin-related networks at Messari, to building out the data pipeline for Bitcoin Layers, to building BTC DCA roundup tools for degen traders on Solana with Lemondrop, and now to working with the Taproot Wizards team.

Robert Mitchnick
Head of Digital Assets
BlackRock

Robert Mitchnick
Head of Digital Assets
BlackRock
Robert Mitchnick serves as the Head of Digital Assets for BlackRock. He is a member of the Corp Exec-COO Executive team. Rob is responsible for driving BlackRock's digital assets strategy, including working with internal business units to develop and execute on strategic initiatives around digital assets.
Robbie has BA & BCOM degrees from Queen's University and an MBA from Stanford, where he graduated as an Arjay Miller Scholar and the Robichek Award winner in Finance. He holds a Blockchain Technologies Certification from MIT Sloan, and is a CFA Charterholder.
Robbie has BA & BCOM degrees from Queen's University and an MBA from Stanford, where he graduated as an Arjay Miller Scholar and the Robichek Award winner in Finance. He holds a Blockchain Technologies Certification from MIT Sloan, and is a CFA Charterholder.

Robert Warren
Head of Research and Education
Bitcoin Park

Robert Warren
Head of Research and Education
Bitcoin Park
Robert Warren is a builder with experience in, product, operations, and research. His technical training in Philosophy and Psychology, and a Master's in Education, positions him to explain and share freedom technologies and their cultural implications. He currently contributes at Bitcoin Park, leading Research, Education, and Programming and authored the Bitcoin Miner's Almanac

Rob Massey
Global Tax Leader - Blockchain and Crypto
Deloitte Tax LLP

Rob Massey
Global Tax Leader - Blockchain and Crypto
Deloitte Tax LLP
Rob Massey has over 25 years of professional experience in tax consulting for technology companies. Since 2012, he has focused on blockchain, digital assets, cryptocurrency and tokenization. He serves companies throughout the blockchain ecosystem inclusive of investors, miners, staking providers, payment processing, wallet hosting, custodians, exchanges, funds, DAOs, tokenization and protocol development. Rob leads Deloitte’s blockchain efforts in tax for the global firm.
Rob’s blockchain expertise spans the comprehensive tax considerations of blockchain enabled transactions and the analysis of the tax impacts of tokenization and digital asset transactions across business models, industries, and geographies. He also has a growing expertise in tax controversy matters involving digital assets and blockchain based business models.
Rob (and co-Author Conor O’Brien) worked with 50 other tax specialists in Deloitte to produce Bloomberg BNA’s Tax Management Portfolio, Taxation of Cryptocurrency and Other Digital Assets, No. 190-2nd. This 400-page tax treatise examines U.S. federal and state income taxation of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, providing a detailed analysis of the classification of digital assets for tax purposes. It offers an inclusive overview of the digital asset ecosystem, tax guidance to date, tax classification, and accounting treatment. The portfolio further delves into the tax implications of using, dealing, trading, and investing in digital assets, and addresses novel tax questions raised by digital asset transactions.
Rob’s blockchain expertise spans the comprehensive tax considerations of blockchain enabled transactions and the analysis of the tax impacts of tokenization and digital asset transactions across business models, industries, and geographies. He also has a growing expertise in tax controversy matters involving digital assets and blockchain based business models.
Rob (and co-Author Conor O’Brien) worked with 50 other tax specialists in Deloitte to produce Bloomberg BNA’s Tax Management Portfolio, Taxation of Cryptocurrency and Other Digital Assets, No. 190-2nd. This 400-page tax treatise examines U.S. federal and state income taxation of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, providing a detailed analysis of the classification of digital assets for tax purposes. It offers an inclusive overview of the digital asset ecosystem, tax guidance to date, tax classification, and accounting treatment. The portfolio further delves into the tax implications of using, dealing, trading, and investing in digital assets, and addresses novel tax questions raised by digital asset transactions.

