Speakers
Meet the voices shaping Bitcoin's future


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.

David Bailey
CEO & Chairman
Nakamoto Inc.

David Bailey
CEO & Chairman
Nakamoto Inc.
David Bailey is the CEO and Chairman of Nakamoto, a Bitcoin company he took public through a reverse merger with KindlyMD. Nakamoto raised one of the largest PIPE financings in digital asset history. A Bitcoin advocate since 2012, David founded BTC Inc. – home to Bitcoin Magazine, The Bitcoin Conference, and Bitcoin for Corporations, and co-founded UTXO Management, an institutional hedge fund focused on Bitcoin and digital assets. In 2024, David led a political engagement campaign that brought Bitcoin to the forefront of the U.S. presidential election advising President Donald Trump’s team on Bitcoin policy. David also serves on the boards of BTC Inc., the Bitcoin Policy Institute, and Moon Inc (HK Asia Holdings Limited).

Eric Trump
Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer
American Bitcoin

Eric Trump
Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer
American Bitcoin
Eric Trump is Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of American Bitcoin Corp (Nasdaq: ABTC). In this role, he defines the company’s strategic direction and growth priorities, guiding its mission to build America’s Bitcoin infrastructure backbone. He brings extensive experience across capital markets, large-scale commercial development, and strategic growth, and is deeply committed to advancing the adoption of decentralized financial systems in ways that strengthen American economic and technological leadership.
Mr. Trump also serves as Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization, where he oversees the global management and operations of the Trump family’s extensive real estate portfolio. This includes Trump Hotels, Trump Golf, commercial and residential real estate, Trump Estates, and Trump Winery. Known for his hands-on leadership and strong market instincts, he has played a key role in expanding the company’s presence across major U.S. and international markets.
A globally recognized business leader and public figure, Mr. Trump is a prominent advocate for Bitcoin and decentralized finance. He is a co-founder of World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform, and serves on the Board of Advisors of Metaplanet, Japan’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin.
Beyond his business activities, Mr. Trump has helped raise more than $50 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the fight against pediatric cancer, a philanthropic mission he began at age 21.
Mr. Trump earned a degree in Finance and Management from Georgetown University. He currently resides in Florida with his wife, Lara, and their two children. He is also the author of Under Siege, his memoir published in October 2025.
Mr. Trump also serves as Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization, where he oversees the global management and operations of the Trump family’s extensive real estate portfolio. This includes Trump Hotels, Trump Golf, commercial and residential real estate, Trump Estates, and Trump Winery. Known for his hands-on leadership and strong market instincts, he has played a key role in expanding the company’s presence across major U.S. and international markets.
A globally recognized business leader and public figure, Mr. Trump is a prominent advocate for Bitcoin and decentralized finance. He is a co-founder of World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform, and serves on the Board of Advisors of Metaplanet, Japan’s largest corporate holder of Bitcoin.
Beyond his business activities, Mr. Trump has helped raise more than $50 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the fight against pediatric cancer, a philanthropic mission he began at age 21.
Mr. Trump earned a degree in Finance and Management from Georgetown University. He currently resides in Florida with his wife, Lara, and their two children. He is also the author of Under Siege, his memoir published in October 2025.

Jack Mallers
Founder, CEO Strike | Co-Founder, CEO Twenty One
Strike / Twenty One

Jack Mallers
Founder, CEO Strike | Co-Founder, CEO Twenty One
Strike / Twenty One
Jack Mallers serves as the Chief Executive Officer, President and a director of Twenty One Capital. He has served in these capacities since December 2025. Jack is a visionary entrepreneur and one of Bitcoin's most influential advocates, shaping its perception and furthering its adoption by institutions, corporations and governments. As the Founder & CEO of Strike, he built one of the world's leading Bitcoin financial services company's, pioneering Bitcoin brokerage infrastructure and Bitcoin credit products. His leadership was instrumental in El Salvador's historic decision to become the first nation to adopt Bitcoin as an official currency, a major milestone in sovereign Bitcoin policy. Beyond Strike, Jack is a key advocate for Bitcoin's integration into global finance, engaging with institutional investors, policymakers and enterprises to accelerate its adoption as the world's premier monetary asset. Now, as Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Twenty One, he is building the first true Bitcoin-native public company redefining corporate treasury strategy for the Bitcoin era.

Cynthia Lummis
Senator
U.S. Senate

Cynthia Lummis
Senator
U.S. Senate
U.S. Senator Cynthia M. Lummis has been Bitcoin's most consistent and consequential champion in the United States Senate.
As the first-ever Chair of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Senator Lummis is the architect of the legislative framework shaping America's digital asset future. She introduced the landmark Lummis-Gillibrand Responsible Financial Innovation Act, the first comprehensive bipartisan crypto regulatory framework in Senate history. She co-authored the GENIUS Act — the first federal stablecoin law ever enacted — and introduced the BITCOIN Act, which would establish a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve of up to one million BTC. She is leading the Clarity Act, which will bring long-overdue regulatory certainty to the digital asset industry. She has also championed digital asset tax reform, including a de minimis exemption for small transactions and equal tax treatment for miners and stakers.
Known as Congress' "Crypto Queen," Senator Lummis represents Wyoming — a state she has helped build into one of the most digital asset-friendly regulatory environments in the nation. Before serving in the Senate, she served 14 years in the Wyoming Legislature, eight years as Wyoming State Treasurer, and eight years in the U.S. House. She is a three-time graduate of the University of Wyoming.
Her work represents a crucial bridge between traditional financial systems and the emerging digital economy, ensuring America leads the world in financial innovation while protecting the individual freedoms that define it.
As the first-ever Chair of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Senator Lummis is the architect of the legislative framework shaping America's digital asset future. She introduced the landmark Lummis-Gillibrand Responsible Financial Innovation Act, the first comprehensive bipartisan crypto regulatory framework in Senate history. She co-authored the GENIUS Act — the first federal stablecoin law ever enacted — and introduced the BITCOIN Act, which would establish a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve of up to one million BTC. She is leading the Clarity Act, which will bring long-overdue regulatory certainty to the digital asset industry. She has also championed digital asset tax reform, including a de minimis exemption for small transactions and equal tax treatment for miners and stakers.
Known as Congress' "Crypto Queen," Senator Lummis represents Wyoming — a state she has helped build into one of the most digital asset-friendly regulatory environments in the nation. Before serving in the Senate, she served 14 years in the Wyoming Legislature, eight years as Wyoming State Treasurer, and eight years in the U.S. House. She is a three-time graduate of the University of Wyoming.
Her work represents a crucial bridge between traditional financial systems and the emerging digital economy, ensuring America leads the world in financial innovation while protecting the individual freedoms that define it.

Adam Back
Co-founder & CEO
Blockstream

Adam Back
Co-founder & CEO
Blockstream
Co-founder and CEO of Blockstream, Dr. Adam Back, invented Hashcash, the proof-of-work algorithm cited by Satoshi Nakamoto in the Bitcoin whitepaper, as the future basis for its mining function. Throughout his two-decade-long vocation as an applied cryptographer and security architect, he has held senior roles with a number of technology companies, including Microsoft, EMC, PI, VMware, and Zero-Knowledge Systems, as well as advised many more companies on cryptography and peer-to-peer finance. Dr. Adam Back holds a computer science Ph.D. in distributed systems from the University of Exeter.

David Marcus
CEO
Lightspark

David Marcus
CEO
Lightspark
David is the CEO and co-founder of Lightspark. Most recently, he led all payments and crypto efforts on Meta/Facebook. In 2018, David started Diem (fka Libra). He joined Meta in 2014 to lead Messenger, which he took from under 200M monthly users to over 1.5B. Previously, he was PayPal’s President. A lifelong entrepreneur, David launched two companies in Europe and then founded mobile payments company Zong in Silicon Valley, which was acquired by PayPal in 2011.

Matt Schultz
CEO and Chairman
CleanSpark

Matt Schultz
CEO and Chairman
CleanSpark
Matt Schultz is co-founder, CEO and Chairman of CleanSpark (CLSK). Matt led CleanSpark from its early days as an alternative energy generator focused on converting biomass into energy using CleanSpark’s patented gasifier technology. He then transitioned CleanSpark into the renewable energy sector, helping to identify critical software that was used to deploy microgrids, most notably at Camp Pendleton. Matt has helped raise over a billion dollars in capital. His leadership has been instrumental in making CleanSpark one of the largest and most recognizable data center developers in North America.

Fred Thiel
Chairman and CEO
MARA

Fred Thiel
Chairman and CEO
MARA
Fred Thiel is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of MARA Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MARA) and has over 35 years of experience in the technology sector. Mr. Thiel is an acclaimed innovator and expert, having led organizations across diverse fields including digital assets, AI, semiconductors and enterprise software. Under his leadership, MARA has grown from a market cap of under $30 million to over $5 billion, becoming the largest in the space, with operations spanning four continents. MARA operates 15 data centers, including several across the United States, as well as locations in the UAE and Paraguay, boasting an energy capacity of 1700 MW. The company is fully integrated, enhancing its operational efficiency.
Throughout his career, Mr. Thiel has consistently driven rapid growth and created substantial shareholder value. Prior to MARA, Mr. Thiel served as the CEO of two other public companies, Local Corporation (NASDAQ: LOCM) and Lantronix, Inc (NASDAQ: LTRX). He has successfully raised billions in equity and debt through private and public offerings, led companies through IPOs, executed high-value exits to strategic and financial acquirers, and implemented effective M&A and roll-up strategies.
Mr. Thiel attended the Stockholm School of Economics and executive classes at Harvard Business School, and is fluent in English, Spanish, Swedish, and French. Mr. Thiel is the Chairman of the Board for Oden Technology, Inc. and is active in Young Presidents’ Organization where he has led initiatives in both the FinTech and Technology Networks.
A recognized voice in the industry, Fred frequently shares his insights on energy and technology with major media outlets like Bloomberg TV, CNBC, and FOX Business, contributing to vital discussions about the future of these sectors.
Throughout his career, Mr. Thiel has consistently driven rapid growth and created substantial shareholder value. Prior to MARA, Mr. Thiel served as the CEO of two other public companies, Local Corporation (NASDAQ: LOCM) and Lantronix, Inc (NASDAQ: LTRX). He has successfully raised billions in equity and debt through private and public offerings, led companies through IPOs, executed high-value exits to strategic and financial acquirers, and implemented effective M&A and roll-up strategies.
Mr. Thiel attended the Stockholm School of Economics and executive classes at Harvard Business School, and is fluent in English, Spanish, Swedish, and French. Mr. Thiel is the Chairman of the Board for Oden Technology, Inc. and is active in Young Presidents’ Organization where he has led initiatives in both the FinTech and Technology Networks.
A recognized voice in the industry, Fred frequently shares his insights on energy and technology with major media outlets like Bloomberg TV, CNBC, and FOX Business, contributing to vital discussions about the future of these sectors.

