The 411 On “Adopting Bitcoin,” A Lightning Network Conference in El Salvador

Perfect timing and place for a Lightning Network Conference. In less than a week, Bitcoin will be legal tender in El Salvador. The Lightning Network was instrumental for this to happen. The real-life case study for the Lightning Network is El Zonte AKA Bitcoin Beach. And in Mid-November, all of those factors will collide in an event aptly titled “Adopting Bitcoin.”

Related Reading | How Big Is Bitcoin’s Lightning Network? The Answer Will Surprise You

This Lightning Network conference comes with a call-to-action as its unofficial slogan, “Unite, focus, collab!” And, by the looks of Adopting Bitcoin’s official Twitter, the tribe responded to the call and will attend en masse. 

Unite, focus, collab! ⚡⚡⚡

"Adopting Bitcoin – A Lightning Summit 2021" #adopt21 brings together the Bitcoin and Lightning communities in El Salvador this November

The focus: transitioning 6+ million people onto the Lightning Network!

More info: https://t.co/WWULQ3STIu

— Adopting Bitcoin (@AdoptingBTC) August 29, 2021

What Characteristics Does This Lightning Network Conference Have?

According to “Adopting Bitcoin‘s” website, their purpose:

“… is bringing together the Bitcoin and Lightning community in San Salvador and El Zonte to create connections and foster the future of money and payments in the Central American republic.”

The Lightning Network Conference has the following characteristics:

• The team behind the Bitcoin Beach Wallet, Galoy, produced the conference. 
• “Adopting Bitcoin” is a not-for-profit event.
• The organizers will donate 100% to support Lightning Network development.
• The Lightning Network conference will be both in English and in Spanish. 
• “Adopting Bitcoin” will be live-streamed.
• They’ll dedicate Tuesday and Wednesday to hard-core conferencing.
• Thursday they’ll finish the peregrination by visiting the place that started it all, El Zonte. “We will have an organized Bitcoin Bazaar 10a-4p…. with kiosks, stands and food stalls anchored at / near Hope House,” said Galoy’s Co-Founder.

Tuesday and Wednesday are full conference days in San Salvador.

Thursday is more casual in El Zonte. We will have an organized Bitcoin Bazaar 10a-4p…. with kiosks, stands and food stalls anchored at / near Hope House.

R/T bus transport SS <> EZ will be provided.

— Hunter 🌋⚡️🇸🇻 (@btcnyc) August 30, 2021

• The Lightning Network conference is for “early adopters only.” Tickets can only be purchased with bitcoin over the Lightning Network.
• “Adopting Bitcoin” is for “developers, businesses and general enthusiasts to network and form in-person connections.” 

Adopting Bitcoin: Lightning Summit in El Salvador. Dates: 16 – 18 November 2021. Tickets can only be paid on the #Bitcoin #LightningNetwork. All proceeds of the conference will be donated to the development of the Lightning Network. https://t.co/vZzQb6MOy9 pic.twitter.com/ivizhyD960

— Bitcoin LightningNetwork+ News ⚡️ (@BTC_LN) August 30, 2021

“Adopting Bitcoin’s” Line Up

Tuesday and Wednesday, the party is in San Salvador’s Sheraton Presidente. Both days contain “Lightning 101” workshops. Among the star lecturers are: 

Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation; podcaster extraordinaire Stephan Livera; Bitnob’s Bernard Parah, from Nigeria, one of the protagonists of this historic transaction; “Bitcoin En Español’s” host Camila Campton; Mónica Taher, Tech & Economic International Affairs for El Salvador; Bitcoin Beach’s Mike Peterson, and Paxful’s Ray Youssef.

Full line-up in the Lightning Network Conference ‘s website.

On Thursday 18, the party moves to El Zonte and ends with a literal Taproot Activation Party in El Tunco. For a video tour of both towns, check this mini-documentary out.

BTC price chart for 08/31/2021 on Cexio | Source: BTC/USD on TradingView.com
About Galoy, Organizers Of The Lightning Network Conference

According to their official website, “Galoy offers easy to use Bitcoin ‘Banking-as-a-Service’ (BaaS) products.” They are responsible for the self-referential official wallet for the Bitcoin Beach project. “In October 2020, we launched our branded “Bitcoin Beach” Lightning Wallet in El Zonte.” Galoy describes itself as:

“… a B2B company, serving organizations that embrace Bitcoin as money. We build on the Bitcoin Protocol and the Layer 2 Lightning Network, utilizing the tools created by the team at Lightning Labs.”

Related Reading | Are The Lightning Network’s Almost-Free Transactions The Killer App BTC Needed?

And now, they’re contributing to the Bitcoin ecosystem with this not-for-profit Lightning Network Conference in El Salvador. One that requires that you actually use the novel network to purchase the coveted ticket. And donates all proceeds to Lightning development. 

Nice.

Featured Image: Adopting Bitcoin's logo | Charts by TradingView