[2015-04-28] CD: Richard Branson to Host Bitcoin Summit on Private Island

[LiteCoinGuy]

Richard Branson to Host Bitcoin Summit on Private Island

Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson is set to bring "the greatest minds in cryptocurrency" together to discuss bitcoin and the blockchain on his personal private island this May.

Taking place on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands from the 25th to 28th, Branson's event will feature discussions moderated by Hernando De Soto, president of the Institute for Liberty and Democracy, Wall Street Journal senior columnist Michael J Casey and Matthew Bishop, US business editor for The Economist.

http://www.coindesk.com/richard-branson-blockchain-summit-private-island/

[Carlton Banks]

Branson's event will feature discussions moderated by Hernando De Soto, president of the Institute for Liberty and Democracy, Wall Street Journal senior columnist Michael J Casey and Matthew Bishop, US business editor for The Economist.

Who are these people? What happened to "the greatest minds in cryptocurrency"?

[DooMAD]

What happened to "the greatest minds in cryptocurrency"?

They're probably all too busy to grab a moment in the spotlight.  Hopefully they're hard at work innovating, coding, developing and pushing the envelope even further.  The second-greatest minds are the ones that then take that development and put it to good use in the real world.  Maybe that's what they meant in the article.  

[Carlton Banks]

Yeah, I am also pleased that the real greatest minds of cryptocurrency likely won't be there. But I'm more interested in the answer to my first question: who are the substitutes supposed to be? They don't even appear to be second rate experts.

[RodeoX]

Here is the site:
http://www.blockchainsummit.io/

I think you will recognize some of the participants. There are so many people involved in BTC that it's hard to say who are the most influential anymore.

[server]

"We are gathering top thinkers in the world of Blockchain, Digital Currency and Bitcoin to help

DEFINE THE FUTURE."

Don't forget to invite -> Andreas Antonopoulos.

[Carlton Banks]

Here is the site:
http://www.blockchainsummit.io/

I think you will recognize some of the participants. There are so many people involved in BTC that it's hard to say who are the most influential anymore.

I recognize the names and status of the people I'm questioning^*, that's not the issue. What is the relevance of WSJ and Economist writers to cryptocurrency expertise? Or Branson himself?

^* bear in mind that knowing the names of Economist staff writers isn't the easiest information to stumble upon

[RodeoX]

Here is the site:
http://www.blockchainsummit.io/

I think you will recognize some of the participants. There are so many people involved in BTC that it's hard to say who are the most influential anymore.

I recognize the names and status of the people I'm questioning, that's not the issue. What is the relevance of WSJ and Economist writers to cryptocurrency expertise? Or Branson himself?

I know what you mean, but it's an ever expanding tent and soon enough most of the people we know will be obscure. I'm sure Sir Richard has his own ideas about bitcoin. That's fine, let him run with it. At it's core BTC is a fair system and he has no more authority than you or I. He has more money, but not more control.

It's happened before. Some of the most recognized names in the bitcoin space are new-comers to me. But look at all they bring to this project. I say welcome anyone who is doing something.

[Carlton Banks]

"Jason Weinstein
Partner at Steptoe & Johnson,
Board Advisor BitFury
Former deputy assistant attorney general in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice supervising Computer Crime, Intellectual Property and Organized Crime and Gang Sections."



Is this the sort of innovator anyone here is interested in? He has a lot more authority over bitcoin than you or me, and what curious qualifications he has for the position.

[LiteCoinGuy]

Here is the site:
http://www.blockchainsummit.io/

I think you will recognize some of the participants. There are so many people involved in BTC that it's hard to say who are the most influential anymore.

I recognize the names and status of the people I'm questioning, that's not the issue. What is the relevance of WSJ and Economist writers to cryptocurrency expertise? Or Branson himself?

I know what you mean, but it's an ever expanding tent and soon enough most of the people we know will be obscure. I'm sure Sir Richard has his own ideas about bitcoin. That's fine, let him run with it. At it's core BTC is a fair system and he has no more authority than you or I. He has more money, but not more control.

It's happened before. Some of the most recognized names in the bitcoin space are new-comers to me. But look at all they bring to this project. I say welcome anyone who is doing something.

you nailed it Roger 


--------

Jeff Garzik is also invited - "to daaaA Space Jeff"  !

[Lethn]

I'm sorry but it's hard to think that Richard Branson can possibly know anything about Bitcoin enough to gather real professionals who work on it when he has failed to provide me with a smooth broadband connection for the past few fucking weeks now.

[Kprawn]

Well Branson sure like to tip the apple cart, when it comes to taking on the "Giant"

One name on there.... Brock Pierce is a bit ...uhm how can I say it.... controversial. It will surely be a very interesting summit. 

Add "Andreas" to that mix, and they will have a mind blowing orgy. 

I have read all Branson's books and I can tell you, he has the balls and money to take on the banks and also the remittance kings. 

He also like Africa, where this technology can make the biggest difference. 

[LiteCoinGuy]

Richard Branson spokesperson Nick Fox got back to us by email Tuesday evening. Though Branson is listed as a “host” for the summit, and his name is used frequently on the site, Branson’s spokesperson Fox says, “This is not our event.” Branson, who famously accepts Bitcoin for flights on his Virgin Galactic spaceline, wasn’t at the controls for this event, says Fox. “It is being organised by an investment company who have hired Necker Island and have selected the people,” said Fox by email. “Richard has been invited and has had no role in the selection of the guests or curation of the event.”

http://fusion.net/story/127735/the-only-woman-going-to-richard-bransons-big-bitcoin-summit-is-a-professional-kiteboarder/