As the founder of Evento and a TABConf organizer (it's my 4th year!), I've seen firsthand how crucial Bitcoin meetups are to the ecosystem. Our new Bitcoin-themed cover images are a nod to the rich history and vital importance of these gatherings.

The Birth of Bitcoin Meetups

Bitcoin meetups have been a cornerstone of the community since the early days. Back in 2011, when Bitcoin was still a fringe concept, enthusiasts like Andrew Badr organized the first meetups in San Francisco. These early gatherings were small, with just six people at a bar, feeling like members of an "esoteric cult." But they were the seeds of something much bigger.

Today, Bitcoin meetups happen worldwide. From New York to Sydney, these gatherings have become a global phenomenon. There are now so many Bitcoin conferences that it's hard to keep up!

Why Meetups Matter

Building Trust: In the early days, meetups helped make Bitcoin feel "more real" to people. In a digital world, face-to-face interactions are invaluable.
Diverse Perspectives: From libertarians to traders to developers to activists, meetups brought people together with different motivations, creating a "big tent" that fueled the growth of the Bitcoin industry.
Innovation Hubs: Many early meetup attendees went on to found businesses and nonprofits and conferences all centered around Bitcoin. So many of these people have massively contributed to the development of Bitcoin as a major global currency.
Education and Support: Meetups provide a space for learning, troubleshooting, and mentorship. That's why we organize TABConf every year - to support and educate each other because we all have so much to learn.

TABCONF6 with Chess and fun afterparties

TABConf: A Big Technical Meetup

For me, TABConf is a natural evolution of the meetup culture. We're not organizing a huge production, but a grassroots event where everyone has the opportunity to contribute - whether it be a live coding session, mentorship to students, a technical talk that blows someone's mind, or even a conversation at the afterparty. Speakers submit their talk ideas to Github and we choose ideas over sponsorship money. We don't even want CEOs to talk at TABConf; we want real builders to do all the talking.

Brandon, Brianna, & Tidwell closing out TabConf — Brandon, Brianna, & Tidwell closing out the conference

TABConf Satellite Events: A Community-Driven Experience

One of the most exciting aspects of TABConf is the vibrant ecosystem of satellite events and parties that surround it. For the past four years, I've been the party captain at TABConf, creating unique and unconventional afterparties often planned on short notice. Our first year, we booked six connecting hotel rooms, each with a different conversation topic - from the mempool to a room where Bitcoin talk was prohibited. We've taken over hotel lobbies for impromptu concerts and transformed conference spaces into lively venues with poker tournaments and karaoke.

I know that the most important thing is for people to connect on a real level, to knowledge-share in a comfortable space, and to have fun! I don't want anyone coming up to me saying that TABConf was educational but boring. These things are not mutually exclusive.

This year, we're thrilled to announce that all of these events will be hosted on Evento, creating a centralized hub for attendees to discover and engage with the full TABConf experience.

Bringing the Conference Together

We've always believed that some of the most valuable connections and insights happen outside the main conference schedule. That's why we're encouraging the community to create and host their own satellite events. Whether it's a technical workshop, a networking mixer, or an after-hours party, these events add tremendous value to the overall TABConf experience.

How to Create a Satellite Event

Use Evento: Create your event page on Evento, ensuring all the details are clear and engaging
Reach Out: DM the tabconf account directly in the Evento app
Get Featured: We'll co-host your event, featuring it on the official TABConf profile on Evento

This approach solves a common problem we've faced in previous years: attendees constantly asking, "What's happening after the conference?" Now, all events will be in one place, easily accessible to everyone.

Moving Forward

These new Bitcoin-themed Evento covers embody the spirit of these meetups and conferences. They're designed to inspire and connect event organizers to the broader Bitcoin community, continuing the tradition of innovation, education, and collaboration that has defined Bitcoin gatherings from the very beginning.

As we continue to build and strengthen the Bitcoin community through meetups, conferences, and events, I invite you to be part of Evento's journey. Whether you're organizing a small local gathering or a large-scale conference, Evento is here to support you - and it's free to use.

By choosing Evento for your events, you're not just getting a platform; you're joining a community of innovators and builders. Your feedback and experiences will directly contribute to shaping the future of the app. Together, we can create a tool that truly serves the unique needs of the global Bitcoin ecosystem.

We're Celebrating TABConf 6 with New Bitcoin-Themed Covers