Simon Gerovich
CEO
Metaplanet

Simon Gerovich
CEO
Metaplanet
Simon is the President of Metaplanet Inc., a publicly traded company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Metaplanet is undergoing a strategic transformation, leveraging Bitcoin as its principal treasury reserve asset. Metaplanet utilizes excess cash flow and implements accretive corporate governance, including financial management strategies such as debt and equity financing, to further its Bitcoin accumulation.
Simon has been an active investor in the digital asset ecosystem since 2014. He started his career at Goldman Sachs in Tokyo as an equity derivatives trader. He was a co-founder and Chairman of Red Planet Hotels, a regional hotel company focused on Asia’s value hotel sector. Prior to founding Red Planet Hotels, Simon served as the Chief Executive Officer of Evolution Capital Public Company Limited, a real estate asset management company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. As President of Metaplanet, Simon is responsible for spearheading the company's new Bitcoin investment strategy, guiding its overall direction, raising capital, and managing investor relations. He graduated from Harvard University with an AB in Applied Mathematics. Simon is an active member of YPO, the premier global organization of chief executives.
Simon has been an active investor in the digital asset ecosystem since 2014. He started his career at Goldman Sachs in Tokyo as an equity derivatives trader. He was a co-founder and Chairman of Red Planet Hotels, a regional hotel company focused on Asia’s value hotel sector. Prior to founding Red Planet Hotels, Simon served as the Chief Executive Officer of Evolution Capital Public Company Limited, a real estate asset management company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. As President of Metaplanet, Simon is responsible for spearheading the company's new Bitcoin investment strategy, guiding its overall direction, raising capital, and managing investor relations. He graduated from Harvard University with an AB in Applied Mathematics. Simon is an active member of YPO, the premier global organization of chief executives.

Danielle DiMartino Booth
CEO and Chief Strategist
QI Research

Danielle DiMartino Booth
CEO and Chief Strategist
QI Research
Danielle DiMartino Booth is CEO & Chief Strategist for QI Research, an independent research and analytics firm serving institutional clients, family offices and Commercial Real Estate professionals. Prior to QI, which she founded in 2015, DiMartino Booth spent nine years at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas where she served as Advisor to President Richard W. Fisher throughout the financial crisis. Before serving in the public sector, she lived in New York and worked at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and Credit Suisse. DiMartino Booth is a frequent keynote speaker, a regular commentator in the financial media and author of FED UP: An Insider’s Take on Why the Federal Reserve is Bad for America (Portfolio, Feb 2017).

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.

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.

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).

Patrick Witt
Executive Director, President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets
The White House

Patrick Witt
Executive Director, President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets
The White House
Mr. Patrick Witt is the Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets at the White House. In this role, he leads efforts to develop and coordinate national policy on digital asset innovation, regulation, and emerging financial technologies. Mr. Witt also serves as Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Capital within the Department of War (DoW), where he directs $200 billion of investment into the US military’s defense industrial base.
From January until May 2025, Mr. Witt performed the duties of the Deputy Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, overseeing the defense science and technology enterprise, including DARPA, to drive technological innovation and digital transformation across the DoW.
During President Trump's first administration, Mr. Witt served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, where he helped lead workforce management for millions of federal employees, retirees, and their dependents. After leaving government service, he served as Managing Director for a lower-middle-market private equity firm. Earlier in his career, Mr. Witt worked for McKinsey & Company, where he advised aviation, aerospace, and defense clients across four continents on a wide range of issues.
A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, Mr. Witt received numerous academic accolades, including the Francis Gordon Brown Prize, a distinction shared by former President George H.W. Bush, and was also a finalist for the Campbell Trophy, Rhodes, and Mitchell Scholarships. In addition to his academic achievements, he excelled as a student-athlete, shattering numerous school records. At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Mr. Witt was invited to participate in the NFL Combine and later signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints.
Mr. Witt is a proud uncle to Joan, Kirby, Grace, and Charlie. He is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, a member of the State Bar, and a JAG in the Georgia Army National Guard. He is fluent in French.
From January until May 2025, Mr. Witt performed the duties of the Deputy Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, overseeing the defense science and technology enterprise, including DARPA, to drive technological innovation and digital transformation across the DoW.
During President Trump's first administration, Mr. Witt served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, where he helped lead workforce management for millions of federal employees, retirees, and their dependents. After leaving government service, he served as Managing Director for a lower-middle-market private equity firm. Earlier in his career, Mr. Witt worked for McKinsey & Company, where he advised aviation, aerospace, and defense clients across four continents on a wide range of issues.
A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, Mr. Witt received numerous academic accolades, including the Francis Gordon Brown Prize, a distinction shared by former President George H.W. Bush, and was also a finalist for the Campbell Trophy, Rhodes, and Mitchell Scholarships. In addition to his academic achievements, he excelled as a student-athlete, shattering numerous school records. At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Mr. Witt was invited to participate in the NFL Combine and later signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints.
Mr. Witt is a proud uncle to Joan, Kirby, Grace, and Charlie. He is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, a member of the State Bar, and a JAG in the Georgia Army National Guard. He is fluent in French.

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.

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.

Frank Holmes
Executive Chairman
HIVE Digital Technologies

Frank Holmes
Executive Chairman
HIVE Digital Technologies
Renowned global investor Frank Holmes leads the HIVE board of directors, contributing to the company's vision and strategy. Mr. Holmes is chief executive and chief investment officer at U.S. Global Investors, a leading mutual fund and asset management firm. Mr. Holmes is a sought-after keynote speaker at international investment conferences and a regular guest in business media. His Frank Talk CEO Blog is one of the most widely read in finance.

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.

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.

Jeff Booth
General Partner
ego death capital

Jeff Booth
General Partner
ego death capital
Jeff Booth is a visionary leader, technology entrepreneur and best-selling author of The Price of Tomorrow – Why Deflation is Key to an Abundant Future, and a founding partner of ego death capital; a leading venture capital fund in the growing ecosystem building on the Bitcoin protocol. With his expertise in technology, system thinking and design, he is at the forefront of a transition from an economic system built for the past, and one built for the future.
He is a Co-Founder of www.BuildDirect.com, and NocNoc, has been a Young Presidents Organization member since 2004 and contributes time as a Founding Fellow at the Creative Destruction Lab.
Jeff currently sits on the boards of Core Scientific, Fedi and Breez.
He is a Co-Founder of www.BuildDirect.com, and NocNoc, has been a Young Presidents Organization member since 2004 and contributes time as a Founding Fellow at the Creative Destruction Lab.
Jeff currently sits on the boards of Core Scientific, Fedi and Breez.

Miles Suter
Bitcoin Product Lead
Block

Miles Suter
Bitcoin Product Lead
Block
Miles Suter is the Bitcoin Product Lead at Block, Inc., a global technology company with a focus on financial services. Miles is focused on advancing bitcoin product development across Block’s ecosystem, including Cash App, Square, and Spiral. He played an integral role in bringing bitcoin and the Lightning Network to Cash App, and is a champion of the bitcoin community more broadly.

Curtis Yarvin
CEO
Urban Tiger

Curtis Yarvin
CEO
Urban Tiger
I'm obviously not Satoshi, but I think I'm actually the first person to explain Bitcoin economics--in a 2006 provisional patent and a 2005 effortpost. I also think I instigated the shift to store-of-value valuation in 2014. I'm not sure I have anything particularly novel to say in 2026, but I still think my game theory of monetary standardization is clear and correct and might even help people in practice. I also have thoughts about blockchain governance, identity and reputation.

Dave Ripley
co-CEO
Kraken

Dave Ripley
co-CEO
Kraken
David Ripley has served as Kraken's Co-Chief Executive Officer since October 2024. He previously served as Kraken's Chief Operating Officer from October 2016 to April 2023 and Chief Executive Officer from April 2023 to October 2024.
Prior to joining Kraken, Mr. Ripley was the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Glidera, a non-custodial wallet and funding service provider that was acquired by Kraken in 2016.
Mr. Ripley previously held roles in consulting at The Boston Consulting Group, where he advised clients across multiple industries, including technology and financial services. Earlier in his career, he also held management positions in software engineering and product management at Syclo, a mobile enterprise software company. Mr. Ripley holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Prior to joining Kraken, Mr. Ripley was the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Glidera, a non-custodial wallet and funding service provider that was acquired by Kraken in 2016.
Mr. Ripley previously held roles in consulting at The Boston Consulting Group, where he advised clients across multiple industries, including technology and financial services. Earlier in his career, he also held management positions in software engineering and product management at Syclo, a mobile enterprise software company. Mr. Ripley holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Faryar Shirzad
Chief Policy Officer
Coinbase

Faryar Shirzad
Chief Policy Officer
Coinbase
Faryar Shirzad is Chief Policy Officer at Coinbase, where he leads the company’s engagement with policymakers around the world and has become a trusted source for thought leadership in the global crypto policy space. Under Shirzad’s leadership, Coinbase has become a driver of crypto-regulation discourse in the U.S. He oversaw the creation of Coinbase’s Digital Asset Policy Proposal (or dApp), which laid out a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for the rapidly-emerging industry and was recognized as “a dramatic shift from current policy in the United States”, sparking an ongoing conversation on how crypto should be regulated while safeguarding American innovation. Before joining Coinbase, Shirzad was Global Co-Head of Government Affairs at Goldman Sachs.
Shirzad has served as counsel to the highest levels of the U.S. government, including as deputy national security advisor for international economic affairs for President George W. Bush. In that role, he served as The President’s personal representative to the G-8 (the “G-8 Sherpa”). Prior to his time in the White House, Shirzad was assistant secretary for import administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce and international trade counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. Earlier in his career, he practiced law in Washington, DC. Faryar earned a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law, a MPP from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a BS from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Shirzad has served as counsel to the highest levels of the U.S. government, including as deputy national security advisor for international economic affairs for President George W. Bush. In that role, he served as The President’s personal representative to the G-8 (the “G-8 Sherpa”). Prior to his time in the White House, Shirzad was assistant secretary for import administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce and international trade counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. Earlier in his career, he practiced law in Washington, DC. Faryar earned a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law, a MPP from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a BS from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Alex Gladstein
Chief Strategy Officer
Human Rights Foundation

Alex Gladstein
Chief Strategy Officer
Human Rights Foundation
Alex Gladstein is Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation. He has also helped organize the Oslo Freedom Forum since its inception in 2009. In his work Alex has connected hundreds of dissidents and civil society groups with business leaders, technologists, journalists, philanthropists, policymakers, and artists to promote free and open societies. Alex's writing and views on human rights and technology have appeared in media outlets across the world including The Atlantic, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Foreign Policy, The New York Times, NPR, TIME, The Washington Post, WIRED, and The Wall Street Journal. He has spoken at universities ranging from MIT to Stanford, briefed the European Parliament and US State Department, and gives lectures on freedom in the digital age at Singularity University. He frequently speaks and writes about why Bitcoin matters for freedom, and his books include "The Little Bitcoin Book," “Check Your Financial Privilege," "Hidden Repression," and "A Trojan Horse for Freedom."

