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.
Sal Pineda
Fellow
Bitcoin Policy Institute
Sal Pineda
Fellow
Bitcoin Policy Institute
Sal Pineda is a strategist and researcher focused on Bitcoin’s role in capital markets, energy systems, and the emerging digital economy. With experience across Latin America and the United States, he brings a distinctive blend of capital markets fluency, operational execution, and systems-level analysis to the study of Bitcoin, economic resilience, and institutional design. His work develops the concept of the “Knowledge Network of Bitcoin”: the decentralized ecosystem of miners, institutional allocators, policymakers, builders, educators, and grassroots advocates advancing Bitcoin adoption across finance, energy, and digital infrastructure.
His research examines how Bitcoin intersects with capital formation, treasury strategy, energy markets, and the convergence of Bitcoin, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing with national security, monetary sovereignty, and nation-state strategy. His work has been shared through research papers, educational guides, podcasts, X Spaces, and media interviews. His current research focuses on Bitcoin, policy development, and financial innovation in Washington, D.C., and the broader evolution of digital financial markets.
Sal brings a multidisciplinary background spanning diplomacy, strategy consulting, venture advisory, private equity, and capital markets research across fintech and emerging technologies. He is also a founding member and former co-president of the Cornell Bitcoin Club, the university’s student organization dedicated exclusively to Bitcoin education and research.
He holds an MBA from Cornell University and a Master’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Having grown up experiencing the consequences of political instability and government failure, Sal approaches Bitcoin as a tool for strengthening economic sovereignty, institutional resilience, and long-term capital formation in the digital age.
His research examines how Bitcoin intersects with capital formation, treasury strategy, energy markets, and the convergence of Bitcoin, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing with national security, monetary sovereignty, and nation-state strategy. His work has been shared through research papers, educational guides, podcasts, X Spaces, and media interviews. His current research focuses on Bitcoin, policy development, and financial innovation in Washington, D.C., and the broader evolution of digital financial markets.
Sal brings a multidisciplinary background spanning diplomacy, strategy consulting, venture advisory, private equity, and capital markets research across fintech and emerging technologies. He is also a founding member and former co-president of the Cornell Bitcoin Club, the university’s student organization dedicated exclusively to Bitcoin education and research.
He holds an MBA from Cornell University and a Master’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Having grown up experiencing the consequences of political instability and government failure, Sal approaches Bitcoin as a tool for strengthening economic sovereignty, institutional resilience, and long-term capital formation in the digital age.
Sam Konigsberg
Director
BlackRock
Sam Konigsberg
Director
BlackRock
Sam Konigsberg, CIMA®, CBDA®, Director, is a Market Leader with BlackRock's US Wealth Advisory Group. Mr. Konigsberg contributes to BlackRock's Bitcoin educational content and delivers seminars to wealth management professionals across the US. He earned his Certificate in Blockchain and Digital Assets (CBDA), his Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), and finance degree from the University of Georgia.
Sam
YouTuber
My Financial Friend
Sasha Hodder
Founder & Principal Attorney
Hodder Law Firm
Sasha Hodder
Founder & Principal Attorney
Hodder Law Firm
Sasha Hodder is the founder of Hodder Law Firm and a Florida-licensed fintech and Bitcoin attorney. She has supported Bitcoin businesses since 2014 and advises on MSB/MTL licensing, compliance, banking partnerships, and regulatory strategy, while keeping a focus on privacy, civil liberties, and why Bitcoin matters.
Previously, Sasha served as Senior Counsel at Exodus, supporting legal strategy for a $75M tokenized Reg A+ public offering. She teaches Florida Bar CLE courses on crypto law, hosts the Sunset Circuit Podcast, and organizes the Bitcoin Race (Fastest Runner in Bitcoin).
Previously, Sasha served as Senior Counsel at Exodus, supporting legal strategy for a $75M tokenized Reg A+ public offering. She teaches Florida Bar CLE courses on crypto law, hosts the Sunset Circuit Podcast, and organizes the Bitcoin Race (Fastest Runner in Bitcoin).
Satsie
Team lead
Bitcoin Dev Project
Satsie
Team lead
Bitcoin Dev Project
Satsie is an open source developer and educator with contributions to various projects in the bitcoin space. She currently leads up the Bitcoin Dev Project (bitcoindevs.xyz), an initiative creating tools and education for bitcoin devs. She is also on the board of directors for the Payjoin Foundation.
