Bitcoin Forum

In 2016, CoinFest advanced across Asia, bringing crypto cheer to 5 continents. 2017 will be the year we cover the entire inhabited world. Running from April 3-9, all of last years' most exciting events will be returning, and while the criteria to have your event added to the map at http://www.coinfest.org/coinfest-2017/ (http://www.coinfest.org/coinfest-2017/) are now more strict, we expect more nodes than ever before as major companies have joined the movement.

CoinFest's founder will be focused solely on improving the decentralized programs such as the International Hangout and building DAO infrastructure. For those true at heart to the cause of decentralization, CoinFest has proven a great and cost-effective way to gain publicity about your project, and we encourage you to step up and organize one in your neck of the woods. Organizers now congregate for discussion at forum.coinfest.org (http://forum.coinfest.org), where we're keeping track of all of the activities and events.

Got interviewed about CoinFest for Steemit. Discussion focused on the goals of CoinFest and Bitcoin adoption outreach and tactics... will help you understand the philosophy behind it: https://steemit.com/fort-galt/@piedpiper/coinfest-the-worldwide-cryptocurrency-festival

Awesome! Great interview.

What can we expect on Coinfest? i mean what things is going to happen in there.
Or it just different,we get something else in every place the coinfest is made?
i was just wondering :P

The are some activities that try to cover all CoinFest events but many have their own schedules and activities. Each CoinFest is unquie but try's to keep the core fundamental idea of getting people interested and engaged in crypto/Bitcoin.

The idea of giving stickers, posters, tutorial videos on Bitcoins, showing ways to earn genuine etc would be very nice. I wish once CoinFest comes to India too. India abounds in people looking for free money :P And show keen interest in Cyber trends.

Sorry I forgot to answer you, hermanhs09... I partied hard on the Halvening, and then there was Pokemon GO...

But basically it's as batesresearch stated. There are some common activities around the world, like the International Hangout and Decentralized Arcade, but participation is not required. Events range from small gatherings at cafes/bars that accept Bitcoin, to presentations and seminars, to full-on conventions.

This does often include freebies, increasingly so as our funding grows. We've already been to India... Bangalore, to be precise. You're welcome to help try and make it happen again.

Heads up: many of you just had your accounts at forum.coinfest.org accidentally deleted. We had to delete a whole bunch because we got spam attacked, again, and we also intensified the CAPTCHA system to root out more bots in the future. Let me know if you have trouble reserving your name, again--your posts are still there.

That is great interview

Thanks! It's in keeping with the Spirit of CoinFest (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/spirit-coinfest-1411178028)

Would make more sense if the US Coinfest was somewhere near central Washington where there are a lot more miners than any other part of the US.

Southern California probably has the LOWEST density of miners in the US due to the insanely high electric costs in that area, you're not going to get all that high of a turnout when you make the bulk of prospective attendees travel halfway or more across the country to get to the event.

Seattle or Spokane areas would be fairly close if you think you need a LARGE convention site.



 As far as your use of crapcha goes - don't bother, it does very little to weed out spammers IF ANYTHING, while ticking off legitimate users.

Actually, we haven't had any more spam since the new CAPTCHA system. Insofar as CoinFest USA, it pops up wherever volunteers are willing to organize something. Southern California, Washington D.C. and the Midwest will happen again, but nobody has stepped up to play host in Washington state, yet. You are welcome to do so!  :)

The first International Hangout time for CoinFest 2017 has been chosen. We already have like 2.8 BTC to spend on prizes and giveaways and stuff, so if you're an organizer, you might want to consider organizing during that time if possible. We may also do more of them at other times

If you're not familiar with the International Hangout, it's basically where cities hosting CoinFest events simultaneously around the world link up via conference call. It helps unify the decentralized audience/attendees.

Participating organizers will be coordinating in this thread on the CoinFest forum (http://forum.coinfest.org/index.php?topic=31745.0). If you don't feel like going and reading it, the announced Hangout time is 6 - 10 PM GMT on April 7, and maybe another one starting from 9 AM on April 8. Participants so far are Manchester and Vancouver.

Is anyone going to the Midwest Coinfest location? I think it is very cool that it will be in Omaha of all places, I would have expected Chicago for a central location in the US but Omaha will work.  I will definitely go...my first Coinfest~!!!

Unfortunately, nobody has ever volunteered to host a CoinFest in Chicago, but Omaha is probably going to happen again.

By the way, good news for everybody: CoinFest is now in partnership with three cryptocurrency/blockchain shows: BlockTalk, the Crypto Show and Bitcoins & Gravy. Others are welcome to join the fun. More exciting details, soon

Awesome news! Will they be promoting the CoinFests across the world?