Alex Leishman
Founder & CEO
River

Alex Leishman
Founder & CEO
River
Alex Leishman is the Founder, CEO, and CTO at River. Alex brings his deep expertise in software engineering, information security, and Bitcoin to River, where he oversees investor relations, corporate strategy, and engineering. Alex holds a Master's in Computer Science from Stanfard University where he helped teach the first Bitcoin class.

Jason Les
CEO
Riot Platforms

Jason Les
CEO
Riot Platforms
Jason is the driving force behind Riot’s vision to be the world's most trusted platform for powering and building digital infrastructure, expanding beyond Bitcoin mining into large-scale data center development. This evolution aligns closely with his technical expertise, as he has been deeply involved with Bitcoin since 2013, with significant experience in cryptocurrency mining, and as an engineer studying protocol development, and contributing to open-source projects. Jason was also a founding partner of Binary Digital, a software-development company where he led the engineering team and coordinated project development for artificial intelligence, reverse engineering, and inter-software compatibility projects. Additionally, Jason’s background includes over a decade of unique experience as a former professional heads-up poker player during which he has successfully competed in high-stakes games online, in addition to the most prestigious, high-stakes tournaments in the world. In 2015 and 2017, he was selected as a human benchmark for testing the world’s best poker artificial intelligence in what was dubbed “Man vs Machine” at Carnegie Mellon University in 2015 and 2017.

Paul Grewal
Chief Legal Officer
Coinbase

Paul Grewal
Chief Legal Officer
Coinbase
Paul Grewal is the Chief Legal Officer of Coinbase Global, Inc., where he is responsible for Coinbase’s legal, compliance, global intelligence and government relations groups. Before joining Coinbase, Paul was Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Facebook and served as United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Paul was previously a partner at Howrey LLP. He received his JD from the University of Chicago Law School and his SB from MIT.

JP Richardson
CEO and Co-Founder
Exodus

JP Richardson
CEO and Co-Founder
Exodus
JP is the CEO and Co-Founder of Exodus (NYSE: EXOD), a leading self-custody crypto platform trusted by millions worldwide. He co-founded the company in 2015 with a simple mission: to make digital asset ownership beautiful, secure, and accessible to everyone. In 2021, JP led Exodus to become the first U.S. company to complete an SEC-qualified, crypto-only public stock offering — and the only U.S. company to have its common stock tokenized on the blockchain.
Today, Exodus employs 225 people globally, all of whom choose to receive 100% of their salaries in Bitcoin in a powerful reflection of the company’s long-term conviction in the future of digital assets.
Today, Exodus employs 225 people globally, all of whom choose to receive 100% of their salaries in Bitcoin in a powerful reflection of the company’s long-term conviction in the future of digital assets.

Kevin Loaec
CEO
Wizardsardine

Kevin Loaec
CEO
Wizardsardine
Kevin Loaec is the CEO and co-founder of Wizardsardine, a Bitcoin security company focused on building open-source, failure-resilient custody systems. He has been working on Bitcoin security and adversarial design for over a decade, with a particular emphasis on vaults, self-custody, governance, and recovery mechanisms using native Bitcoin primitives. Kevin is best known as a co-architect of the Revault protocol, a multiparty Bitcoin vault architecture designed to mitigate key compromise, internal threats, and operational failure. His work has directly influenced how institutions and individuals think about timelocks, policy-based spending, and secure Bitcoin inheritance.

Kolin Burges

Kolin Burges
Early bitcoin advocate and media figure. Kolin is best known for his part in a two-week, two-man protest outside the MtGox bitcoin exchange in Tokyo in 2014, leading up to its collapse. The protest became a defining moment in early bitcoin history, bringing the first major wave of mainstream media attention to the space and focusing intense global scrutiny on MtGox. This helped lead to the last 200,000 bitcoins being returned to customers via bankruptcy rather than potentially being used to keep an insolvent exchange open longer term.

Korok Ray
Associate Professor & Executive Director
Texas A&M University & Bitcoin Education Institute

Korok Ray
Associate Professor & Executive Director
Texas A&M University & Bitcoin Education Institute
Korok is the Founder and Executive Director of BEI. He’s also an Associate Professor at the Mays Business School of Texas A&M University and the Founder and President of the Southwest Innovation Research Lab, another 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Korok teaches and researches Bitcoin. He also cofounded the Blockchain and Energy Research Consortium, which is dedicated to researching bitcoin mining in Texas. As an applied game theorist, Korok focuses his research on the intersection of economics and computation, specifically in distributed systems, computer networking, cybersecurity, and cryptocurrencies. Naturally, Korok’s work in this space led him to Bitcoin.
Korok teaches two classes on Bitcoin at Texas A&M. The Bitcoin Protocol is an engineering course that examines the technical codebase underneath Bitcoin, including cryptography, distributed computing, and computer networking. Bitcoin: Accounting for Digital Transactions, on the other hand, explores the business, economics, and policy of the Bitcoin industry, especially Bitcoin mining. These courses represent the first – and, so far, only – Bitcoin-only classes offered by a major US research university.
Korok writes a popular Bitcoin newsletter, Principles of Bitcoin. He speaks regularly on podcasts and conferences; notably, he delivered the keynote speech on Bitcoin and AI at MicroStrategy World 2024.
Prior to joining the faculty at Mays, Korok served on the Council of Economic Advisers at the White House from 2007 to 2009. During this time, he witnessed the Great Financial Crisis up close – it wasn’t his fault! Korok’s policy portfolio covered technology and financial services, and he was on the President’s Working Group for Financial Markets.
Korok earned a BS in mathematics from the University of Chicago and a PhD in economics from Stanford University. He has taught at the University of Chicago, Georgetown University, The George Washington University, and, now, Texas A&M.
Korok teaches two classes on Bitcoin at Texas A&M. The Bitcoin Protocol is an engineering course that examines the technical codebase underneath Bitcoin, including cryptography, distributed computing, and computer networking. Bitcoin: Accounting for Digital Transactions, on the other hand, explores the business, economics, and policy of the Bitcoin industry, especially Bitcoin mining. These courses represent the first – and, so far, only – Bitcoin-only classes offered by a major US research university.
Korok writes a popular Bitcoin newsletter, Principles of Bitcoin. He speaks regularly on podcasts and conferences; notably, he delivered the keynote speech on Bitcoin and AI at MicroStrategy World 2024.
Prior to joining the faculty at Mays, Korok served on the Council of Economic Advisers at the White House from 2007 to 2009. During this time, he witnessed the Great Financial Crisis up close – it wasn’t his fault! Korok’s policy portfolio covered technology and financial services, and he was on the President’s Working Group for Financial Markets.
Korok earned a BS in mathematics from the University of Chicago and a PhD in economics from Stanford University. He has taught at the University of Chicago, Georgetown University, The George Washington University, and, now, Texas A&M.

Kosta Ouzas
CEO/Founder
Minotaur Trading Systems

Kosta Ouzas
CEO/Founder
Minotaur Trading Systems
Kostas Ouzas is the founder of Minotaur Trading Systems, a company dedicated to building trading algorithms. With a background in quantitative system design and a deep focus on risk management, Ouzas developed Minotaur around the principle of protecting capital while capturing opportunity. Ouzas’s mission is to make institutional-grade trading intelligence accessible to everyday investors, enabling systematic exposure to Bitcoin’s long-term potential without emotion or speculation.

Kristyna Mazankova
Head of PR/Director of the Master in Bitcoin
BTC Inc/ Hesperides University

Kristyna Mazankova
Head of PR/Director of the Master in Bitcoin
BTC Inc/ Hesperides University
Kristýna Mazánková is the Director of the Master in Bitcoin — the world’s first English and global academic program dedicated entirely and only to Bitcoin as a social, technological, and economic phenomenon.
Before entering the Bitcoin industry in 2019, Kristýna built her career in technology and corporate communications, helping global and regional organizations communicate innovation and navigate change. She later led communications at SatoshiLabs, the creators of Trezor, and today serves as Head of PR at BTC Inc., the company behind Bitcoin Magazine and the world’s largest Bitcoin conferences.
At Hesperides University, Kristýna is shaping a new kind of higher education — one that treats Bitcoin not as a trend, but as a turning point in human organization, value, and trust. As she puts it, “Bitcoin deserves an academic space — serious, independent, and global.”
Her work connects communication, education, technology, and the growing movement for intellectual and financial independence.
Before entering the Bitcoin industry in 2019, Kristýna built her career in technology and corporate communications, helping global and regional organizations communicate innovation and navigate change. She later led communications at SatoshiLabs, the creators of Trezor, and today serves as Head of PR at BTC Inc., the company behind Bitcoin Magazine and the world’s largest Bitcoin conferences.
At Hesperides University, Kristýna is shaping a new kind of higher education — one that treats Bitcoin not as a trend, but as a turning point in human organization, value, and trust. As she puts it, “Bitcoin deserves an academic space — serious, independent, and global.”
Her work connects communication, education, technology, and the growing movement for intellectual and financial independence.