Roger Huang
Author
Would Mao Hold Bitcoin

Roger Huang
Author
Would Mao Hold Bitcoin
Roger Huang was one of the first writers in 2014 to write about the intersection of Bitcoin in remittance payments and drug policy. Since then, he’s been a HODLer of Bitcoin, and he’s built several mini-projects with them for fun. He’s written for Forbes and TechCrunch and is the author of a book on Bitcoin + China (Would Mao Hold Bitcoin)

Salman Khan
Chief Financial Officer
MARA

Salman Khan
Chief Financial Officer
MARA
Salman Khan is the Chief Financial Officer at MARA. MARA is a global leader in leveraging digital asset compute to support the energy transformation. Salman comes from traditional finance, oil and gas, energy transition and technology background and has worked in the Middle East and North America. Salman oversees the company’s financial strategy, corporate development, investor relations, legal and accounting functions.
Prior to joining Marathon, Salman Khan served as Chief Financial Officer for Verb Technology Company Inc., a Nasdaq listed leading provider of interactive video-based software-as-a-service applications and an e-commerce platform and played a pivotal role in selling the core business of the company. Before joining Verb, Salman served in various senior executive level positions at Occidental Petroleum Corporation and its spinoff, California Resources Corporation, including director of renewable energy, Director of Corporate Development, Director of Technical Accounting and Financial Reporting, and Business Division Controller and Chief Financial Officer. Salman also spent eight years at major accounting firms including Arthur Andersen, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young, where he served domestic and international clients in the technology, media, telecommunications, entertainment, and biotechnology industries. Salman holds a Master in Business Administration from the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business and is a licensed chartered certified accountant (UK).
Prior to joining Marathon, Salman Khan served as Chief Financial Officer for Verb Technology Company Inc., a Nasdaq listed leading provider of interactive video-based software-as-a-service applications and an e-commerce platform and played a pivotal role in selling the core business of the company. Before joining Verb, Salman served in various senior executive level positions at Occidental Petroleum Corporation and its spinoff, California Resources Corporation, including director of renewable energy, Director of Corporate Development, Director of Technical Accounting and Financial Reporting, and Business Division Controller and Chief Financial Officer. Salman also spent eight years at major accounting firms including Arthur Andersen, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young, where he served domestic and international clients in the technology, media, telecommunications, entertainment, and biotechnology industries. Salman holds a Master in Business Administration from the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business and is a licensed chartered certified accountant (UK).

Sam
YouTuber
My Financial Friend

Sasha Hodder
sasha@hodder.law
Hodder Law

Sasha Hodder
sasha@hodder.law
Hodder Law
Sasha Hodder is the founder of Hodder Law Firm and a Florida-licensed fintech and Bitcoin attorney. She has supported Bitcoin businesses since 2014 and advises on MSB/MTL licensing, compliance, banking partnerships, and regulatory strategy, while keeping a focus on privacy, civil liberties, and why Bitcoin matters.
Previously, Sasha served as Senior Counsel at Exodus, supporting legal strategy for a $75M tokenized Reg A+ public offering. She teaches Florida Bar CLE courses on crypto law, hosts the Sunset Circuit Podcast, and organizes the Bitcoin Race (Fastest Runner in Bitcoin).
Previously, Sasha served as Senior Counsel at Exodus, supporting legal strategy for a $75M tokenized Reg A+ public offering. She teaches Florida Bar CLE courses on crypto law, hosts the Sunset Circuit Podcast, and organizes the Bitcoin Race (Fastest Runner in Bitcoin).

Satsie
Team lead
Bitcoin Dev Project

Satsie
Team lead
Bitcoin Dev Project
Satsie is an open source developer and educator with contributions to various projects in the bitcoin space. She currently leads up the Bitcoin Dev Project (bitcoindevs.xyz), an initiative creating tools and education for bitcoin devs. She is also on the board of directors for the Payjoin Foundation.
Prior to working in open source she was the lead backend engineer at Casa where she built software to make multisig safe and easy. When she's not busy chasing her two tiny bitcoiners, she is a co-organizer of Boston BitDevs and writes zines about bitcoin tech. She is passionate about empowering people to achieve higher levels of self sovereignty, and the communities needed to support that work.
You can find more of her work at https://satsie.dev
Prior to working in open source she was the lead backend engineer at Casa where she built software to make multisig safe and easy. When she's not busy chasing her two tiny bitcoiners, she is a co-organizer of Boston BitDevs and writes zines about bitcoin tech. She is passionate about empowering people to achieve higher levels of self sovereignty, and the communities needed to support that work.
You can find more of her work at https://satsie.dev

Scooter Womack
Managing Partner
Vega Energy Advisors

Scooter Womack
Managing Partner
Vega Energy Advisors
Scooter Womack is a visionary leader in the Texas energy market, recognized for his pivotal role in shaping today’s energy offerings for flexible loads. As Founder and CEO of Vega Energy Advisors, Scooter leads an expert team with decades of experience, guiding large-scale power users through development planning, tailored procurement, risk management, and Demand Response strategies.
Behind the scenes, Scooter has been instrumental in launching multiple market participants and driving innovation across the ERCOT landscape. His work has enabled organizations to optimize energy usage, reduce costs, and implement sustainable solutions that align with evolving market dynamics.
With a proven track record of success, Scooter combines deep industry knowledge with strategic foresight to deliver measurable results for clients. His leadership continues to influence the future of energy flexibility and resilience in Texas.
Behind the scenes, Scooter has been instrumental in launching multiple market participants and driving innovation across the ERCOT landscape. His work has enabled organizations to optimize energy usage, reduce costs, and implement sustainable solutions that align with evolving market dynamics.
With a proven track record of success, Scooter combines deep industry knowledge with strategic foresight to deliver measurable results for clients. His leadership continues to influence the future of energy flexibility and resilience in Texas.