Prior to working in open source she was the lead backend engineer at Casa where she built software to make multisig safe and easy. When she's not busy chasing her two tiny bitcoiners, she is a co-organizer of Boston BitDevs and writes zines about bitcoin tech. She is passionate about empowering people to achieve higher levels of self sovereignty, and the communities needed to support that work.
You can find more of her work at https://satsie.dev
Prior to working in open source she was the lead backend engineer at Casa where she built software to make multisig safe and easy. When she's not busy chasing her two tiny bitcoiners, she is a co-organizer of Boston BitDevs and writes zines about bitcoin tech. She is passionate about empowering people to achieve higher levels of self sovereignty, and the communities needed to support that work.
You can find more of her work at https://satsie.dev
Scooter Womack
Managing Partner
Vega Energy Advisors
Scooter Womack
Managing Partner
Vega Energy Advisors
Scooter Womack is a visionary leader in the Texas energy market, recognized for his pivotal role in shaping today’s energy offerings for flexible loads. As Founder and CEO of Vega Energy Advisors, Scooter leads an expert team with decades of experience, guiding large-scale power users through development planning, tailored procurement, risk management, and Demand Response strategies.
Behind the scenes, Scooter has been instrumental in launching multiple market participants and driving innovation across the ERCOT landscape. His work has enabled organizations to optimize energy usage, reduce costs, and implement sustainable solutions that align with evolving market dynamics.
With a proven track record of success, Scooter combines deep industry knowledge with strategic foresight to deliver measurable results for clients. His leadership continues to influence the future of energy flexibility and resilience in Texas.
Behind the scenes, Scooter has been instrumental in launching multiple market participants and driving innovation across the ERCOT landscape. His work has enabled organizations to optimize energy usage, reduce costs, and implement sustainable solutions that align with evolving market dynamics.
With a proven track record of success, Scooter combines deep industry knowledge with strategic foresight to deliver measurable results for clients. His leadership continues to influence the future of energy flexibility and resilience in Texas.
Scott Marmoll
Founder and Managing Director
Capital B Advisory
Scott Marmoll
Founder and Managing Director
Capital B Advisory
Scott Marmoll is a 10-year investment banking and private equity veteran and nearly decade-long bitcoiner. He is Founder and Managing Director of Capital B Advisory. A boutique investment banking advisory firm focused on bitcoiner business owners. CBA bridges the gap between Wall Street deal execution and the Bitcoin economy.
Scott Millar
CEO
SideSwap
Scott Millar
CEO
SideSwap
Scott Millar is a Bitcoin entrepreneur and early advocate, founder of SideSwap, a non custodial exchange and wallet on the Liquid Network. With a background in trading and fintech, he builds infrastructure for Bitcoin settlement, tokenization, atomic swaps, and blockchain based capital markets, focused on open and interoperable financial systems anchored in Bitcoin.
Sergio Chaverri
CEO
AYA Capital
Sergio Chaverri
CEO
AYA Capital
Costa Rican businessman with a global outlook from the beginning of his career, he is a senior executive and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of leadership experience across technology scale-ups, strategic growth, and venture-backed businesses. He specializes in identifying niche opportunities at the intersection of technology, capital markets, and real assets, and in designing scalable strategies to capture and institutionalize those opportunities.
He is CEO of AYA Capital, a family office overseeing a diversified portfolio of high-potential companies and assets, including Bitcoin as a strategic allocation. One of its core companies is Digiplat, an institutional-grade Bitcoin liquidity and settlement firm providing tailored OTC execution to support real-asset acquisitions and capital deployment for high-net-worth individuals.
A central focus of his work is supporting Bitcoin high-net-worth individuals who relocate or spend significant time in Costa Rica and initially require assistance with luxury real estate transactions. Over time, this relationship often evolves into broader investment activity, including alternative investments, second family office structures, and Bitcoin-backed transactions executed within Costa Rica. This activity has grown exponentially as Costa Rica has emerged as an increasingly attractive destination for HNWIs due to its exceptional biodiversity, pristine natural environment, and globally recognized commitment to environmental protection. The country offers long-standing political stability, a strong democratic tradition, no standing army, a reliable legal framework for property ownership, and a high quality of life. It is also recognized as one of the world’s longevity hubs, hosting one of the planet’s five Blue Zones, and has become a natural convergence point for Bitcoin holders, entrepreneurs, and families seeking sustainability, privacy, and long-term capital preservation.
In 2025, he co-launched the podcast Bitcoin and Property Markets alongside the CEO of Coldwell Banker Costa Rica, with the objective of sharing insights on the growing convergence between Bitcoin liquidity and real-asset markets, particularly in Costa Rica and Latin America.
