The Fourth Annual Plan ₿ Forum wrapped up in Lugano this weekend, marking a significant milestone in Bitcoin adoption with record attendance. The event, held on October 24-25, attracted over 4,000 participants from 64 countries, reflecting a 140% surge from the inaugural year in 2022 and a 38% increase over last year’s forum. This year’s edition further solidified Lugano’s reputation as a global center for digital asset innovation.
In addition to the physical attendees, the forum engaged an online audience as well, with more than 800,000 viewers tuning in to livestreams of keynote speeches and panel discussions on Rumble. This year’s agenda expanded beyond finance, highlighting the transformative effects of decentralization in fields such as artificial intelligence, media, and neuroscience.
A standout moment during the forum was the unveiling of the restored Satoshi Nakamoto statue at Parco Ciani. Originally created by Italian artist Valentina Picozzi, the statue was restored after being recovered earlier this year. The unveiling was graced by key figures including Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, FundStrat co-founder Tom Lee, and the Mayor of Lugano, Michele Foletti. This restoration marks the expansion of the project, with replicas now found in El Salvador and Japan, aiming to bring the Bitcoin symbol to 21 cities worldwide.
During the event, Chris Pavloski, CEO of Rumble, announced an exciting development: the platform will soon allow Bitcoin tipping for its 51 million users in partnership with Tether. Currently in testing, this feature is set to launch globally by early to mid-December, enabling content creators to receive tips directly through the Rumble app’s integrated digital wallet. The first on-chain tip was demonstrated live during the forum, sent to Canadian creator David Freiheit, further bridging the gap between decentralized finance and digital media.
Tether also unveiled QVAC Genesis I, touted as the world’s largest synthetic AI dataset, comprising 41 billion tokens aimed at training advanced models in STEM disciplines. Complementarily, they introduced QVAC Workbench, an application that enables users to train models locally while maintaining privacy. Paolo Ardoino described this initiative as a pivotal step toward decentralizing computation and returning control to individuals.
The forum featured discussions connecting Bitcoin’s ideology of financial autonomy to advancements in neurotechnology, particularly through a presentation by Ardoino and Marcus Gerhardt, CEO of Blackrock Neurotech, which is focused on restoring movement and speech in paralyzed patients using brain-computer interfaces.
Prominent speakers included Bo Hines, the incoming CEO of USA₮, members of the Assange family, Brandon Lutnick of Cantor Fitzgerald, and Jack Mallers of Twenty One Capital. The presence of government officials, such as Zhaslan Madiyev from Kazakhstan, highlighted the increasing openness of global policymakers to the cryptocurrency landscape. The conversations emphasized how Bitcoin and open infrastructure can promote both economic inclusion and civil liberties worldwide.
Michele Foletti, Mayor of Lugano, remarked on the forum’s success, stating that it reaffirms Lugano’s central role in blockchain innovation. “Our goal from the beginning has been to make Bitcoin part of everyday life,” he noted, emphasizing the increasing acceptance of cryptocurrency among local businesses and its integration into daily transactions.
Paolo Ardoino echoed this sentiment, stating that Lugano is evolving into a model for Bitcoin adoption and open technology, as evidenced by the practical applications being embraced by the community.
In addition to the main forum, Plan ₿ also hosted Spazio 21, an event focused on engaging the local Italian-speaking community, which attracted more than 600 attendees on its first day, underscoring local interest in Bitcoin and blockchain education.
Looking ahead, the Plan ₿ Initiative is set to host two major events in 2026: the second annual Plan ₿ Forum in San Salvador on January 30-31, focusing on Bitcoin’s role in emerging markets, and the Fifth Annual Plan ₿ Forum in Lugano on October 23-24, which will delve deeper into financial freedom and innovation.
For further details regarding the upcoming events and the ongoing initiatives of Plan ₿, additional information can be found on their official website. The initiative, rooted in collaboration between the City of Lugano and Tether, aims to embed Bitcoin technology into the city’s financial infrastructure, enhancing various aspects of daily life for its residents.