Kyle Schneps
Director of Policy
DCG

Kyle Schneps
Director of Policy
DCG
Kyle Schneps is Director of Public Policy at DCG, working at the intersection of energy, data centers, Bitcoin, and AI. His work examines how emerging technologies are reshaping U.S. geopolitics, competitiveness, and national security.
The majority of Kyle’s career was spent as a U.S. Intelligence Officer. He also served in a diplomatic post at the U.S. Department of State advising the Special Envoy for Guantanamo Bay and in the New York State Governor’s Office overseeing state operations. He is a former White House Fellow focused on national security and federal budgeting.
Kyle is co-author and editor of National Security in the Digital Age. He holds two master’s degrees from Columbia University.
The majority of Kyle’s career was spent as a U.S. Intelligence Officer. He also served in a diplomatic post at the U.S. Department of State advising the Special Envoy for Guantanamo Bay and in the New York State Governor’s Office overseeing state operations. He is a former White House Fellow focused on national security and federal budgeting.
Kyle is co-author and editor of National Security in the Digital Age. He holds two master’s degrees from Columbia University.

Lauren Rodriguez
Wife of Keonne Rodriguez
#freesamourai

Lauren Rodriguez
Wife of Keonne Rodriguez
#freesamourai
Lauren is the devoted wife of Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of Samourai Wallet, who is currently serving a five-year federal prison sentence for developing non-custodial, open-source privacy software. She passionately advocates for cryptocurrency privacy rights and criminal justice reform, focusing on securing clemency for her husband and bringing attention to others who have suffered similar injustice under the previous administration.
Lauren campaigns to highlights the broader implications of the Samourai case, drawing parallels to other privacy-focused projects, and calls attention to the lawfare against innovators in the Bitcoin and crypto space. Resilient and outspoken, she balances her personal grief with determined activism, emphasizing that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" as she strives for her husband’s freedom and systemic reform.
Lauren campaigns to highlights the broader implications of the Samourai case, drawing parallels to other privacy-focused projects, and calls attention to the lawfare against innovators in the Bitcoin and crypto space. Resilient and outspoken, she balances her personal grief with determined activism, emphasizing that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" as she strives for her husband’s freedom and systemic reform.

Lee Salminen
Co-founder
Bitcoin Jungle

Lee Salminen
Co-founder
Bitcoin Jungle
Lee is a Bitcoin builder and open-source contributor focused on real-world adoption and self-custody. He is the co-founder of Bitcoin Jungle, where he builds Bitcoin and Lightning tools that enable everyday payments and circular economies in Costa Rica. His work centers on turning Bitcoin from an abstract idea into practical money used by local people and businesses. Lee is passionate about empowering communities through open systems, education, and sovereign technology.

Leon Johnson
Head of Operations
Fedi

Leon Johnson
Head of Operations
Fedi
Bitcoin operator and systems builder with several years of hands-on experience running bitcoin at scale inside operating companies. As Head of Operations at Fedi, led execution across treasury, controls, finance and organizational scaling including navigating the realities of holding bitcoin on the balance sheet through volatile market conditions. Focused on building durable financial systems that work under pressure, not just in theory.

Liam Eagen
co-founder
{ ideal }

Liam Eagen
co-founder
{ ideal }
I do cryptography research into scaling Bitcoin via on-chain SNARK verification at { ideal }, a company I co-founded with Robin Linus and Ying Tong Lai. Previously, I was the founding cryptographer and chief scientist of Alpen Labs on BitVM and Glock and also worked at Blockstream research on proofs for private transactions. My work focuses on proof systems research and on BitVM and garbled circuits for verification on-chain. I also work on private transaction protocols like ShieldedCSV.

Lindsay Stamp

Lindsay Stamp
Product Manager and Product Consultant focused on building tools for Bitcoiners. With a background in product strategy and development, she creates products that advance financial sovereignty and reflect Bitcoin’s long-term ethos. A disciplined investor and advocate for intentional living, Lindsay speaks on conviction-driven wealth building, personal finance, and using Bitcoin as a tool for achieving freedom.

Liz Parrish
Events Coordinator
Bitcoin Bay Foundation

Liz Parrish
Events Coordinator
Bitcoin Bay Foundation
Liz Parrish is the Events Coordinator for Bitcoin Bay and former contributor to Bitcoin Charlotte, where she created HODLween. After nearly a decade as a traffic engineer in Washington, D.C., she transitioned into Bitcoin to focus on building high impact grassroots communities. Liz designs welcoming, design forward events that make Bitcoin accessible for newcomers while strengthening connection across the pleb community. She has also collaborated with the Beef Initiative, supporting decentralization, food sovereignty, and local ranchers within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Luke Rudkowski
Founder
We Are Change

Luke Rudkowski
Founder
We Are Change
Luke Rudkowski is the founder of We Are Change, a nonpartisan, independent media organization dedicated to exposing corruption and reporting truthfully on worldwide events. Luke is a journalist, entrepreneur and investor who has been using, covering and promoting Bitcoin for more than decade. Luke is also a self-defense instructor. His reports can be viewed at youtube.com/wearechange.

Madison Hanson
Founder
HansonHash

Madison Hanson
Founder
HansonHash
Madison Hanson is a finance and economics student at Florida Gulf Coast University, graduating in May, and the Founder & President of the FGCU Crypto Club. She discovered Bitcoin in 2016 and has since been passionate about educating Gen Z on sound money, self-custody, and long-term wealth building. Madison has built grassroots Bitcoin communities on campus, hosts The HansonHash Podcast, and speaks on Bitcoin, leadership, and financial sovereignty. When she’s not studying, she’s skateboarding, serving her community, and helping students take ownership of their financial future.

Mags Gronowska
Consultant
Magsplaining

Mags Gronowska
Consultant
Magsplaining
Magdalena Gronowska is a senior Bitcoin consultant with over 17 years of experience in highly regulated financial, electricity, and carbon markets, including Bitcoin. Magdalena currently advises DDC, a Bitcoin treasury and food company and hosts Magsplaining (Bitcoin x AI podcast). Previously, she sat on the Board of Advisors for the Digital Asset Securities Commission of El Salvador, served as Vice President of Business Development at Coinkite. She helped launch Canada's first publicly traded Bitcoin fund, paving the way for Canadian Bitcoin ETFs. She previously advised PRTI (Bitcoin mining), helped establish the Santa Monica Bitcoin Office, and oversaw the QuadrigaCX insolvency proceedings as a Bankruptcy Inspector.

Marc Syz
CEO
Syz Capital

Marc Syz
CEO
Syz Capital
Marc is a Swiss national with over 22 years of experience in global finance and investing. He comes from a 250 year old family of entrepreneurs who founded and built leading institutions, including Credit Suisse and Zurich Insurance, shaping a long-standing legacy in financial services.
Marc was Co-Founder, CEO, and Managing Partner of SYZ Capital, and a member of the Executive Leadership Team of the SYZ Group, overseeing CHF 26.5 billion in assets under management. As a member of the Executive and Investment Committees, he led the firm’s private equity strategy.
Previously, Marc served as Managing Director at ACE & Company, a global co-investment platform. He led the group’s expansion into Asia from Hong Kong and managed multiple investment portfolios across Europe and Asia. Over his career, Marc has completed more than 120 venture and growth investments, including leading one of Southeast Asia’s largest Series A financings alongside Goldman Sachs, the IFC, and Alibaba.
Earlier in his career, Marc was Head of Capital Markets & Equity Sales at Union Bancaire Privée in Geneva, advising institutional and ultra-high-net-worth clients representing over USD 130 billion in assets. He began his career as a derivatives trader at Credit Suisse First Boston within the Structured Products division.
Throughout his career, Marc has focused on building and scaling companies, mentoring founders, and driving value through strategic planning, operations excellence and disciplined execution. He discovered Bitcoin in 2014 and has since been an active investor in the digital asset and blockchain ecosystem. At Syz Capital he launched and scaled the BTC Alpha fund to become one of the world's largest bitcoin denominated funds.
Marc is currently board member of H100, a european leading Bitcoin treasury company and was previously Vice Chairman of Future Holdings, the fisrt Swiss Bitcoin treasury company, and serves on the board of Nasdaq-listed MoneyHero, a leading fintech platform in Southeast Asia. He brings deep expertise across capital markets, M&A, asset management, and alternative investments globally, and holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD.
Marc was Co-Founder, CEO, and Managing Partner of SYZ Capital, and a member of the Executive Leadership Team of the SYZ Group, overseeing CHF 26.5 billion in assets under management. As a member of the Executive and Investment Committees, he led the firm’s private equity strategy.
Previously, Marc served as Managing Director at ACE & Company, a global co-investment platform. He led the group’s expansion into Asia from Hong Kong and managed multiple investment portfolios across Europe and Asia. Over his career, Marc has completed more than 120 venture and growth investments, including leading one of Southeast Asia’s largest Series A financings alongside Goldman Sachs, the IFC, and Alibaba.
Earlier in his career, Marc was Head of Capital Markets & Equity Sales at Union Bancaire Privée in Geneva, advising institutional and ultra-high-net-worth clients representing over USD 130 billion in assets. He began his career as a derivatives trader at Credit Suisse First Boston within the Structured Products division.
Throughout his career, Marc has focused on building and scaling companies, mentoring founders, and driving value through strategic planning, operations excellence and disciplined execution. He discovered Bitcoin in 2014 and has since been an active investor in the digital asset and blockchain ecosystem. At Syz Capital he launched and scaled the BTC Alpha fund to become one of the world's largest bitcoin denominated funds.
Marc is currently board member of H100, a european leading Bitcoin treasury company and was previously Vice Chairman of Future Holdings, the fisrt Swiss Bitcoin treasury company, and serves on the board of Nasdaq-listed MoneyHero, a leading fintech platform in Southeast Asia. He brings deep expertise across capital markets, M&A, asset management, and alternative investments globally, and holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD.

Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Congresswoman
U.S. House of Representatives

Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Congresswoman
U.S. House of Representatives
Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks is a Congressional leader helping shape America’s financial freedom and digital future, serving as a prominent voice on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. A steadfast advocate for financial innovation, she is at the forefront of establishing a clear, pro-growth regulatory framework for digital assets. By supporting landmark legislation such as the CLARITY Act and the GENIUS Act, Dr. Miller-Meeks is working to provide the essential "rules of the road" that protect consumer privacy and empower American entrepreneurs to lead on the global stage.
Driven by a commitment to national security, Representative Miller-Meeks views digital asset leadership as a strategic imperative to outcompete the Chinese Communist Party and secure U.S. dominance in the next era of financial technology. Her work bridges the gap between digital innovation and energy resilience, ensuring that our nation’s infrastructure is prepared to support a 21st-century economy. Through consistent engagement with industry stakeholders and her constituents in Iowa, she remains dedicated to fostering an environment where digital assets can thrive, decentralization is protected, and American economic leadership remains unrivaled.
Driven by a commitment to national security, Representative Miller-Meeks views digital asset leadership as a strategic imperative to outcompete the Chinese Communist Party and secure U.S. dominance in the next era of financial technology. Her work bridges the gap between digital innovation and energy resilience, ensuring that our nation’s infrastructure is prepared to support a 21st-century economy. Through consistent engagement with industry stakeholders and her constituents in Iowa, she remains dedicated to fostering an environment where digital assets can thrive, decentralization is protected, and American economic leadership remains unrivaled.

