Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town

Welcome to Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town!

Beyond the basics of Bitcoin, in this talk Farzam Ehsani speaks to the broader theme of disintegration and integration unfolding at every level of society, while exploring the emergence of Bitcoin, the significance, and how VALR is working to support its adoption and contribute to human progress.

Building Solutions for State Failure (Russel Lamberti / Sakeliga)

Self-Sovereignty through ownership.

Jimmy Song is a Bitcoin developer, educator and entrepreneur. He's a programmer with over 20 years experience, an open source contributor to many different Bitcoin projects and the author of Programming Bitcoin from O'Reilly, The Little Bitcoin Book, Thank God for Bitcoin, BItcoin and the American Dream, and Fiat Ruins Everything. Jimmy has been a lecturer at the University of Texas, an expert witness in legal cases involving Bitcoin and is an advisor to multiple companies. Jimmy writes a weekly newsletter, Bitcoin Tech Talk and has a podcast Bitcoin Fixes This.

Bitcoin can be your sovereign wealth, with no trusted third parties, if you self custody it. In this workshop we will learn the basics of self custody, and how to get your first bitcoin wallets set up.

FEDI Workshop

The Heart of a Cheetah.

The next 100 million bitcoin users
Who are they? Where are they? Why do they need bitcoin?
Why do we need them? How do we help them get started safely?

I would like to cover the basics of Bitcoin Mining and how anybody, in a permissionless way can turn their energy resources into the hardest money humankind has ever known. GAMA has recently launched the "Seed Program" which helps people in Africa to get started in mining. We supply ASICs below cost and education to get them started, to join GAMA down the road.

Transaction pinning has been a longstanding concern, particularly BIP-125 Rule #3 pinning, where a large, low fee-rate, transaction prevents the confirmation of a small, high fee-rate, transaction. While replace-by-fee-rate has been long known to be a solution for Rule #3 pinning, it has been thought to have unavoidable DoS attacks and incentive issues.

Here we will show that a variant, One-Shot Replace-By-Fee-Rate, fixes these DoS attacks and miner incentives sufficiently well to be implementable in Bitcoin Core.

Self Custody & Privacy Deep-Dive with Sparrow

Aqua Wallet Demo
Tether & Bitcoin on Liquid

Delving into the indispensable role of open source in Bitcoin's evolution, this presentation unpacks how its principles are not just foundational but vital for Bitcoin's growth and adoption. We'll confront the challenges and triumphs of implementing open source in Bitcoin, showcasing its impact on the ecosystem. From the development of innovative tools like Blink to the dynamics of global collaboration, explore how open source remains the lifeblood of Bitcoin's progressive journey, ensuring its resilience and future relevance.

This talk is a somewhat technical introduction to the mechanics & composition of bitcoin transactions. We will cover topics like:

• Inputs and Outputs
• Locking scripts & unlocking scripts
• Common bitcoin scripts & opcodes
• How to read block explorer details
• How did Segwit & Taproot change transactions
• WTF is an inscription and why
• What future BIPs are looking to change about transactions

CryptoConvert drives Bitcoin adoption and supports the Bitcoin Circular Economy by enabling Bitcoin payments for large merchants. Founder, Carel van Wyk, talks about why South Africa is primed for Bitcoin adoption and shares some statistics from CryptoConvert's first year processing Bitcoin payments for Pick n Pay, the "Wallmart" of South Africa.

Presenting a novel approach of using Bitcoin as an incentive model for students from underprivileged backgrounds to achieve academic excellence

The Lightning Network (LN), a second-layer solution to Bitcoin’s scalability issues, represents a vibrant frontier for immediate, low-cost, and secure transactions. Our discussion, “Building a Parallel Economy with the Lightning Network,” aims to unveil the vast potential of LN in fostering a resilient, inclusive, and decentralized economic infrastructure that empowers communities worldwide.

This talk will begin with a brief introduction to the Lightning Network’s functionality and its significance in the broader Bitcoin ecosystem. It will further delve into LN’s role in enabling quick microtransactions, which are essential for a thriving, inclusive parallel economy. Attendees will glean insights into how the LN facilitates trade, remittances, and financial access in areas where traditional banking structures are inadequate or non-existent.

Luke Broyles presents the arguments against modern fiat debasement and case how Bitcoin accelerates humanitarian efforts across the world and Africa in particular.

Fossil fuels drive human development.

Exploring practical steps to accelerate mass adoption of bitcoin & some internal factors delaying the journey

Parallel institutions and self-determined communities can defend themselves against the battle of titans taking place between the global south and NATO by adopting Bitcoin.