Seb Bunney
Chief Information Officer
Block Rewards

Seb Bunney
Chief Information Officer
Block Rewards
Seb’s path to the financial world has been anything but conventional. He began his career navigating the backcountry trails of British Columbia as a mountain bike guide and coach, but a quiet sense of incompleteness stirred deeper questions. In his downtime, he immersed himself in the study of money, macroeconomics, psychology, and the structures that shape our society. What began as a personal journey of self-discovery evolved into a decade-long exploration of the financial system and its ripple effects on human behaviour.
When the pandemic reshaped the world, Seb made a pivotal shift—channeling his passion for education into the digital space. He went on to co-found the educational platform Looking Glass, co-author B is for Bitcoin, and write the number-one bestselling book The Hidden Cost of Money—a bold exploration of how money shapes our lives and the world around us. As a result of his work, Seb has been invited to share his perspective at global conferences, on influential podcasts, and in well-regarded financial publications.
Today, Seb serves as Chief Information Officer at Block Rewards, helping bring Bitcoin into the payroll and benefits space. With a background in education, entrepreneurship, and relentless learning, he offers a rare and relatable lens on money—and why it matters now more than ever.
When the pandemic reshaped the world, Seb made a pivotal shift—channeling his passion for education into the digital space. He went on to co-found the educational platform Looking Glass, co-author B is for Bitcoin, and write the number-one bestselling book The Hidden Cost of Money—a bold exploration of how money shapes our lives and the world around us. As a result of his work, Seb has been invited to share his perspective at global conferences, on influential podcasts, and in well-regarded financial publications.
Today, Seb serves as Chief Information Officer at Block Rewards, helping bring Bitcoin into the payroll and benefits space. With a background in education, entrepreneurship, and relentless learning, he offers a rare and relatable lens on money—and why it matters now more than ever.

Shooter
Filmmaker
No More Inflation

Shooter
Filmmaker
No More Inflation
Creator of No More Inflation (2025), a documentary exposing the cause of inflation, its impact and how Bitcoin will end inflation.
The film features Graham Hancock, Dr. Robert Malone, Tuur Demeester, Alex Gladstein and many more.
Creator of Comeback Country (2022), a 11-minute short film on El Salvador’s rise from civil/gang war to Bitcoin adoption and safety under Bukele (retweeted by @nayibbukele).
The film features Graham Hancock, Dr. Robert Malone, Tuur Demeester, Alex Gladstein and many more.
Creator of Comeback Country (2022), a 11-minute short film on El Salvador’s rise from civil/gang war to Bitcoin adoption and safety under Bukele (retweeted by @nayibbukele).

Sindura Saraswathi
PhD Student
University of Central Florida

Sindura Saraswathi
PhD Student
University of Central Florida
Sindura Saraswathi is a PhD student at the University of Central Florida, researching Bitcoin and the Lightning Network with a focus on scalability and reliability. Her recent work includes a closed-form framework for selecting optimal threshold signatures for Bitcoin custody and an in-depth analysis of pathfinding strategies across Lightning clients.