Mark Moss
Market Disruptors

Mark Moss
Market Disruptors
Mark Moss is building the world he wants to live in — powered by Bitcoin. As founder of the Bitcoin Opportunity Fund, Chief Visionary Officer at Matador, Chief Bitcoin Strategist at Satsuma, and founder of Market Disruptors, Mark operates at the intersection of Bitcoin, capital markets, and macroeconomic disruption. With over 100 million views and decades of experience in finance, he is a leading voice helping investors and entrepreneurs understand how Bitcoin is reshaping the global economic order.

Mark Suman
Co-founder and CEO
Maple AI

Mark Suman
Co-founder and CEO
Maple AI
Previously at Apple working on AI/ML, Mark left to work on Mutiny Wallet building self-custody Lightning for mobile phones. Now Mark and his co-founder bring self-custody technology to AI, letting users have end-to-end encryption with powerful AI on their devices.

Marshall Long
Founder
Pleb Source

Marshall Long
Founder
Pleb Source
Marshall Long is a Bitcoin OG and Class of 2010 miner who has been hashing since the network's earliest days. With a strong background in hardware engineering, this 10th-generation Texan and serial entrepreneur brings over 15 years of deep technical expertise in Bitcoin mining, hardware optimization, global infrastructure deployment, and protocol economics. He has deployed mining operations across continents, including pioneering hydro-powered sites with Gridless in Kenya and championing innovations like immersion cooling. Marshall has held key leadership roles in the industry and responsible for founding PlebSource and serving as a General Partner at Alloyed Strategies. A frequent podcast guest, panelist, and respected voice in the mining community, Marshall delivers battle-tested insights on energy markets, hardware supply chains, chip design challenges, international operations, and the relentless pursuit of stacking sats through proof-of-work. Follow him on X at @OGBTC for unfiltered perspectives on Bitcoin's evolving frontier.

Mathieu Agee
Founder
O21 Solutions

Mathieu Agee
Founder
O21 Solutions
Mathieu Agee is the Founder of O21 Solutions, a Houston, TX-based strategic advisory firm dedicated to accelerating Bitcoin adoption in the energy sector, with a primary focus on the oil and gas industry.
With extensive leadership experience in both traditional energy markets and cutting-edge digital technologies, Mathieu has held senior roles at Amazon Web Services (AWS), ExxonMobil, multiple global integrated oil and gas companies, and professional services consulting firms. He has driven large-scale digital transformation initiatives across AI, hydrocarbon supply chains, trading and risk management, manufacturing, refining, marketing, retail, enterprise IT, and cloud computing. Notably, he developed and produced ExxonMobil's Outlook for Energy, delivering long-term energy demand and supply insights to guide multi-billion-dollar investments and inform C-level executives, Boards, senior management, and public audiences through advocacy presentations to policy groups, NGOs, universities, governments, and corporations.
At O21 Solutions, Mathieu leverages his unique expertise in energy markets and the emerging Bitcoin economy to provide unmatched insights for companies navigating the "Money Transition." The firm empowers public and private energy companies, executive teams, Boards, public affairs, and investor relations with customized Bitcoin-powered corporate strategies—including treasury optimization, balance sheet accumulation, mining integration, payments, and operational enhancements—through tailored research, analysis, education, actionable frameworks, industry best practices, and expert coaching to reduce cycle time from strategy to execution.
Mathieu is a recognized thought leader on the intersection of Bitcoin, corporate strategy, energy optimization, and sound money principles, frequently sharing insights through podcasts, conferences, and industry discussions.
With extensive leadership experience in both traditional energy markets and cutting-edge digital technologies, Mathieu has held senior roles at Amazon Web Services (AWS), ExxonMobil, multiple global integrated oil and gas companies, and professional services consulting firms. He has driven large-scale digital transformation initiatives across AI, hydrocarbon supply chains, trading and risk management, manufacturing, refining, marketing, retail, enterprise IT, and cloud computing. Notably, he developed and produced ExxonMobil's Outlook for Energy, delivering long-term energy demand and supply insights to guide multi-billion-dollar investments and inform C-level executives, Boards, senior management, and public audiences through advocacy presentations to policy groups, NGOs, universities, governments, and corporations.
At O21 Solutions, Mathieu leverages his unique expertise in energy markets and the emerging Bitcoin economy to provide unmatched insights for companies navigating the "Money Transition." The firm empowers public and private energy companies, executive teams, Boards, public affairs, and investor relations with customized Bitcoin-powered corporate strategies—including treasury optimization, balance sheet accumulation, mining integration, payments, and operational enhancements—through tailored research, analysis, education, actionable frameworks, industry best practices, and expert coaching to reduce cycle time from strategy to execution.
Mathieu is a recognized thought leader on the intersection of Bitcoin, corporate strategy, energy optimization, and sound money principles, frequently sharing insights through podcasts, conferences, and industry discussions.

Matt Crosby
Lead Analyst
Bitcoin Magazine Pro

Matt Crosby
Lead Analyst
Bitcoin Magazine Pro
As Lead Analyst for Bitcoin Magazine Pro, Matt looks to apply his expertise to offer valuable perspectives on bitcoin's market dynamics, often focusing on the intersection of on-chain analysis, macroeconomic trends, and broader financial markets to provide insights into both short and long term outlooks.

Matthew Sigel
Portfolio Manager
VanEck Onchain Economy ETF

Matthew Sigel
Portfolio Manager
VanEck Onchain Economy ETF
As Head of Digital Assets Research and Portfolio Manager of the VanEck OnChain Economy ETF ($NODE), Mr. Sigel helps guide VanEck’s digital assets strategy and sits on the investment committee of the firm’s private funds. He produces frequent research on Bitcoin, smart contract platforms, and emerging markets adoption of digital asset. Prior to VanEck, Mr. Sigel worked as a research analyst and portfolio strategist at CLSA, an analyst and portfolio manager at AllianceBernstein (where he covered technology and other sectors under Cathie Wood), and a journalist at Bloomberg, CNBC and NHK Japan Broadcasting, where he covered finance. Mr. Sigel is a CFA Charterholder and has a BA from Harvard University.

Matt Luongo
CEO
Thesis

Matt Luongo
CEO
Thesis
Matt Luongo is the Founder and CEO of Thesis*, a cryptocurrency venture studio funding and building decentralized products and protocols that enable personal empowerment. These include Bitcoin finance superapp, Mezo, Lolli, decentralized wrapped Bitcoin token $tBTC, auditing firm Defense, community-owned crypto wallet Taho, Bitcoin rewards company Fold, encrypted period tracking app Embody, and others. Under Matt’s leadership, Thesis* has garnered investments from a16z, Polychain Capital, ParaFi, Fenbushi, and others. As a developer, Matt strives for elegant solutions to messy problems. As an entrepreneur, he seeks novel fixes for problems we take for granted.

Matt Mosich
President & Owner
The Mosich Group

Matt Mosich
President & Owner
The Mosich Group
I'm not the typical Bitcoiner. I wasn't rebellious. I happily trodded along with the pack. The last thing I wanted was to move against the tide.
But there was one thing I couldn't shake.
I started lifting at 8. Deep in Reddit nutrition forums by 13. Favorite movie was Pumping Iron. What does that teach you?
The long game.
But everywhere I looked, everyone played the now game. Ate, trained, spent like it. I couldn't understand it. And I didn't have a good answer for why everyone was wired different – until Bitcoin gave me one.
I lost my shirt in 2021. But instead of licking my wounds, I decided to learn more. And yes, I became obsessed. First with the possibility. Then with a question:
If we had a money that incentivized people to save instead of spend – how would that change how they live?
It was like everything I'd ever questioned might finally make sense. And I've been on a mission to contribute to that solution since – in the way I know best.
Speaking.
Too many smart people aren't seen as such. Their ideas never get considered because they can't get a room to believe in them. I've spent the last two years working to change that – coaching executives and founders to communicate under pressure, helping them show up on stage the way their ideas deserve. I've worked with Bitcoin main stage speakers on their preparation, helped clients moderate panels alongside some of the biggest names in the space, and prepared executives for interviews on the floor of the NYSE.
The Bitcoin community gave me a mission. This is how I give back.
But there was one thing I couldn't shake.
I started lifting at 8. Deep in Reddit nutrition forums by 13. Favorite movie was Pumping Iron. What does that teach you?
The long game.
But everywhere I looked, everyone played the now game. Ate, trained, spent like it. I couldn't understand it. And I didn't have a good answer for why everyone was wired different – until Bitcoin gave me one.
I lost my shirt in 2021. But instead of licking my wounds, I decided to learn more. And yes, I became obsessed. First with the possibility. Then with a question:
If we had a money that incentivized people to save instead of spend – how would that change how they live?
It was like everything I'd ever questioned might finally make sense. And I've been on a mission to contribute to that solution since – in the way I know best.
Speaking.
Too many smart people aren't seen as such. Their ideas never get considered because they can't get a room to believe in them. I've spent the last two years working to change that – coaching executives and founders to communicate under pressure, helping them show up on stage the way their ideas deserve. I've worked with Bitcoin main stage speakers on their preparation, helped clients moderate panels alongside some of the biggest names in the space, and prepared executives for interviews on the floor of the NYSE.
The Bitcoin community gave me a mission. This is how I give back.

Matt Prusak
President
American Bitcoin

Matt Prusak
President
American Bitcoin
Matt Prusak, President of American Bitcoin (NASDAQ: ABTC), brings execution-focused leadership to bitcoin accumulation at scale. American Bitcoin is a pure-play bitcoin accumulator combining the best of mining operations and treasury strategies to maximize shareholder value. Previously, Matt served as CEO of Ionic Digital and Chief Commercial Officer of both Hut 8 (NASDAQ: HUT) and US Bitcoin Corp., where he helped build industry-leading North American bitcoin operations. During the pandemic, he demonstrated his operational capabilities by scaling Curative to deliver COVID testing nationwide. Before entering the Bitcoin space, Matt advised clients on capital markets, technology, and infrastructure projects at Bain & Company. A Schwarzman Scholar with a Stanford MBA, Matt is focused on building ABTC into a dominant bitcoin accumulator – strengthening America's position in digital assets and creating sustainable value in a competitive global landscape.