Looking to do more with Bitcoin and don't know where to start? Take on the '100 Day Challenge' where you'll attempt to enable 1 Bitcoin interaction per day for 100 days. It helped us find purpose within Bitcoin and build a portfolio showing our proof of work.

Preaching to the choir is a regular occurance in the bitcoin ecosystem. On the other hand, mass adoption is the only way for bitcoin to truly fulfill its purpose. The onus is on us as bitcoiners to reach out to the masses - Create awareness, ignite interest & desire, and handhold people to the fundamentals of money, value, and the promise of bitcoin.

Stay humble, stack sats is not enough. The stack needs to get deployed. Used in day-to-day life. People need to want to use bitcoin.

Effective community building is a powerful means to spark this want. What has worked for us as we built Bitcoin4India is to create a laidback environment, have a lose agenda for meetups, while ensuring that we organized many meetups. Behind the scenes, using all the tools available to us, and preferred by people, to connect with one another.

In essence, how to create and sustain momentum while building a community, with an aim to welcome no-coiners into our fold is what I aim to talk about.

How does Bitcoin adoption differ when comparing the Global South vs. the "rest of the world" / the more developed northern hemisphere?

Talk about the work Gridless is doing to mine Bitcoin off the grid.

This talk aims to introduce the concept of FreePrivateCities (FPCs) and the far-reaching synergies with Bitcoin and Bitcoin projects to bring about a future of liberty. The talk will also expand on the current developments in establishing FPCs and the implications for Bitcoin adoption. FPCs are established within a host-nation and has extensive legal and regulatory autonomy. It is a legally recognized jurisdiction and can therefore offer substantial protection to many endeavours furthering the cause of liberty, that might be unwelcome in authoritarian states. BTC and FPCs share the same core values. BTC’s eloquently solved governance is a great example for governance in FPCs. FPCs can accelerate transitions towards hard money (BTC adoption). Synergy between financial sovereignty and localized, autonomous and contractual governance is the next frontier for individual liberty.

Trezor Academy is an educational initiative launched by Trezor in early 2023. The talk will cover results to-date and the plans ahead, plus call for new local educators.

What does a South African beef initiative movement look like? How do South African farmers adopt a bitcoin model and regain control over their livestock and land.

With the most fragmented payments space in the world, Africa can lead the rest of the world in adopting LN and BTC. As Femi from Btrust said, bitcoin needs Africa, Africa does not need bitcoin. Would also be happy to touch upon stablecoin adoption and how LN can take part of that market share with new advancements like stable accounts.

While Bitcoin is often conflated with other cryptocurrencies, only Bitcoin is genuinely scarce, decentralised, permissionless and incapable of censorship. Understanding the difference between Bitcoin and "crypto" is critical not only for capital allocators - both retail and institutional - but equally, it's important for regulators and enforcement agencies.

Fiat. Addiction. Bitcoin.

Making Bitcoin and Lightning Multiasset Networks with Taproot Assets

Bitcoin education across Africa.

Leon (Cape Crypto) Building an Exchange on Lightning & Bitcoin

Financial sanctions are routinely used as a type of warfare on the global geopolitical stage. While ordinary people often find themselves caught in the middle. Livelihoods can be ruined, but Bitcoin provides a way around it.

Presenting JAN3, AQUA wallet and Bitcoin adoption by wildlife NGOs in SA

If you're interested we can discuss and see what the possibilities are. My telegram is @ben_vh and Twitter @bvanhool

Ray Youssef is the co-founder and CEO of Paxful, one of the world’s largest peer-to-peer platforms for buying and selling Bitcoin. All his business ventures were founded on P2P, starting with the first successful startup in P2P ringtones.

Youssef is on a mission to liberate the global south from poverty “breaking the financial apartheid” which is why he is sharing CivKit with the world.

The very first version of Bitcoin Core had functions for an orderbook and escrow. Those when combined with a wallet give us the three essential ingredients for a decentralized p2p electronic marketplace. An unstoppable, permissionless free market is the one thing humanity needs most and the final vision of Satoshi Nakamoto, are embodied In CivKit.
CivKit is a decentralised open source protocol of Civilization 2.0 The kernel of governance in code built around Bitcoin

On-boarding Shops at Bitcoin Ekasi: Challenges & Successes

The Age of Open Protocols
Since the adoption of TCP/IP, the age of open protocols has powered the modern world. The adoption of these open protocols has been a cornerstone in the evolution of digital communication, fostering an unprecedented era of connectivity and innovation. This age has seen the rise of the internet as a global platform for information exchange, transforming every aspect of human life from commerce and communication to education and entertainment.