Of course! We'll talk about everything, and also try to convince other cities to join. Then they can all host Hangouts during CoinFest like BlockTalk did last year.

I posted more details and planning on the CoinFest forum. Here I'll announce the shows as they come out with share links

Awesome! Will have a look soon

Look forward to this. If I have known about the previous one I would of attended!

One of the primary goals of CoinFest is to stimulate cryptocurrency adoption. Therefore, it makes sense that CoinFest Global should use its funds in a way that helps accomplish that.

With this in mind, it has been proposed that we set up a grant system wherein CoinFest Global pays food/drinks at local CoinFest events. The criteria shall be as follows:

1. The local event must meet all existing CoinFest criteria
2. The refreshment provider must directly accept Bitcoin

Whether or not an applicant meets the criteria shall be judged by the CoinFest multisig custodians who issue the funds. You have to trust them to some degree if you were too lazy to claim a private key, but they are obliged to fairly consider public opinion. Merit (How much publicity and attendees did you get?) and need (What adverse conditions hinder fundraising for you?) will probably be considered in determining the quantity of funds to be dispensed.

Full discussion here: http://forum.coinfest.org/index.php?topic=31746.msg32615#new

thought I would post this here aswell (Post on forum.coinfesuk.org)

I really like this idea. It will also show/promote the fact that CoinFest is a global event happening around the same time.

This will really help some organisers focus on other areas of the event and we can build a list of vendors around the world who accept Bitcoin in local areas!

I'm so glad I found this... I'll be moving to the Netherlands soon, hopefully for a more long-term period and never knew about places like Arnhem.

I'll hope to join the next series of CoinFest 2017 meetups. Will be looking to read more over the next few weeks!

The Arnhem folks are really cool! They could always use more visitors.

By the way, everyone, I talked about CoinFest on The Crypto Show the other day (2nd half). Here's the link: https://letstalkbitcoin.com/blog/post/the-crypto-show-with-christopher-hering-of-blockpay-and-andrew-wagner-from-coinfest

More news, soon

Thanks for the link, just realising from the talkshow that you're from Austin haha. Btw, is there a way to skip to the 2nd half without waiting for 30 mins? Or a text sample?

On a rather selfish note, I'm also hoping to find perhaps some form of work at Coinfest. Not sure what's available for a person new to the scene (from a non-profit and journalism background) but will definitely be at Arnhem to find out. Have you been to all the Coinfest physical events?

Actually, I'm not from Austin; I joined the show remotely from Vancouver. :P I've visited very few of the CoinFest event locations physically.

CoinFest is pretty much a volunteer operation, so for the most part, it's not a good way to go if you're trying to earn a decent income. Most of the people involved are trying to get publicity and experience; now I work at NewsBTC and Huntercoin, for example, and I'm trying to help the CoinFest UK guy get some more networking connections, too.

There are also lots of contractors around CoinFest, though. CoinFest only uses alternative currency, so we need a community of event venues and suppliers who accept it.

Of course, I do understand that Coinfest isn't a job fair and won't be going there with CVs, but rather to see if anyone is looking for anyone like me. I understand there's a bit of work going on in the non-profits trying to study blockchain or crypto, I hope to run into people who might find my insight useful.

Perhaps I really am just looking to network, as you put:)

All the same, should be interesting to see.

Updates to www.coinfest.org (http://www.coinfest.org) have begun as plans are starting to solidify around the world. Still lots of updates to make to the 2017 page (http://www.coinfest.org/coinfest-2017/), but we're proud to announce that we have our first two Global sponsors. They are the Internet of Coins (https://coinstorm.net/), a budding decentralized ecosystem of cryptocurrencies that links blockchains together; and CoinPayments (https://www.coinpayments.net/), an online and offline cryptocurrency merchant platform accepting over 55 altcoins.

You, too, can join their ranks for only .5 BTC! Message us if you're interested before the news articles start going out.

This will be my first CoinFest and I am going to the Omaha one, I am having a hard time finding any info whatsoever about the location in Omaha or a schedule.  I will need to book a hotel and want to pick a few days to attend.  Anyone going to Omaha or have a link?  Thanks

Not sure what the plan in Omaha is, yet. I linked the organizer to your post, though, so hopefully he replies.

Some of the other events have already been posted, though. CoinFest UK (http://www.coinfestuk.org) is looking great, and we just posted the Vancouver event to Meet Up (https://www.meetup.com/bitcoinvan/events/237974269/) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/417398745278765/). More awesome details, soon, but the schedule and location are set in stone.

Thank you for passing this along.  Would love to make it to Vancouver this year but Omaha is best option.

I hope thru this activities, more people are enlighten in bitcoin as our future digital currency to be use around the world as a mode of payment for every transactions. We need more programs like this.