Matt Williams
Head of Financial Services
Luxor Technology

Matt Williams
Head of Financial Services
Luxor Technology
Matt Williams is the Head of Financial Services at Luxor. At Luxor, Matt has led the successful launch of Luxor’s Hashrate Forwards markets and Luxor’s Energy business, providing the Bitcoin Mining space with financial instruments to hedge their risk and gain non-dilutive access to financing.
Prior to joining Luxor, Matt was the Managing Director of Technology Strategy at NFA. Matt also spent time at CME Group as Director of Market Structure and Strategic Investments, helping to lead CME Group's go-to-market strategy for the launch of Bitcoin Futures. He started his career as an Energy trader in the Natural Gas and Crude Oil markets. Matt also sits on the Board of Directors at Bitnomial Exchange, as well as the Advisory Committee for KOR Financial, and is a Strategic Advisor for Sphinx Exchange.
Prior to joining Luxor, Matt was the Managing Director of Technology Strategy at NFA. Matt also spent time at CME Group as Director of Market Structure and Strategic Investments, helping to lead CME Group's go-to-market strategy for the launch of Bitcoin Futures. He started his career as an Energy trader in the Natural Gas and Crude Oil markets. Matt also sits on the Board of Directors at Bitnomial Exchange, as well as the Advisory Committee for KOR Financial, and is a Strategic Advisor for Sphinx Exchange.

Mauricio Di Bartolomeo
Co-Founder and Chief Sales Officer (CSO)
Ledn

Mauricio Di Bartolomeo
Co-Founder and Chief Sales Officer (CSO)
Ledn
Mauricio Di Bartolomeo is the Co-Founder & CSO of Ledn, a leading provider of bitcoin-backed loans. He found Bitcoin during hyperinflation in Venezuela and believes in the future of the digital economy. He has an MBA from the Richard Ivey business school at Western University.

Max Guise
Bitkey & Proto Lead
Block Inc.

Max Guise
Bitkey & Proto Lead
Block Inc.
is Bitkey & Proto Lead at Block, leading the development of the company’s self-custody bitcoin wallet Bitkey as well as the modular mining system, Proto. Prior to assuming this leadership role, Max was Hardware Security Lead at Block where he built and led product security and security engineering teams responsible for protecting a wide range of Square products and for shipping critical components that powered many different levels of Square's technology stack

MEAR ONE

MEAR ONE
MEAR ONE (Kalen Ockerman) has been at the forefront of LA’s graffiti and mural culture for nearly three decades. He is famous for having pioneered the Melrose graffiti art movement in the late 80s and is considered by many to be LA’s most prolific public muralist. Early on in his career, MEAR gained his recognition for building the bridge between graffiti art and fine art. He was the first graffiti artist to exhibit at the infamous 01 Gallery on Melrose, as well as at 33 1/3 Gallery in Silverlake, where Banksy would later debut his first North American show. MEAR ONE’s work was part of the landmark Art in the Streets exhibit at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Street Cred at the Pasadena Museum of California Art, and Last Thursday at the Orlando Museum of Fine Art. His artworks reside in the permanent collection of the Laguna Museum of Fine Art Museum, The Chambers Project, and numerous private collections around the world. He is perhaps best known for constructing powerful narratives juxtaposing philosophy, ancient mythology and modern politics to inspire an evolved consciousness. This interpretation of reality is achieved through balanced dialogue between surrealism and the metaphysical. MEAR ONE helps us envision the sublime spirit of our time – not by escaping reality, but by confronting it head on.

Megan Brooks-Anderson
Chief Strategy Officer
Blockware

Megan Brooks-Anderson
Chief Strategy Officer
Blockware
Chief Strategy Officer at Blockware.
Former COO of Riot Platforms (NASDAQ: RIOT) Public company experience in bitcoin mining operations, hardware procurement, site evaluation, IT/Cybersecurity, SoX control design/implementation, and M&A.25+ of experience in operations, risk management, and finance.
B.S. in Finance, Master’s Certificate of Accountancy from the University of Houston, and certification in risk management.
Former COO of Riot Platforms (NASDAQ: RIOT) Public company experience in bitcoin mining operations, hardware procurement, site evaluation, IT/Cybersecurity, SoX control design/implementation, and M&A.25+ of experience in operations, risk management, and finance.
B.S. in Finance, Master’s Certificate of Accountancy from the University of Houston, and certification in risk management.

Mel Sands
Creator and Producer
The Bitcoin Boomers

Mel Sands
Creator and Producer
The Bitcoin Boomers
In 2008, my family lost everything in the Great Financial Crisis. We were born and raised in Detroit and in the automotive industry. My husband lost his Tier 1 supplier job, my antique shop fell apart because everyone lost their jobs. There was no money. I started going to Chicago to sell my goods. It was a place that wasn't dependent on one industry. Pretty soon we decided to move permanently. We lost our house, literally everything and started over in the Chicago burbs with our 3 kids in an apartment. I built my own business from scratch there, The Vintage Garage and my husband had to work midnights in a shop for a few years until he could quit and work with me. We worked hard, got our kids in great schools, then-
in 2015 I bought $100 worth of Bitcoin and promptly forgot about this "internet money." In 2017, someone asked if I’d heard about Bitcoin, and I thought, “I’ve got some of that.” I go hunt it down and that 100 bucks is worth $4700! That was a TON of money for us. It sent me down the rabbit hole, what is it, why did it do this, and what’s it going to do next? So I hung on for the ride and tried to add. I made plenty of mistakes along the way. But Bitcoin taught me about money and finance and how the world works. It changed our lives for the better. We literally thought we'd never be able to retire, now we've got a shot at it. :)
in 2015 I bought $100 worth of Bitcoin and promptly forgot about this "internet money." In 2017, someone asked if I’d heard about Bitcoin, and I thought, “I’ve got some of that.” I go hunt it down and that 100 bucks is worth $4700! That was a TON of money for us. It sent me down the rabbit hole, what is it, why did it do this, and what’s it going to do next? So I hung on for the ride and tried to add. I made plenty of mistakes along the way. But Bitcoin taught me about money and finance and how the world works. It changed our lives for the better. We literally thought we'd never be able to retire, now we've got a shot at it. :)

Michael Terpin
CEO
Transform Ventures / Bitcoin Supercycle Fund

Michael Terpin
CEO
Transform Ventures / Bitcoin Supercycle Fund
Michael Terpin has been a bitcoin investor and thought leader since 2013, when he started BitAngels (now in 30 cities) and Transform Group, the earliest bitcoin and crypto PR firm. He currently runs Transform Capital, his family office, and Transform Ventures, his advisory arm. He wrote the bestselling hardcover book, Bitcoin Supercycle, in late 2024, which accurately predicted the dates of all-time high and $100,000 bitcoin, as well as the timing of the bitcoin bubble popping. Terpin is also chief investment officer of Supercycle Genesis Partners, a Bitcoin-only, algorithmic hedge fund, and chief digital asset treasury officer for BTCMax, a digital asset treasury company specializing on maximizing bitcoin yield. Previously, he was a serial entrepreneur with multiple exits to public companies. He is the first bitcoin investor to move to Puerto Rico under the island's investor tax decree system.

Mike Casey
Director of Engineering
MARA

Mike Casey
Director of Engineering
MARA
Director of Engineering, MARA
Volunteer Lifeguard, MaraPool
Product Owner, Slipstream
Author: Speculative Bitcoin Adoption/Price Theory (https://medium.com/@mcasey0827/speculative-bitcoin-adoption-price-theory-2eed48ecf7da) as referenced in "The Bullish Case for Bitcoin" by Vijay Boyapati.
Bitcoin Class of 2012
Volunteer Lifeguard, MaraPool
Product Owner, Slipstream
Author: Speculative Bitcoin Adoption/Price Theory (https://medium.com/@mcasey0827/speculative-bitcoin-adoption-price-theory-2eed48ecf7da) as referenced in "The Bullish Case for Bitcoin" by Vijay Boyapati.
Bitcoin Class of 2012

Mike Lawler
Congressman
U.S. House of Representatives

Mike Lawler
Congressman
U.S. House of Representatives
Congressman Mike Lawler proudly represents New York's 17th Congressional District, just north of New York City, encompassing all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. A lifelong Hudson Valley resident and former State Assemblyman, Congressman Lawler is widely recognized for his common-sense approach to legislating.
Congressman Lawler serves on the House Financial Services Committee, where he is Vice Chair of Communications, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He is one of Washington's most committed advocates for Bitcoin and digital assets — earning an "A" grade from Stand With Crypto. Congressman Lawler supports President Trump's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and has been a driving force behind both the GENIUS Act and the Clarity Act, fighting to give American innovators the regulatory clarity they need to compete and win globally.
Congressman Lawler serves on the House Financial Services Committee, where he is Vice Chair of Communications, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He is one of Washington's most committed advocates for Bitcoin and digital assets — earning an "A" grade from Stand With Crypto. Congressman Lawler supports President Trump's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and has been a driving force behind both the GENIUS Act and the Clarity Act, fighting to give American innovators the regulatory clarity they need to compete and win globally.

Mike Segal
Security and Infrastructure Expert
Evertas

Mike Segal
Security and Infrastructure Expert
Evertas
Mike is a mathematician and entrepreneur with a passion for using cryptography to solve problems in global finance. Until 2021 Mike served as CTO of DigitalX, an international cryptocurrency firm which became the first publicly listed crypto company in the world when it IPO’d on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2013. While at DigitalX, Mike built a Bitcoin mining operation which at its peak owned 4% of the Bitcoin network’s hashpower and led a team to develop an international remittances and custody solution using Bitcoin.
Mike has 15 years of experience in cybersecurity and protocol design and serves as an advisor to several prominent companies and open-source projects in the crypto space, including Zcash, Mobilecoin, and CoinPoker. Mike is also the founder of ARGO, an automated market maker for use on crypto markets, and Manucci Capital, a DeFi-focused hedge fund.
Since 2021, Mike has acted as an expert consultant for multiple insurance and reinsurance providers, evaluating the security risks of digital asset custody operations. Mike joined Evertas in 2025 to help develop a general framework for evaluating custody and infrastructure risks to emerging tech companies.
Mike has 15 years of experience in cybersecurity and protocol design and serves as an advisor to several prominent companies and open-source projects in the crypto space, including Zcash, Mobilecoin, and CoinPoker. Mike is also the founder of ARGO, an automated market maker for use on crypto markets, and Manucci Capital, a DeFi-focused hedge fund.
Since 2021, Mike has acted as an expert consultant for multiple insurance and reinsurance providers, evaluating the security risks of digital asset custody operations. Mike joined Evertas in 2025 to help develop a general framework for evaluating custody and infrastructure risks to emerging tech companies.