He also leads the IANUA Family Office Community, where he co-founded the Latin American chapter. IANUA is an exclusive global network of family offices and principals focused on alternative investments and cross-border collaboration, providing members with access to curated deal flow and off-market opportunities.
Previously, he co-founded Gosocket Corporation, where he drove international expansion and growth strategy, culminating in a successful acquisition by Pagero Group (NASDAQ: PAGERO).
He is CEO of AYA Capital, a family office overseeing a diversified portfolio of high-potential companies and assets, including Bitcoin as a strategic allocation. One of its core companies is Digiplat, an institutional-grade Bitcoin liquidity and settlement firm providing tailored OTC execution to support real-asset acquisitions and capital deployment for high-net-worth individuals.
A central focus of his work is supporting Bitcoin high-net-worth individuals who relocate or spend significant time in Costa Rica and initially require assistance with luxury real estate transactions. Over time, this relationship often evolves into broader investment activity, including alternative investments, second family office structures, and Bitcoin-backed transactions executed within Costa Rica. This activity has grown exponentially as Costa Rica has emerged as an increasingly attractive destination for HNWIs due to its exceptional biodiversity, pristine natural environment, and globally recognized commitment to environmental protection. The country offers long-standing political stability, a strong democratic tradition, no standing army, a reliable legal framework for property ownership, and a high quality of life. It is also recognized as one of the world’s longevity hubs, hosting one of the planet’s five Blue Zones, and has become a natural convergence point for Bitcoin holders, entrepreneurs, and families seeking sustainability, privacy, and long-term capital preservation.
In 2025, he co-launched the podcast Bitcoin and Property Markets alongside the CEO of Coldwell Banker Costa Rica, with the objective of sharing insights on the growing convergence between Bitcoin liquidity and real-asset markets, particularly in Costa Rica and Latin America.
He also leads the IANUA Family Office Community, where he co-founded the Latin American chapter. IANUA is an exclusive global network of family offices and principals focused on alternative investments and cross-border collaboration, providing members with access to curated deal flow and off-market opportunities.
Previously, he co-founded Gosocket Corporation, where he drove international expansion and growth strategy, culminating in a successful acquisition by Pagero Group (NASDAQ: PAGERO).
Shooter
Filmmaker
No More Inflation
Shooter
Filmmaker
No More Inflation
Creator of No More Inflation (2025), a documentary exposing the cause of inflation, its impact and how Bitcoin will end inflation.
The film features Graham Hancock, Dr. Robert Malone, Tuur Demeester, Alex Gladstein and many more.
Creator of Comeback Country (2022), a 11-minute short film on El Salvador’s rise from civil/gang war to Bitcoin adoption and safety under Bukele (retweeted by @nayibbukele).
The film features Graham Hancock, Dr. Robert Malone, Tuur Demeester, Alex Gladstein and many more.
Creator of Comeback Country (2022), a 11-minute short film on El Salvador’s rise from civil/gang war to Bitcoin adoption and safety under Bukele (retweeted by @nayibbukele).
Sindura Saraswathi
PhD Student
University of Central Florida
Sindura Saraswathi
PhD Student
University of Central Florida
Sindura Saraswathi is a PhD student at the University of Central Florida, researching Bitcoin and the Lightning Network with a focus on scalability and reliability. Her recent work includes a closed-form framework for selecting optimal threshold signatures for Bitcoin custody and an in-depth analysis of pathfinding strategies across Lightning clients.
Sisun Lee
Head of Crypto
Aven
Sisun Lee
Head of Crypto
Aven
Sisun Lee leads crypto at Aven, where he drives product strategy across digital assets. He previously built and scaled global consumer products at Facebook, Uber and Tesla, and served as chief product officer at Argo. Lee is also a two-time founder of More Labs and Ramper, an embedded crypto wallet provider.
Srda Popovic
Executive director
(CANVAS) Centre for applied nonviolent action and strategy
Srda Popovic
Executive director
(CANVAS) Centre for applied nonviolent action and strategy
Since being one of the leaders of OTPOR, student movement that ended era of Serbia's bloody dictator Milosevic i am involved in movement building. Working through my organization with pro democracy and human rights movements in over 52 different countries i understand important of enabling freedom fighters skills and knowledge in developing technologies. Using Bitcoin as freedom money - one that no dictator can deny access to as well as training people in use of digital tools makes substantial part of mine CANVAS work with activists. Lately we are working on "Gene" first AI copilot designed to help freedom fighters across the globe.
