A Sunset to Remember
On August 27, as the sun dipped beneath the waves, the Biarritz Casino served as the stunning backdrop for the conclusion of France’s grand Bitcoin conference. Think Hollywood movie set, but with more crypto enthusiasm, less glitz, and no A-list celebrities slipping on banana peels. Organized by the French crypto exchange Stackin Sat, Surfin Bitcoin transformed sou’west France into a hub for Bitcoin lovers, curious onlookers, and those still figuring out why their wallets are empty.
Networking Under the Golden Hour
The gathering brought together Bitcoin enthusiasts from varied backgrounds — from seasoned OGs to clueless nocoiners, all hoping to catch a wave of knowledge about the Lightning Network and potentially hook a job with one of many French crypto startups, including the likes of Galoy Money and Découvre Bitcoin. The irony? Hosted inside a casino right in the heart of the bear market, where Bitcoin chips seemed to have a permanent downtrend.
Panels, Puns, and Timestamping
With discussions that could spark friendly Twitter wars, the panels were ripe with insights. Bitcoin maximalism was on full display as panelists had their heyday dunking on other coins like they were in a foam pit. A standout moment came from Pierre Rochard of Riot Mining, who proposed renaming mining to “timestamping” to make it sound less like scavenging for gold in a video game and more like something even your pet goldfish might understand.
Art, Merch, and the Coffee Conundrum
The conference also showcased artistic talent, with European Bitcoin artists selling their creations, while Konsensus pitched Bitcoin books for a couple of satoshis in the main hall. However, the audacity to pay for coffee and refreshments with fiat currency left the crowd scratching their heads — perhaps they thought it was a cruel joke from the fiat-loving universe.
Local Sentiment: Hardy Nocoiners
Despite the thriving conference vibe, the local sentiment, as revealed in chats with street vendors and surfers, was far from warm. In a land where Bitcoin seems to be an annoying relative who always borrows money and doesn’t pay it back, Daniel Prince, of the podcast Once Bitten, expressed his disbelief when nearby casinos refused to accept Bitcoin. Many locals couldn’t even recognize Bitcoin’s iconic “B” and continued accepting only cash and cards. Except for a train driver who had a harrowing tale about losing his Bitcoin fortune at 14. To paraphrase: “At least I’m still getting paid to drive a train.”
All Aboard the Sato Boat
As the final chapter of Surfin Bitcoin wrapped up, the Sato Boat set sail, reminding everyone that while the sea might look calm, the undercurrents of regulation and fuddled public sentiment on Bitcoin are anything but. With Macron’s administration still taking shots at crypto, and the European Union bracing itself for more regulations, the road ahead is filled with challenges. Will France ever catch the Bitcoin wave, or are we destined to just keep paddling?
As we all cheerfully yell, “Stay humble, stack sats,” let’s remember that the French Bitcoin scene has a long way to go, but with efforts like Surfin Bitcoin, the future might just be looking brighter.