Milan de Reede
Co-founder & CEO
NanoGPT, AI.bitcoin.com

Milan de Reede
Co-founder & CEO
NanoGPT, AI.bitcoin.com
Milan started in Bitcoin in 2012, has been a crypto policy expert at the Dutch Central Bank, and is co-founder and CEO of NanoGPT which powers AI.bitcoin.com and is one of the largest crypto-accepting services, allowing anyone to access every AI model privately, paid for in Bitcoin and Lightning.

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.

Miles Paschini
Co-Founder & CEO
FV Bank

Miles Paschini
Co-Founder & CEO
FV Bank
Miles Paschini is CEO of FV Bank, a global digital bank which harnesses the combined capabilities of a licensed bank and qualified custodian to provide an extensive array of financial services that go beyond conventional banking offerings. By offering an expanded range of banking and digital asset custody products, FV Bank addresses a wide range of financial requirements, serving both individuals and businesses within the fintech and blockchain ecosystem.
Miles was awarded seven patents related to payment processing services during the development of EWI Holdings acquired by Blackhawk Inc. in 2006. In addition to developing the industry’s first cryptocurrency linked debit cards, Miles and FV Bank co-founder Nitin Agarwal are the first in history to be awarded a U.S. patent for the development of stablecoin instruments backed by sovereign debt and on chain KYC.
Miles was awarded seven patents related to payment processing services during the development of EWI Holdings acquired by Blackhawk Inc. in 2006. In addition to developing the industry’s first cryptocurrency linked debit cards, Miles and FV Bank co-founder Nitin Agarwal are the first in history to be awarded a U.S. patent for the development of stablecoin instruments backed by sovereign debt and on chain KYC.

Milton Todd Ault III
CEO
OnlyBulls

Milton Todd Ault III
CEO
OnlyBulls
Milton "Todd" Ault III is the Executive Chairman and visionary leader behind OnlyBulls, the AI-powered investing companion app launched by askROI, a subsidiary of Hyperscale Data Inc. A 35+ year Wall Street veteran, serial entrepreneur, and early Bitcoin adopter since 2011, Ault brings decades of financial expertise and a passion for democratizing access to institutional-grade market intelligence.

Mitchell Askew
Head of Blockware Intelligence
Blockware

Mitchell Askew
Head of Blockware Intelligence
Blockware
Mitchell Askew is a leading Bitcoin mining analyst and the Head of Blockware Intelligence. Mitchell provides institutional-grade research and strategic guidance to help investors navigate the Bitcoin mining landscape and build profitable mining operations. His insights on Bitcoin mining economics, and on-chain analytics, and macroeconomics is published weekly to more than 100,000 newsletter subscribers.

Naomi Brockwell
Presidemt
Ludlow Institute

Naomi Brockwell
Presidemt
Ludlow Institute
Naomi Brockwell is the President and Founder of the Ludlow Institute, a non-profit dedicated to advancing freedom through technology. Their media arm, NBTV, creates educational content to help people reclaim their privacy and autonomy online -- they have over 1 million subscribers across platforms and over 100 million views of their videos.
From 2013 - 2015 she worked as a policy associate at the New York Bitcoin Center. From 2015 - 2021 she has worked as a producer for 19-times Emmy-Award-Winning Journalist John Stossel. From 2021 to 2022 she hosted the CoinDesk series “Break it Down”, and the CoinDesk daily show “The Hash”.
Naomi was a producer for the 2015 feature documentary Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (Best International Documentary, Anthem Film Festival; Winner of Special Jury Prize, Amsterdam Film Festival), and producer of the 2018 award-winning documentary The Housing Bubble.
Naomi is the co-founder of “The Soho Forum”, a NY debate series. She is on the Advisory Council at the “Mannkal Economic Education Foundation”, and is author of “Beginner's Introduction To Privacy”, and the children's book “Billy's Bitcoin”.
From 2013 - 2015 she worked as a policy associate at the New York Bitcoin Center. From 2015 - 2021 she has worked as a producer for 19-times Emmy-Award-Winning Journalist John Stossel. From 2021 to 2022 she hosted the CoinDesk series “Break it Down”, and the CoinDesk daily show “The Hash”.
Naomi was a producer for the 2015 feature documentary Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (Best International Documentary, Anthem Film Festival; Winner of Special Jury Prize, Amsterdam Film Festival), and producer of the 2018 award-winning documentary The Housing Bubble.
Naomi is the co-founder of “The Soho Forum”, a NY debate series. She is on the Advisory Council at the “Mannkal Economic Education Foundation”, and is author of “Beginner's Introduction To Privacy”, and the children's book “Billy's Bitcoin”.

Nathan Fitzsimmons
VP of BTC Mentor
BTC Sessions

Nathan Fitzsimmons
VP of BTC Mentor
BTC Sessions
Nathan Fitzsimmons is the VP of BTC Mentor, a leading service for personalized one-on-one Bitcoin education. As a dedicated Bitcoin educator, he has spent the last two years empowering hundreds of newcomers worldwide through hands-on workshops and one-on-one sessions covering the full spectrum of self-custody models, including privacy and security best practices.
Nathan hosts the Mentor Sessions Podcast—which has gained 600,000 views on YouTube in the first year—on the BTC Sessions channel and also co-hosts the BTC Sessions Live Streams.
Nathan hosts the Mentor Sessions Podcast—which has gained 600,000 views on YouTube in the first year—on the BTC Sessions channel and also co-hosts the BTC Sessions Live Streams.

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.

Nico Smid
Founder
Digital Mining Solutions

Nico Smid
Founder
Digital Mining Solutions
Nico Smid is the founder of Digital Mining Solutions and a strategic advisor in the Bitcoin mining industry. After nearly 15 years in international business development, he entered Bitcoin as an investor in 2017 and a self-miner in 2021, recognizing the sector’s need for professionalization and scalable business strategy. Today he works with miners, investors, and infrastructure providers worldwide, supporting site development, growth strategy, and market positioning. Through advisory work, industry research, and his newsletter The Bitcoin Mining Block Post, Nico shares insights on mining economics, operational optimization, and the evolving role of mining within the broader digital infrastructure landscape.

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.

Nir Rikovitch
Chief Product and Technology Officer
MARA

Nir Rikovitch
Chief Product and Technology Officer
MARA
Nir Rikovitch is the Chief Product and Technology Officer of MARA (NASDAQ: MARA), where he leads the company’s product strategy and the commercialization of breakthrough technologies into market-ready solutions. With deep expertise in machine learning, engineering leadership, and product management, Mr. Rikovitch is responsible for building MARA’s product discipline from the ground up, bridging the gap between engineering and commercial utility to deliver production-grade systems at the intersection of energy and AI.
Prior to joining MARA, Mr. Rikovitch served as Director of Product Management at Blue River, a John Deere company. During his tenure, he co-founded the autonomy unit and led product strategy for autonomous construction machinery and advanced driver-assistance systems. His leadership in developing intelligent infrastructure across robotics and industrial automation unlocked more than $500 million in revenue across the enterprise portfolio.
Throughout his career, Mr. Rikovitch has focused on the belief that technological progress hinges on the stewardship of energy. At MARA, he applies this philosophy to the development of digital energy and infrastructure designed to be intelligent, efficient, and built to last.
His proven track record in scaling real-world autonomous technologies and intelligent infrastructure makes him a leading voice on the future of digital energy and the orchestration of reliable, large-scale compute systems.
Prior to joining MARA, Mr. Rikovitch served as Director of Product Management at Blue River, a John Deere company. During his tenure, he co-founded the autonomy unit and led product strategy for autonomous construction machinery and advanced driver-assistance systems. His leadership in developing intelligent infrastructure across robotics and industrial automation unlocked more than $500 million in revenue across the enterprise portfolio.
Throughout his career, Mr. Rikovitch has focused on the belief that technological progress hinges on the stewardship of energy. At MARA, he applies this philosophy to the development of digital energy and infrastructure designed to be intelligent, efficient, and built to last.
His proven track record in scaling real-world autonomous technologies and intelligent infrastructure makes him a leading voice on the future of digital energy and the orchestration of reliable, large-scale compute systems.

Nishant Sharma
Founder
BlocksBridge Consulting

Nishant Sharma
Founder
BlocksBridge Consulting
Nishant has built a diverse career over the past 15 years, spanning multiple industries and continents, entering the crypto world full-time in early 2014. He is the founder and leader of BlocksBridge Consulting—the world's first public relations firm dedicated to the digital mining industry—and the creator of TheEnergyMag, the industry's first trade publication. BlocksBridge advises C-suite executives of some of the most well-known Nasdaq-listed digital asset companies and produces research-driven content leveraging its deep industry knowledge and intelligence.

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.

Nuri Katz
President
Apex Capital Partners

Nuri Katz
President
Apex Capital Partners
Nuri Katz, President of Apex Capital Partners an international boutique investment advisory, in internationally recognized as a thought leader in matters related to investor migration. Additionally Nuri Katz's advice is sought by numerous governments around the world regarding innovative ways to generate foreign direct investment. As part of the functions of Apex Capital Partners Corp, it manages the Nevis Online Gaming Authority, a government body that licensed and regulates international online gaming companies. As well Apex Capital Partners created and participates in managing the Anguilla government tax residence program which allows international HNWI to better plan their tax strategies via residence in Anguilla. Nuri is often quoted in domestic business press such as Forbes, Fortune, Business Insider, as well as numerous leading international publications in the Middle East, China, and Russia. He has been seen nationally on Bloomberg Tv, Fox, and others. Nuri is also a frequent guest speaker on matters of international business and geopolitics at numerous business conferences and universities.

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

Paul Sztorc
Founder and CEO
LayerTwo Labs, Inc.