Staci Costopoulos
Podcast Host & Community Builder
The Bitcoin Nova Podcast
Staci Costopoulos
Podcast Host & Community Builder
The Bitcoin Nova Podcast
Staci Costopolous, known as The Bitcoin Nova, is a community builder and podcast host who helps people see Bitcoin clearly for the first time. Like a supernova, her conversations bring sudden clarity, moments where Bitcoin finally clicks.
She is the creator and host of The Bitcoin Nova Podcast, where she uses curiosity, warmth, and real life dialogue to turn confusion into understanding. Through podcasting, Staci has experienced how starting her own journey inspired others to use their voice and create ripple effects that reach far beyond a single audience.
Staci also co creates and co hosts Hive Minded, a panel style show that blends Bitcoin education with humor, banter, and real friendship. Hive Minded highlights how conversation, collaboration, and different personalities make Bitcoin more approachable, especially for people who may never click on a traditional Bitcoin show.
Her journey shows that you do not need to be technical or have all the answers to make an impact. By simply starting a podcast and showing up authentically, she has connected with people across the Bitcoin ecosystem and helped others realize they can do the same, inspiring new creators to reach new audiences and carry the signal forward.
Through her podcast, Staci discovered the Illinois Bitcoin Council, whose mission is to help paint Illinois orange through education, advocacy, and collaboration.
She is the creator and host of The Bitcoin Nova Podcast, where she uses curiosity, warmth, and real life dialogue to turn confusion into understanding. Through podcasting, Staci has experienced how starting her own journey inspired others to use their voice and create ripple effects that reach far beyond a single audience.
Staci also co creates and co hosts Hive Minded, a panel style show that blends Bitcoin education with humor, banter, and real friendship. Hive Minded highlights how conversation, collaboration, and different personalities make Bitcoin more approachable, especially for people who may never click on a traditional Bitcoin show.
Her journey shows that you do not need to be technical or have all the answers to make an impact. By simply starting a podcast and showing up authentically, she has connected with people across the Bitcoin ecosystem and helped others realize they can do the same, inspiring new creators to reach new audiences and carry the signal forward.
Through her podcast, Staci discovered the Illinois Bitcoin Council, whose mission is to help paint Illinois orange through education, advocacy, and collaboration.
Štěpán Uherík
CFO
Trezor Company
Štěpán Uherík
CFO
Trezor Company
Štěpán Uherík has served as CFO of Trezor since 2017, leading the company’s global financial, manufacturing, and Bitcoin strategy. A veteran of multiple Bitcoin bull and bear cycles, he combines battle-tested market experience with a deep commitment to personal freedom and open, sovereign technologies.
Stephan Livera
Podcaster
Stephan Livera Podcast
Stephan (stickies-v) Vuylsteke
Bitcoin Protocol Engineer
Brink
Stephan (stickies-v) Vuylsteke
Bitcoin Protocol Engineer
Brink
Stephan is a Bitcoin Core contributor, sponsored by Brink. His main focus is on the bitcoinkernel project, which isolates and exposes the Bitcoin consensus logic. Besides contributing, he hosts the London BitDevs Socratic seminars and helps out with other education and awareness efforts.
Susie Violet Ward
Journalist, Co-founder and Director
Bitcoin Policy UK
Susie Violet Ward
Journalist, Co-founder and Director
Bitcoin Policy UK
Bitcoin Journalist with a focus on education, and a financial analyst with a background in accounting, holding a deep interest in bitcoin and the environment. Working as a bitcoin columnist for a business-focused newspaper in London and authoring numerous research articles on the benefits of Bitcoin Mining and its implications for renewable energy's future. Serving as the Director and Head of Mining and Sustainability at Bitcoin Policy UK, committed to exploring and educating about bitcoin's technological innovation and potential environmental impact at the core of these professional pursuits.
Taras Kulyk
CEO
Synteq Digital
Taras Kulyk
CEO
Synteq Digital
Taras Kulyk, JD, MBA is Synteq Digital's CEO & Co-Founder. He brings a decade of global experience in digital compute & data center development after starting his career in fintech and capital markets.
Prior to co-founding Synteq Digital, Taras served in a number of senior roles within the digital mining data center sector; including Founder & CEO of SunnySide Digital, and SVP Growth with Core Scientific, where he originated several billion dollars in total contract value.
Before beginning his data center focused career, Taras was a Toronto based investment banker with BMO Capital Markets covering the traditional mining sector, followed by over two years with TD Securities in the Communications, Media, and Technology team, where his coverage included telecom, technology, media and data center companies.