The adoption of Bitcoin in Africa holds immense potential for driving financial inclusion and empowering individuals with greater control over their financial destinies. However, various barriers have hindered the widespread adoption of these digital assets across the continent. This presentation aims to explore the key challenges faced in promoting Bitcoin adoption in Africa and proposes innovative strategies to overcome these hurdles.

Talking about the progress made on Machankura and what self custody on feature phones looks like.

In this talk the Head of Operations at Fedi discusses what is needed to start, operate and grow a successful bitcoin company.
Attend this talk to learn more about idea formation, creating a team, fundraising, and growing your company.

The IRR is a South African think-tank that aims to promote individual liberty, democracy, the rule of law, and free-market economics. Established in 1929, it seeks to provide research, analysis, and advocacy to address racial inequalities and advance the principles of non-racialism, freedom, and prosperity in South Africa.

Noble will be talking about how she has propelled the hub into a pioneering force in the Bitcoin currency realm within Refugee communities.

This panel delves into the transformative impact of Bitcoin Layer 2 technologies, with a focus on Liquid and Lightning, in addressing the challenges of high-fee environments and full blocks. It highlights the practical solutions these layers offer for cost-effective and efficient Bitcoin transactions for the Global South.

FEDI Public Workshop

Talking Self Custody with Trezor and Sparrow.

Right now, governments dominate the world. How can we move towards a more peaceful, voluntary global society with prosperity for all? Certainly Bitcoin is a big part of the solution - as Bitcoin replaces fiat currencies governments will not be able to finance aggression through fiat currencies. But at the same time, we can accelerate the creation of voluntary systems of governance, community, education, health care, and more. As more of the world's talent and capital transition from government systems of domination to peaceful voluntaryism, we will in effect be "underthrowing" governments. Just as electronic communications and private delivery services such as UPS, FedEx, etc. have made government post offices irrelevant, as we create private voluntary systems the remaining government functions will be as irrelevant to life as are the post offices - or the Queen of England - expensive, decorative, wastes.

In this compelling keynote address, we delve into the profound impact of Bitcoin on the lives of African women, exploring the transformative power of digital currency in the context of financial inclusion and empowerment. While the world witnesses the rise of Bitcoin, the silent revolution unfolding among African women remains a story less told. This keynote sheds light on how Bitcoin serves as a catalyst for change, providing opportunities for economic independence and innovation. We will explore inspiring stories of resilience, entrepreneurship, and the role of Bitcoin in breaking down traditional barriers.

Project Super Saiyan is aimed at developing an javacard application that gives self custody to a person using a feature phone.

Hands-on workshop on how to set up a BTCPayServer store and start accepting Lightning payments directly to your Blink wallet within minutes. If you're a merchant or looking to onboard merchants in your community, you don't want to miss.

Crowfunded a 41 country Journey using Bitcoin.

An overview of Bitcoins energy consumption and carbon footprint, a reminder of the alternatives and a counter-intuitive and refreshing take on how Bitcoin is already being used as a carbon sink.

Advocating for Bitcoin Adoption is a very unique endeavour, but at the same time a shared story of humanity & The Pursuit of Knowledge (TPOK).

Unique because most don't come to Bitcoin itself in the same manner, or for the same incentives, but those who stay & do the Proof of Work soon realize how it could do more for those around them, thereby, by extension doing more for themselves.

With EasySats it has always been my mission to find innovations that allow anyone to easily purchase Bitcoin, while using vehicles like the ‘TPOK - How to Accept & Earn’ educational sessions to ensure they are made aware of how they can accept it for their goods & services as well as securely store it themselves, without the need for continued interaction with others... Yes, even me.

Innovation doesn’t have to be expensive, especially when even leveraging something like tickets to an event can illustrate this while directly putting Bitcoin in the hands of the attendees.

Bitcoin & Human Rights

Announcement: Circular BTC Fund

The Bitcoin Islands project was born on the island of Boracay in the Philippines, a place with a strong focus on tourism, through a partnership with Pouch, a start-up that allows people to receive digital payments using the Lighting Network. Initial success is immediate and over 300 merchants and businesses jump on board.

But the initial enthusiasm soon runs into a major shortfall in payment volume. Of the Bitcoiners visiting the island only a few want to pay in Bitcoin, and adoption on the island begins to fade.
The same pattern can be observed in El Salvador where, despite the legal tender and government proclamations, adoption is struggling to take off again due to a shortage of payments.

Ten years after the creation of the HODL meme, is it possible to say that the hardcore HODLER mentality is harming local communities and preventing Bitcoin from fulfilling its destiny as peer2peer digital cash?