Paul Sztorc
Founder and CEO
LayerTwo Labs, Inc.
Creator: BIPs 300/301, "Drivechain", Blind Merged Mining, "BitWindow" (Wallet/GUI), CUSF (the "Core Untouched Soft Fork"), "Truthcoin" (decentralized prediction markets), and many L2 chains. Author of "Nothing is Cheaper than Proof of Work" and "Security Budget in the Long Run" (on truthcoin.info). Advocate for sidechains and prediction markets -- the two most neglected ideas of our time. Former statistician and academic.

Pedro 🧨
Experience Designer
Bitcoin Conference

Pedro 🧨
Experience Designer
Bitcoin Conference
Pedro is a designer and developer for the Bitcoin Conference. In addition to extensive contributions to no-KYC open-source projects like Bisq and Mempool, he's directing the film Anatomy of Bitcoin, leads the design for the SatSigner wallet project, founded the research and publishing house PirateHash, and co-founded the lighting game Chain Duel.

Peymon Mottahedeh
Founder & President
Freedom Law School

Peymon Mottahedeh
Founder & President
Freedom Law School
Peymon Mottahedeh is the Founder and President of Freedom Law School, an organization dedicated to helping Americans reclaim their freedom from the federal income tax system. Born in Iran, he immigrated to the U.S. in 1977 at age 14 to escape political oppression, later earning a degree in Business/Marketing from CSU Long Beach.
A former financial planner and active Libertarian, Peymon concluded in 1992 that the Federal Reserve and Income Tax systems are fraudulent. Since then, he has famously stopped filing federal income tax returns for over 30 years as an act of truth and education. He is a passionate advocate for constitutional rights and financial sovereignty, focusing his work on teaching others how to have no fear of IRS authority. You can find his resources and mission at FreedomLawSchool.org
A former financial planner and active Libertarian, Peymon concluded in 1992 that the Federal Reserve and Income Tax systems are fraudulent. Since then, he has famously stopped filing federal income tax returns for over 30 years as an act of truth and education. He is a passionate advocate for constitutional rights and financial sovereignty, focusing his work on teaching others how to have no fear of IRS authority. You can find his resources and mission at FreedomLawSchool.org

Phong Le
President & CEO
Strategy

Phong Le
President & CEO
Strategy
Phong Le is the President and CEO of Strategy, the world’s first and largest Bitcoin Treasury Company and a global leader in AI and business intelligence software. He became CEO in 2022 after joining the company in 2015, where he previously served in roles including Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to Strategy, Phong held leadership roles at Deloitte Consulting, Nextel International, and XO Communications. He earned a dual Bachelor of Science in Biomedical and Chemical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Rami Alsridi
Founder & CEO
Mining Grid

Rami Alsridi
Founder & CEO
Mining Grid
My Bitcoin journey began unexpectedly in 2017 while working as a cybersecurity consultant. A client had fallen victim to a cyberattack, with the hackers demanding payment in Bitcoin—a currency I knew little about at the time. This experience sparked my curiosity as a computer engineer passionate about transformative technology, leading me to explore Bitcoin’s potential. After delving into research and connecting with colleagues, I met a tech-savvy friend who was already mining Bitcoin and coding Ethereum smart contracts, which deepened my interest. As the founders of Miningrid, we created a platform that simplifies Bitcoin mining through a secure, non-custodial wallet, making it accessible to all. My mission is to empower others by making Bitcoin mining and its ecosystem both understandable and approachable

Rapha Zagury
Founder & CEO
Elektron Energy

Rapha Zagury
Founder & CEO
Elektron Energy
Rapha Zagury is the Founder & CEO of Elektron Energy, a company focused on scaling the Bitcoin network. He is a builder and coder with a deep financial background, a longtime Bitcoiner, and a sound money advocate, widely recognized for his expertise in the Bitcoin mining industry. Before founding Elektron Energy, he held senior roles in traditional finance, including Vice President at Goldman Sachs and Managing Director positions at Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank. He earned an MBA from Yale.

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.

Richard Byworth
Chairman
Future

Richard Byworth
Chairman
Future
Launched the largest BTC denominated Fund of Crypto Hedge funds globally (4,350BTC) in 2025, fund aims for 4-8% net returns for investors in BTC.
Analyze and speak about financial engineering capabilities of Bitcoin treasury companies and advise companies on how to optimize amount of bitcoin on balance sheet. Advisor at UK BTCTC XCE Connecting Excellence, and Chairman at Future (Swiss BTCTC).
For Jan3, act in an advisory capacity for a few sovereign nations, and on energy infrastructure financing structuring options in countries in LATAM and Middle Asia.
Board member at Relai, helping onboard HNWI and FOs to bitcoin.
Analyze and speak about financial engineering capabilities of Bitcoin treasury companies and advise companies on how to optimize amount of bitcoin on balance sheet. Advisor at UK BTCTC XCE Connecting Excellence, and Chairman at Future (Swiss BTCTC).
For Jan3, act in an advisory capacity for a few sovereign nations, and on energy infrastructure financing structuring options in countries in LATAM and Middle Asia.
Board member at Relai, helping onboard HNWI and FOs to bitcoin.

Rick Margerison
Founder / Chief Infrastructure Architect / Visionary
Gamma Technologies

Rick Margerison
Founder / Chief Infrastructure Architect / Visionary
Gamma Technologies
As a Global Infrastructure Architect and leading authority on the convergence of high-density compute and advanced thermal management. With over 30 years of technology experience, including 20+ years specializing in HPC, AI, and ASIC infrastructure, Rick has pioneered the systems that power today’s most demanding workloads. As a global standards leader for the Open Compute Project (OCP), he has been instrumental in co-authoring the international protocols for immersion cooling and material compatibility. An accomplished inventor, Rick holds 11 patents in liquid cooling architecture, ranging from single-phase and two-phase systems to UL/CSA-certified modular data centers.
His expertise bridges the critical gap between extreme performance and industrial sustainability, particularly where AI training and Bitcoin mining operations are starting to merge. Rick is renowned for achieving a true circular economy in data center design, having successfully engineered systems that transition compute operations from energy consumers to thermal energy producers. By displacing fossil fuel heating in hospitals, greenhouses, and industrial processes with captured compute heat, he is redefining the environmental footprint of the modern data center and setting the gold standard for next-generation, high-density infrastructure.
His expertise bridges the critical gap between extreme performance and industrial sustainability, particularly where AI training and Bitcoin mining operations are starting to merge. Rick is renowned for achieving a true circular economy in data center design, having successfully engineered systems that transition compute operations from energy consumers to thermal energy producers. By displacing fossil fuel heating in hospitals, greenhouses, and industrial processes with captured compute heat, he is redefining the environmental footprint of the modern data center and setting the gold standard for next-generation, high-density infrastructure.

Roberto Rios
Founder
Lima Research LLC

Robert Weinstein AKA Crypto Damus
Market Analyst
The Astro Crypto Report

Robert Weinstein AKA Crypto Damus
Market Analyst
The Astro Crypto Report
Robert Weinstein AKA Crypto Damus has the longest and most accurate financial astrology subscription service for Bitcoin and Crypto. Since joining Crypto Twitter in 2018 he has been one of the most accurate market analysts on there, predicting all three major BTC tops in 2024 the big crashes of the summer 2024 and March and April. He famously exited all Crypto in October 2025 and accurately predicted the current bear market.

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)

Roland Bewick
Lightning Developer
Alby

Roland Bewick
Lightning Developer
Alby
Roland Bewick is the lead developer of Alby Hub, Alby's self-custodial, next-generation NWC-first lightning wallet. He also works on development SDKs and agent-first tools for the bitcoin lightning network. 2x BOLT FUN lightning hackathon winner with Bitcoin Connect and Lightsats. First in the world to create an OpenClaw that could spawn a child agent completely autonomously by paying for services with bitcoin.

Rory Murray
VP of Digital Asset Management
CleanSpark

Rory Murray
VP of Digital Asset Management
CleanSpark
Rory is the Vice President of Digital Asset Management at CleanSpark, where he leads Bitcoin treasury optimization and related capital strategy. The Digital Asset Management group directs the stewardship, deployment, and risk management of the company’s digital asset holdings to enhance balance sheet performance and generate incremental returns. Rory previously worked at Discovery Capital, a global macro fund, where he was a member of the investment team responsible for managing risk and trading a wide range of products across international and domestic markets. As a hedge fund veteran and CFA Charterholder, he brings a distinct maturity to the intersection of Bitcoin and financial markets.

Roya Mahboob
CEO
Digital Citizen Fund

Roya Mahboob
CEO
Digital Citizen Fund
Roya Mahboob is an entrepreneur and Afghanistan’s first female tech CEO, but her impact extends far beyond the sphere of business. Ms. Mahboob has used her success and tech expertise to help educate and empower Afghan women and girls, and she has been an outspoken advocate for their rights. She founded the Digital Citizen Fund (DCF), which aims to increase Afghan women’s technological and financial literacy. She also co-founded and supports the Afghan Girls Robotics Team. Ms. Mahboob has worked to build Innovation/Tech Centers across Afghanistan and has launched an online platform to strengthen the voices of Afghan women and journalists. Ancillary to this, she regularly speaks and writes eloquently about the vital importance of STEAM education and economic opportunity for women and girls as they pertain to human rights. Ms. Mahboob was named to TIME’s 2013 list of 100 Most Influential People and received the 2014 Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Award, The Advancement of Gender Equality through Education Award, Young Leader of World Economic Forum 2015 , Asia Game changer 2019, Doha forum award of 2022, LantosHumanRights awards, the prestigious Presidential Leadership Scholarship and is a founding Leader of The NewNow, a group of rising global leaders tackling global challenges.

Ryan Gentry
CEO
Bitcoin Infrastructure Acquisition Corp

Ryan Gentry
CEO
Bitcoin Infrastructure Acquisition Corp
Ryan Gentry is CEO of Bitcoin Infrastructure Acquisition Corp (NASDAQ: BIXI), a $220M SPAC focused on bringing profitable Bitcoin infrastructure companies to public markets. Previously, he led Business Development at Lightning Labs for five years, helping scale the scale the company’s Bitcoin and stablecoins payments infrastructure to support tens of billions of dollars in annualized volume on the Lightning Network. Before that, he was Lead Analyst at Multicoin Capital. Ryan holds an MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Georgia Tech and a BS in Aerospace Engineering from UT-Austin.

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).

































