Years ago, CoinFest began with a specific purpose: to spread Bitcoin adoption among merchants and consumers. Good times were had by all (except the Federal Reserve) as we celebrated with free events at Bitcoin-accepting venues around the city and world-often simultaneously-in keeping with decentralized and open source principles.
Interest in spreading merchant adoption waned as transaction fees and confirmation times rose. Now, however, Bitcoin has been reinvigorated by institutional adoption of SegWit and the advent of the Lightning Network, a protocol layered on top of Bitcoin's and other blockchains. It allows for instant transactions that are not only vastly cheaper, but can be conducted across blockchains to link them together!
Therefore, in a new twist on an old tradition, we're going back to several of our favorite Bitcoin-accepting merchants to set up the Lightning Network using the demo of Adam's upgraded CoinOS POS system. That includes a FOOD TRUCK and a BREWERY, both of which will be bringing their goods to several of the events. The system will be very beta and require downloading the CoinOS mobile app, but standard network fees are now pretty low regardless for those who want to do it the old-fashioned way.
DCTRL Vancouver will host the first and last events and serve as a hub to coordinate activity. This includes hosting the International Hangout, which creates a decentralized audience by setting up projectors and camera feeds at multiple locations around the world. Other participating cities include Manchester, Arnhem and Gaborone.
Bitcoin restaurants and bars will also feature prominently in the event schedule. We will visit the home of the world's first Bitcoin ATM, the first Indian restaurant in the world to accept Bitcoin, the Bestie sausage parlor, and more to celebrate their Lightning Network conversion. Our partners at www.bitcoinandbeers.com will help guide attendees, and also be organizing a panel discussion at BC Dance, another newly-converted merchant that recently got an ATM!
We'll also be having major events at the offices of both CoinPayments and RightMesh with more presentations, demos, FREE BITCOIN BEER, and of course the Bitcoin food truck waiting outside. CoinPayments is right downtown, not far from the previous event at Bestie, while RightMesh is located in Maple Ridge. A free shuttle bus will take us to there from DCTRL and back again afterwards.
PLEASE remember to be courteous (spilled beer = cut off) to our hosts and to thank our sponsors for keeping this event free. A breakdown of the event including the full schedule and address of each venue can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WVzuyO65Q-fXwcSYlNZ_6e4LHam6eLhT9njl_l4QJvs/edit?usp=sharing
CHECK THE SCHEDULE. Some events may have maximum attendance limits and require additional RSVPs-follow the announcements.