Prior to co-founding Synteq Digital, Taras served in a number of senior roles within the digital mining data center sector; including Founder & CEO of SunnySide Digital, and SVP Growth with Core Scientific, where he originated several billion dollars in total contract value.
Before beginning his data center focused career, Taras was a Toronto based investment banker with BMO Capital Markets covering the traditional mining sector, followed by over two years with TD Securities in the Communications, Media, and Technology team, where his coverage included telecom, technology, media and data center companies.
Tatum Turn Up
Cool and fun guy
Tatum Turn Up
Cool and fun guy
Tatum Turn Up is known as “The Bitcoin Mining Operations Guy,” with hands-on experience in Bitcoin miners, field operations, and mining logistics. He’s also a media preservationist and citizen archivist interested in OSINT and freedom of information, and the host of Between Two ASICs, a satirical talk show featuring guests like Vivek Ramaswamy, Jack Dorsey, and Peter McCormack.
TC
Creator
Timechain Calendar
TC
Creator
Timechain Calendar
Working on the bleeding edge of visualizing the Bitcoin protocol to champion awareness and education. TC launched the Timechain Calendar website in 2022 and the mobile app in 2025. Timechain Calendar is an explorer and live data dashboard that shows a visual representation of Bitcoin's most important features.
Terence Michael
Boat Accident Mitigation
The Bitcoin Adviser
Terence Michael
Boat Accident Mitigation
The Bitcoin Adviser
After producing 20 movies and 30 TV shows in Hollywood, and simultaneously building a couple of real estate companies to fill the downtime, Terence ultimately found Bitcoin as a solution to wealth preservation.
This led him to writing "Proof of Money: The Big Idea Behind Bitcoin" and joining The Bitcoin Adviser to onboard HNWIs into collaborative custody and inheritance setups.
He currently hosts the daily show, "Bitcoin Today," is a consultant to Horizon's Bitcoin home equity program, is a contributor to the Santa Monica Bitcoin Office, and enjoys making loud Bitcoin videos while inexplicably skating along the beach.
This led him to writing "Proof of Money: The Big Idea Behind Bitcoin" and joining The Bitcoin Adviser to onboard HNWIs into collaborative custody and inheritance setups.
He currently hosts the daily show, "Bitcoin Today," is a consultant to Horizon's Bitcoin home equity program, is a contributor to the Santa Monica Bitcoin Office, and enjoys making loud Bitcoin videos while inexplicably skating along the beach.
Timo Steipe
Founder
Munich International Mining LLC
Timo Steipe
Founder
Munich International Mining LLC
Timo is a well-known figure in the Bitcoin mining industry. He discovered the technology in 2014 and built the first professional mining farm in Africa in 2016. Since then, he has expanded his operations globally.
As the founder of MIM, Timo aims to democratize the Bitcoin mining industry and make it accessible to every enthusiast in Europe. His commitment to decentralization and his expertise continue to drive innovation in Bitcoin mining.
As the founder of MIM, Timo aims to democratize the Bitcoin mining industry and make it accessible to every enthusiast in Europe. His commitment to decentralization and his expertise continue to drive innovation in Bitcoin mining.
Tim Savage
CEO
Ion Strategies
Tim Savage
CEO
Ion Strategies
Tim Savage is the Chief Executive Officer at Ion Strategies, directing the vision of the firm and leading investment strategy, methodology, and execution. Deeply connected in the digital assets industry, he has over 10 years of market experience with a focus on Bitcoin. He is an industry thought leader and has spoken at the largest Bitcoin conferences in the world. He also resides on the Board of Directors at the Texas Blockchain Council, advocating for balanced public policy.
Prior to founding Ion, Tim practiced as a CPA for 14 years. He was an accomplished Tax Partner at Weaver and was highly successful in building the firm’s blockchain and digital assets practice, advising digital asset investment funds, financial services companies, and bitcoin miners. Earlier in his career, he spent 3 years at Ernst & Young, working with global financial enterprises and ranked as an elite Senior at the firm.
Prior to founding Ion, Tim practiced as a CPA for 14 years. He was an accomplished Tax Partner at Weaver and was highly successful in building the firm’s blockchain and digital assets practice, advising digital asset investment funds, financial services companies, and bitcoin miners. Earlier in his career, he spent 3 years at Ernst & Young, working with global financial enterprises and ranked as an elite Senior at the firm.
Tom Taber
Director of Executive Outreach
The Beef Initiative
Tom Taber
Director of Executive Outreach
The Beef Initiative
Tom has traveled the globe attending Bitcoin events and assisting with freedom focused projects. He is the Bitcoin and Nostr ambassador of The Beef Initiative. He focuses on building grassroots support and boots-on-the-ground projects for independent ranchers around the world.