Staci Costopoulos
Podcast Host & Community Builder
The Bitcoin Nova Podcast

Staci Costopoulos
Podcast Host & Community Builder
The Bitcoin Nova Podcast
Staci Costopolous, known as The Bitcoin Nova, is a community builder and podcast host who helps people see Bitcoin clearly for the first time. Like a supernova, her conversations bring sudden clarity, moments where Bitcoin finally clicks.
She is the creator and host of The Bitcoin Nova Podcast, where she uses curiosity, warmth, and real life dialogue to turn confusion into understanding. Through podcasting, Staci has experienced how starting her own journey inspired others to use their voice and create ripple effects that reach far beyond a single audience.
Staci also co creates and co hosts Hive Minded, a panel style show that blends Bitcoin education with humor, banter, and real friendship. Hive Minded highlights how conversation, collaboration, and different personalities make Bitcoin more approachable, especially for people who may never click on a traditional Bitcoin show.
Her journey shows that you do not need to be technical or have all the answers to make an impact. By simply starting a podcast and showing up authentically, she has connected with people across the Bitcoin ecosystem and helped others realize they can do the same, inspiring new creators to reach new audiences and carry the signal forward.
Through her podcast, Staci discovered the Illinois Bitcoin Council, whose mission is to help paint Illinois orange through education, advocacy, and collaboration.
She is the creator and host of The Bitcoin Nova Podcast, where she uses curiosity, warmth, and real life dialogue to turn confusion into understanding. Through podcasting, Staci has experienced how starting her own journey inspired others to use their voice and create ripple effects that reach far beyond a single audience.
Staci also co creates and co hosts Hive Minded, a panel style show that blends Bitcoin education with humor, banter, and real friendship. Hive Minded highlights how conversation, collaboration, and different personalities make Bitcoin more approachable, especially for people who may never click on a traditional Bitcoin show.
Her journey shows that you do not need to be technical or have all the answers to make an impact. By simply starting a podcast and showing up authentically, she has connected with people across the Bitcoin ecosystem and helped others realize they can do the same, inspiring new creators to reach new audiences and carry the signal forward.
Through her podcast, Staci discovered the Illinois Bitcoin Council, whose mission is to help paint Illinois orange through education, advocacy, and collaboration.

Stephan Livera
Podcaster
Stephan Livera Podcast

Susie Violet Ward
Journalist, Co-founder and Director
Bitcoin Policy UK

Susie Violet Ward
Journalist, Co-founder and Director
Bitcoin Policy UK
Bitcoin Journalist with a focus on education, and a financial analyst with a background in accounting, holding a deep interest in bitcoin and the environment. Working as a bitcoin columnist for a business-focused newspaper in London and authoring numerous research articles on the benefits of Bitcoin Mining and its implications for renewable energy's future. Serving as the Director and Head of Mining and Sustainability at Bitcoin Policy UK, committed to exploring and educating about bitcoin's technological innovation and potential environmental impact at the core of these professional pursuits.

TC
Creator
Timechain Calendar

TC
Creator
Timechain Calendar
Working on the bleeding edge of visualizing the Bitcoin protocol to champion awareness and education. TC launched the Timechain Calendar website in 2022 and the mobile app in 2025. Timechain Calendar is an explorer and live data dashboard that shows a visual representation of Bitcoin's most important features.

Terence Michael
Boat Accident Mitigation
The Bitcoin Adviser

Terence Michael
Boat Accident Mitigation
The Bitcoin Adviser
After producing 20 movies and 30 TV shows in Hollywood, and simultaneously building a couple of real estate companies to fill the downtime, Terence ultimately found Bitcoin as a solution to wealth preservation.
This led him to writing "Proof of Money: The Big Idea Behind Bitcoin" and joining The Bitcoin Adviser to onboard HNWIs into collaborative custody and inheritance setups.
He currently hosts the daily show, "Bitcoin Today," is a consultant to Horizon's Bitcoin home equity program, is a contributor to the Santa Monica Bitcoin Office, and enjoys making loud Bitcoin videos while inexplicably skating along the beach.
This led him to writing "Proof of Money: The Big Idea Behind Bitcoin" and joining The Bitcoin Adviser to onboard HNWIs into collaborative custody and inheritance setups.
He currently hosts the daily show, "Bitcoin Today," is a consultant to Horizon's Bitcoin home equity program, is a contributor to the Santa Monica Bitcoin Office, and enjoys making loud Bitcoin videos while inexplicably skating along the beach.

Tim Savage
CEO
Ion Strategies

Tim Savage
CEO
Ion Strategies
Tim Savage is the Chief Executive Officer at Ion Strategies, directing the vision of the firm and leading investment strategy, methodology, and execution. Deeply connected in the digital assets industry, he has over 10 years of market experience with a focus on Bitcoin. He is an industry thought leader and has spoken at the largest Bitcoin conferences in the world. He also resides on the Board of Directors at the Texas Blockchain Council, advocating for balanced public policy.
Prior to founding Ion, Tim practiced as a CPA for 14 years. He was an accomplished Tax Partner at Weaver and was highly successful in building the firm’s blockchain and digital assets practice, advising digital asset investment funds, financial services companies, and bitcoin miners. Earlier in his career, he spent 3 years at Ernst & Young, working with global financial enterprises and ranked as an elite Senior at the firm.
Prior to founding Ion, Tim practiced as a CPA for 14 years. He was an accomplished Tax Partner at Weaver and was highly successful in building the firm’s blockchain and digital assets practice, advising digital asset investment funds, financial services companies, and bitcoin miners. Earlier in his career, he spent 3 years at Ernst & Young, working with global financial enterprises and ranked as an elite Senior at the firm.