That's one of our most primary goals. :)

CoinFest is drawing near, and with it the uplifting crypto spirit we've come to know and love. That means anybody who wants to be a Global Sponsor or event organizer has to get in touch immediately.

Several CoinFest Grants have already been approved to event organizers in Vancouver (me), Amsterdam, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Botswana. CoinFest UK didn't need to request funds because Adam Rizvi is doing an awesome job, once again.

Updates are now ongoing at www.coinfest.org (http://www.coinfest.org)

Just like last year we will be celebrating CoinFest in Amsterdam again this year:

http://forum.coinfest.org/index.php?topic=743.0

https://bitcoinference.com/CoinFest/Amsterdam.html

Awesome! That makes 3 events in the Netherlands; you guys are crazy  ;D

There's been quite a few updates I've neglected to mention, here. I'll use bullet points:

• There are now 3 International Hangouts (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpfB0lyoKDCKX8wZ7a-K-dw)! Blocktalk's is still the biggest, but New Africa Radio (https://www.newafricaradio.net/) will connect Vancouver and Orange County with an African speaker later that day to talk about how Bitcoin's doing over there. We'll also have a closing ceremony broadcast by the Crypto Show (http://thecryptoshow.com/).
• Blockchain Gaming (http://www.blockchaingaming.com/) will be a huge component, this year. In addition to the panel, we'll be teaching people how to play SaruTobi (http://www.mandelduck.com/sarutobi/) and Spells of Genesis (https://spellsofgenesis.com/) in Vancouver and probably other cities, the UK will have a Beyond the Void demo and Battlecoin server (http://battlecoin.org/games/Cf), last but not least, we now have a VR Bitcoin Block Explorer (http://store.steampowered.com/app/615460/)!
• Most of the events are now listed with links to where you can RSVP. As you can see from the map (http://www.coinfest.org/coinfest-2017/), the Netherlands is a dense hotspot with 3 different groups hosting events, and Africa is no slouch, either--the majority of CoinFest Global grants went to fund events there. Manchester is still projected to be the biggest event, while Vancouver will focus on global coordination and tune into all Hangouts with some location outreach on the 2nd day.

Happy CoinFest, everybody! Everything that's going to happen this year is now on the website, and the first event has already occured. Here are the news articles about the events so far:

• Cryptocurrency Festival Extends to Enthusiasts in Nigeria, Sierra Leone (http://www.itwebafrica.com/home-page/e-commerce/694-africa/237606-cryptocurrency-festival-extends-to-enthusiasts-in-nigeria-sierra-leone)
• Interview: Adam Rizvi and Andrew Wagner of CoinFest (http://bitcoinchaser.com/coinfest)
• CoinFest 2017 Kicks Off (https://www.reddheads.com/en/coinfest-2017/)
• Happy CoinFest 2017 From NewsBTC! (http://www.newsbtc.com/2017/04/04/happy-coinfest-2017/)

CoinFest is still trucking along, with Bitcoin Wednesday hosting the major event for today. Jeff Garzik is speaking right now! https://www.bitcoinwednesday.com/live-stream/

In less fortunate news, Peter Rizun had to cancel on us and won't be on the International Hangout. In better news, however, we picked up a new sponsor in BitNational (http://bitnational.com/), whose cofounder will be taking Peter's place.

It's almost the weekend, but we still have half of the events remaining to take place. So far, hundreds of people have already gathered around the world, and the events upcoming are expected to be even larger.

Due to a last-minute cancellation and mix-up with daylight savings time, the International Hangout times listed at http://www.coinfest.org/coinfest-2017/ have been adjusted.

For those who want to watch from home, the Blocktalk Hangout will be April 7, 5-9 PM GMT and available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar51TiDa6E8&feature=youtu.be

The New Africa Radio hangout will be April 8, 2-3 AM... watch Twitter for the view link.

CoinFest was awesome! - I need to rest! but will update everyone asap - we have photos, footage and tons of ideas from CoinFestUK2017 we will be sharing!

Yes more photos. I have never been into an event, I may not even have the chance to join since I live in a remote place. If one day this coinfest will be organized in my country, I will surely be going. I wonder if there is a huge fee just to get in :) Is there?

Can you guys confirm who is present in that event like was ETHbits there?

CoinFest is always free to attend :)

By the way, guys, we still have one more event: the Crypto Show. All CoinFest organizers were invited to come on and talk about how things went in their city. It starts in about 10 minutes: http://thecryptoshow.com/listenlive/

Sorry I couldn't make the Crypto Show! Sleeping!

Don't worry about it! I was barely awake for it, myself. :P They will be happy to have you on the show another time, however... will sort it out via email.