Tony Beck
Co-Founder & CEO
Beck & Bulow
Tony Beck
Co-Founder & CEO
Beck & Bulow
Tony Beck — Co-Founder and CEO, Beck & Bulow. Pioneer in Bitcoin-native business adoption, including BTC payments, treasury reserves, and employee Bitcoin 401(k)s. Champion of real food, real money, and real people, hosting events and retreats at the Beck & Bulow Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Tor Ekeland
Managing Partner at Tor Ekeland Law, LLC
Tor Ekeland Law, PLLC
Tor Ekeland
Managing Partner at Tor Ekeland Law, LLC
Tor Ekeland Law, PLLC
Tor Ekeland is a leading criminal defense lawyer in the Bitcoin space and one of the earliest attorneys to take Bitcoin seriously as both technology and money. Long before “crypto law” was a practice area, Tor was advising and defending clients where code, finance, and criminal law collide. As far as is publicly known, he was among the first lawyers anywhere in the world to accept Bitcoin as payment for legal services.
Over the past decade, Tor has been at the center of some of the most consequential Bitcoin-related criminal cases, representing developers, operators, and individuals in matters that have helped define how non-custodial software and privacy-preserving tools are treated under the law. His work is frequently cited and closely watched because it sits right at the edge of where regulation ends and overreach begins.
Tor is known for combining deep technical understanding with aggressive, principled defense work, and for consistently challenging expansive enforcement theories that threaten open-source development and individual privacy. He is a leading advocate for Bitcoin, privacy, and the legal risks facing developers building decentralized systems.
Over the past decade, Tor has been at the center of some of the most consequential Bitcoin-related criminal cases, representing developers, operators, and individuals in matters that have helped define how non-custodial software and privacy-preserving tools are treated under the law. His work is frequently cited and closely watched because it sits right at the edge of where regulation ends and overreach begins.
Tor is known for combining deep technical understanding with aggressive, principled defense work, and for consistently challenging expansive enforcement theories that threaten open-source development and individual privacy. He is a leading advocate for Bitcoin, privacy, and the legal risks facing developers building decentralized systems.
Trey Sellers
VP of Sales
Unchained
Trey Sellers
VP of Sales
Unchained
Trey Sellers is VP, Sales at Unchained and the creator of FIRE BTC, a newsletter and podcast helping bitcoiners map their path to financial independence. At Unchained, he helps individuals and institutions acquire, secure, and maximize the value of their bitcoin holdings. Through FIRE BTC, he bridges the gap between traditional FIRE principles and bitcoin-native personal finance. Trey has a background spanning sales, finance, banking, technology, and consulting.
Tyler Stevens
Founder & CEO
Exergy
Tyler Stevens
Founder & CEO
Exergy
Tyler is a multifaceted builder in the bitcoin and energy sectors. As Founder & CEO of Exergy, he commercializes "hashrate heating," transforming Bitcoin miners into intelligent heating solutions for homes and businesses. He authored the book "Bitcoin Mining Heat Reuse" & spearheads the Hashrate Heatpunks community movement, advocating for this synergistic industry. Committed to open-source principles, Tyler serves as a Board Member of the 256 Foundation, a non-profit challenging proprietary mining control. He is also a Co-Founder of The Space, Denver's Bitcoin citadel.
Urban Lavrenčič
Director
NiceHash
Urban Lavrenčič
Director
NiceHash
Urban serves as the CEO of two subsidiaries of NiceHash and as the operational architect of the group, the world’s leading hashrate marketplace. Leveraging his background as a Corporate banker with a career spanning roles at Raiffeisen Bank, Sberbank, and Sparkasse, he transitioned from traditional banking to the Bitcoin frontier in 2022.
Today, he bridges the gap between legacy finance and the Bitcoin ecosystem, overseeing Operations, Financial Infrastructure, AML, and Marketing at the group level. A specialist in navigating the intersection of the Bitcoin economy and traditional finance within an evolving regulatory landscape, Urban is a leading voice on how Bitcoin enterprises can integrate with traditional financial systems while ensuring institutional-grade compliance without compromising the ethos of Bitcoin.
Today, he bridges the gap between legacy finance and the Bitcoin ecosystem, overseeing Operations, Financial Infrastructure, AML, and Marketing at the group level. A specialist in navigating the intersection of the Bitcoin economy and traditional finance within an evolving regulatory landscape, Urban is a leading voice on how Bitcoin enterprises can integrate with traditional financial systems while ensuring institutional-grade compliance without compromising the ethos of Bitcoin.