Tom Taber
Director of Executive Outreach
The Beef Initiative

Tom Taber
Director of Executive Outreach
The Beef Initiative
Tom has traveled the globe attending Bitcoin events and assisting with freedom focused projects. He is the Bitcoin and Nostr ambassador of The Beef Initiative. He focuses on building grassroots support and boots-on-the-ground projects for independent ranchers around the world.

Tony Beck
Co-Founder & CEO
Beck & Bulow

Tony Beck
Co-Founder & CEO
Beck & Bulow
Tony Beck — Co-Founder and CEO, Beck & Bulow. Pioneer in Bitcoin-native business adoption, including BTC payments, treasury reserves, and employee Bitcoin 401(k)s. Champion of real food, real money, and real people, hosting events and retreats at the Beck & Bulow Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

WantClue
Lead Developer
WantClue Technologies UG

WantClue
Lead Developer
WantClue Technologies UG
I started with Bitcoin in 2012. At first, I was just interested in the fact that it was easily accessible and could be transferred anywhere without any verification. This is what made me stick with it. I quickly delved deeper into Bitcoin, purchasing my first miner and experimenting with it. I wrote some basic scripts to make use of my miner. Initially, Bitcoin was not what it is for me today. It started as an online currency that was nice to have and turned into something that is necessary for me today. After finishing my Business Computer Science degree in 2022, I wrote more and more code, and eventually discovered the Bitaxe project, which hooked me. I instantly understood why open source is so important, and why Bitcoin is so far removed from open source these days. I became a contributor and then a maintainer, and now I am the lead software developer of this project. I am driving forward innovation and updates for anyone interested in using open-source mining equipment.

Webworthy
Videographer and Filmmaker
BTCPay Server & BTC Inc

Webworthy
Videographer and Filmmaker
BTCPay Server & BTC Inc
Parker Worthington (WebWorthy) is a leading Bitcoin videographer and filmmaker. His documentary MY TRUST IN YOU IS BROKEN chronicles Bitcoin's Blocksize Wars through the origins of BTCPay Server, serving as the definitive film on this pivotal chapter in Bitcoin history. It won the Audience Award at Bitcoin Film Fest 2024. Working for Bitcoin Magazine, he directed Michael Saylor's Endgame video and stands out as the sole Bitcoin videographer to record an interview at the White House. From merchant Lightning rollouts to grassroots adoption stories, Parker creates compelling narratives that affirm Bitcoin as sovereign, non-custodial sound money.

Wesley Schlemmer
President
Bitcoin Bay Foundation

Wesley Schlemmer
President
Bitcoin Bay Foundation
As the President of Bitcoin Bay, the nation's first Bitcoin meetup turned 501(c)3, Wesley is a leader in the grassroots movement. His framework for Bitcoin organizations now guides the next wave of Bitcoin communities. Recognized in the Florida State Senate for his policy efforts, Wesley drives strategic partnerships to cement Florida as the world’s best place to be a Bitcoiner. He works to ensure Florida’s path to hyperbitcoinization runs through Bitcoin Bay.

Ying Tong Lai
Co-founder & CTO
{ ideal }

Ying Tong Lai
Co-founder & CTO
{ ideal }
Ying Tong is a co-founder and CTO at { ideal }. She is a senior cryptography engineer with previous work at Zcash and the Ethereum Foundation. She is one of the primary authors of Halo2 with extensive experience implementing circuits and proof systems. Ying Tong is the primary author of the Argo garbled circuits implementation, the industry-leading scheme for BitVM3.

Zach Wischler
Director of Sales
Casa

Zack Shapiro
Managing Partner (Rains), Head of Policy (BPI
Rains LLP, Bitcoin Policy Institute

Zack Shapiro
Managing Partner (Rains), Head of Policy (BPI
Rains LLP, Bitcoin Policy Institute
Zack Shapiro is the Managing Partner at Rains LLP and leads the law practice and advises Bitcoin-focused startups. He also serves as Head of Policy at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, and is the Executive Director of the Peer-to-Peer Rights Fund. Zack is a graduate of Williams College and Yale Law School, and started his legal career clerking in the federal courts for the S.D.N.Y. and the 2nd Circuit, and at Davis Polk & Wardwell.

