Vijay Selvam
Author
Principles of Bitcoin
Vijay Selvam
Author
Principles of Bitcoin
Vijay Selvam is the author of Principles of Bitcoin (Columbia University Press) He is a corporate lawyer and financial services expert with nearly twenty years of experience across the United States, United Kingdom, and Asia. He spent more than a decade at Goldman Sachs and has also held multiple leadership roles in the digital assets industry.
WantClue
Lead Developer of Bitaxe
WantClue Technologies UG
WantClue
Lead Developer of Bitaxe
WantClue Technologies UG
I started with Bitcoin in 2012. At first, I was just interested in the fact that it was easily accessible and could be transferred anywhere without any verification. This is what made me stick with it. I quickly delved deeper into Bitcoin, purchasing my first miner and experimenting with it. I wrote some basic scripts to make use of my miner. Initially, Bitcoin was not what it is for me today. It started as an online currency that was nice to have and turned into something that is necessary for me today. After finishing my Business Computer Science degree in 2022, I wrote more and more code, and eventually discovered the Bitaxe project, which hooked me. I instantly understood why open source is so important, and why Bitcoin is so far removed from open source these days. I became a contributor and then a maintainer, and now I am the lead software developer of this project. I am driving forward innovation and updates for anyone interested in using open-source mining equipment.
Webworthy
Videographer and Filmmaker
BTCPay Server & BTC Inc
Webworthy
Videographer and Filmmaker
BTCPay Server & BTC Inc
Parker Worthington (WebWorthy) is a leading Bitcoin videographer and filmmaker. His documentary MY TRUST IN YOU IS BROKEN chronicles Bitcoin's Blocksize Wars through the origins of BTCPay Server, serving as the definitive film on this pivotal chapter in Bitcoin history. It won the Audience Award at Bitcoin Film Fest 2024. Working for Bitcoin Magazine, he directed Michael Saylor's Endgame video and stands out as the sole Bitcoin videographer to record an interview at the White House. From merchant Lightning rollouts to grassroots adoption stories, Parker creates compelling narratives that affirm Bitcoin as sovereign, non-custodial sound money.
Wesley Schlemmer
President
Bitcoin Bay Foundation
Wesley Schlemmer
President
Bitcoin Bay Foundation
As the President of Bitcoin Bay, the nation's first Bitcoin meetup turned 501(c)3, Wesley is a leader in the grassroots movement. His framework for Bitcoin organizations now guides the next wave of Bitcoin communities. Recognized in the Florida State Senate for his policy efforts, Wesley drives strategic partnerships to cement Florida as the world’s best place to be a Bitcoiner. He works to ensure Florida’s path to hyperbitcoinization runs through Bitcoin Bay.
William Casarin
CEO
Damus
William Casarin
CEO
Damus
William Casarin is the founder of Damus, building decentralized social media applications designed to give users control over their online experience—without algorithms or gatekeepers. He has been involved in bitcoin since 2010, beginning as a miner before contributing to Bitcoin Core and the Lightning Network. William is passionate about the future of bitcoin and the development of decentralized protocols.
Will Reeves
Fold
Will Reeves
Fold
Will Reeves is the Founder and CEO of Fold (Nasdaq: FLD), the first publicly traded Bitcoin financial services company. Built by bitcoiners for bitcoiners, Fold helps consumers and businesses earn, buy, and save bitcoin through everyday economic activity.
Since founding Fold in 2019, Will has grown the company into a national Bitcoin platform serving households and enterprise partners, distributing tens of millions in bitcoin rewards and building one of the largest Bitcoin treasuries among public operating companies.
His work focuses on integrating Bitcoin into the core of financial life by designing products, capital structures, and corporate strategies that treat Bitcoin as long term financial infrastructure.
Since founding Fold in 2019, Will has grown the company into a national Bitcoin platform serving households and enterprise partners, distributing tens of millions in bitcoin rewards and building one of the largest Bitcoin treasuries among public operating companies.
His work focuses on integrating Bitcoin into the core of financial life by designing products, capital structures, and corporate strategies that treat Bitcoin as long term financial infrastructure.
Xander Wu
Founder and CEO
Zillion Network
Xander Wu
Founder and CEO
Zillion Network
Xander Wu is the Founder & CEO of Zillion Network, bridging power-dense campuses and AI compute through modular AI data centers and GPU cloud operations. Prior to Zillion, Xander held senior leadership roles at Bitmain, serving as an offtake anchor and execution backstop for leading mining operators, particularly North America’s largest publicly traded mining companies, securing gigawatt-scale power capacity, accelerating large-scale campus buildouts and energization, and scaling liquid-cooled, power-dense data center designs across the ecosystem. At Zillion Network, Xander helps mining and energy infrastructure owners transform Bitcoin mining sites into AI-ready data centers that meet AI offtaker standards and SLA-backed commitments. Zillion has deployed and operated 20K+ GPUs, including H100, H200, and Blackwell-class systems, powering large-scale clusters for both training and inference. Xander sits at the intersection of Bitcoin mining, energy infrastructure, and cloud-scale AI compute, focused on turning “MW and racks” into financeable and contractable AI capacity.
Ying Tong Lai
Co-founder & CTO
{ ideal }
Ying Tong Lai
Co-founder & CTO
{ ideal }
Ying Tong is a co-founder and CTO at { ideal }. She is a senior cryptography engineer with previous work at Zcash and the Ethereum Foundation. She is one of the primary authors of Halo2 with extensive experience implementing circuits and proof systems. Ying Tong is the primary author of the Argo garbled circuits implementation, the industry-leading scheme for BitVM3.
Zach Herbert
CEO
Foundation Devices
Zach Herbert
CEO
Foundation Devices
Zach Herbert is co-founder and CEO of Foundation, a startup working to build the open hardware foundation for Bitcoin and a freedom-centric Internet. Zach studied mechanical engineering at Boston University and dropped out of Harvard Business School’s MBA program after his first year. Zach is passionate about Bitcoin, freedom tech, product design, and hardware.
Zach Nunn
Congressman
U.S. House of Representatives
Zach Nunn
Congressman
U.S. House of Representatives
Congressman Zach Nunn serves on the House Financial Services Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, and the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, where he is helping shape policies that ensure America leads in financial innovation and digital asset development.
A strong advocate for responsible innovation, Rep. Nunn has advanced policies designed to keep Bitcoin development, mining, and capital formation anchored in the United States rather than driven offshore to adversarial regimes such as the Chinese Communist Party. His approach emphasizes regulatory clarity, technological competitiveness, and market-driven growth to strengthen America’s economic leadership in the digital age.
Leveraging his background in cybersecurity and national security, Rep. Nunn introduced and successfully passed the bipartisan Financial Technology Protection Act unanimously through the House. The legislation targets illicit finance while protecting decentralized technologies—reflecting his belief that Bitcoin’s transparency, resilience, and security can reinforce, not undermine, the global financial system.
Rep. Nunn focuses on advancing policies that promote innovation, safeguard national security, and position the United States as the world’s premier environment for Bitcoin infrastructure and digital asset entrepreneurship.
A strong advocate for responsible innovation, Rep. Nunn has advanced policies designed to keep Bitcoin development, mining, and capital formation anchored in the United States rather than driven offshore to adversarial regimes such as the Chinese Communist Party. His approach emphasizes regulatory clarity, technological competitiveness, and market-driven growth to strengthen America’s economic leadership in the digital age.
Leveraging his background in cybersecurity and national security, Rep. Nunn introduced and successfully passed the bipartisan Financial Technology Protection Act unanimously through the House. The legislation targets illicit finance while protecting decentralized technologies—reflecting his belief that Bitcoin’s transparency, resilience, and security can reinforce, not undermine, the global financial system.
Rep. Nunn focuses on advancing policies that promote innovation, safeguard national security, and position the United States as the world’s premier environment for Bitcoin infrastructure and digital asset entrepreneurship.
Zach Wischler
Director of Sales
Casa
Zack Shapiro
Managing Partner (Rains), Head of Policy (BPI
Rains LLP, Bitcoin Policy Institute
Zack Shapiro
Managing Partner (Rains), Head of Policy (BPI
Rains LLP, Bitcoin Policy Institute
Zack Shapiro is the Managing Partner at Rains LLP and leads the law practice and advises Bitcoin-focused startups. He also serves as Head of Policy at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, and is the Executive Director of the Peer-to-Peer Rights Fund. Zack is a graduate of Williams College and Yale Law School, and started his legal career clerking in the federal courts for the S.D.N.Y. and the 2nd Circuit, and at Davis Polk & Wardwell.
Zac Townsend
CEO
Meanwhile
Zac Townsend
CEO
Meanwhile
Zac is the Co-Founder and CEO of Meanwhile, the world's first financial institution denominated in Bitcoin. Meanwhile operates a licensed and regulated life insurance carrier that uses Bitcoin as its exclusive currency. The life insurer offers wealth planning products to Bitcoiners and BTC companies.
