Bitcoin Asia 2024 was held last month at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. This landmark event marked the first-ever Bitcoin-focused conference in Asia and attracted over 10,000 attendees from around the globe. The conference aimed to advance the global development of Bitcoin and Web3 technologies by gathering leading experts, developers, investors, and exhibitors for panel discussions, workshops, and demonstrations of cutting-edge applications and ecosystems.
Approximately half of the attendees came from mainland China, and the event featured the launch of several Bitcoin ETF products as well as exhibitions of various Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions developed by Chinese founders and companies. This growing regional enthusiasm signals a promising future for Bitcoin's expansion and adoption.
Several talks and exhibits stood out for their insightful perspectives and forward-looking forecasts on the industry’s development.
Key Panel Discussions
The Energy Behind Ordinals
This panel was moderated by Namcios of UTXO Management and featured Udi Wertheimer from Taproot Wizards, Dan Held from Asymmetric, and Trevor Owens from Bitcoin Frontier Fund. The speakers highlighted the community’s strong interest in learning about Ordinals, despite the speculative nature of these digital assets.
Wertheimer noted that many individuals are gaining exposure by experimenting with Ordinals and BRC-20 tokens—and, most importantly, having fun. He emphasized that encouraging people to engage and care about Bitcoin is a significant achievement in itself.
Zhou Zhuo Jie on Multi-Chain Accessibility
In a video discussion, Zhou shared his analysis of NFT communities and their behavior in trading digital assets across multiple blockchains. This observation inspired his efforts to make various chains, including Bitcoin, accessible on platforms like Magic Eden.
Ethereum Was A Testnet
Moderated by independent Bitcoin journalist Joe Nakamoto, this panel included Casey Rodarmor (creator of Ordinals and Runes protocols), Peter Todd (founder of OpenTimestamps), and Jeremy Rubin (CEO of Stealth). Their discussion revolved around the history of the previous market cycle on Ethereum and how those lessons can be applied to scale Bitcoin more effectively—particularly in the areas of provenance and functionality.
From Ordinal To Market
Ken Liao, founder of Xverse, shared an inspiring story about dedication and innovation. He discovered significant demand for Ordinals when he noticed many users building their own nodes to inscribe items despite technical barriers. Leveraging his experience with NFT functionalities in digital wallets, Liao integrated Ordinals support into Xverse.
Bitcoin Native Assets
This panel featured prominent speakers including Domo Data from Layer 1 Foundation, Lorenzo G. from UniSat, Casey Rodarmor, and Namcios from UTXO Management. They discussed their backgrounds in developing digital assets and shared strategies for raising awareness and adoption. While acknowledging that speculation currently drives usage, the panel stressed the importance of building real use cases to ensure long-term sustainability.
Notable Exhibits and Attractions
Ordz Games and BitBoy One
Ordz Games showcased the BitBoy One, a handheld console that supports crypto games, classic emulated games, hardware wallets, and token mining. The device enables users to play on-chain games, earn points through inscriptions, and eventually convert those points into tokens.
AMBBi’s IP-Driven Approach
AMBBi attracted significant attention with its large mascot and innovative approach to building within the Bitcoin ecosystem. The project aims to deliver more value to its community through intellectual property (IP) development.
FAR’s Immersive Digital Art
Artist FAR presented 'PARALLAX,' a captivating digital installation featuring a four-sided LED tunnel. This immersive experience allowed attendees to explore the spatial intricacies of code and virtual realms. The exhibit also featured topographical transformations from FAR’s 'Flares' collection, creating a bridge between digital and physical landscapes.
The Future of Bitcoin in Asia
The success of Bitcoin Asia 2024 underscores the vast potential of Bitcoin and continuous technological innovation within its ecosystem. New developments are consistently enhancing Bitcoin’s capabilities, making it an exciting time to learn and engage with the system—whether for financial, technological, or societal reasons.
Building on this year’s success, The Bitcoin Conference has already announced its return to Asia. 👉 Explore early bird tickets for Bitcoin Asia 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main goal of Bitcoin Asia 2024?
The conference aimed to advance the global development of Bitcoin and Web3 technologies by bringing together experts, developers, and enthusiasts for discussions, workshops, and exhibitions.
Who were some of the key speakers at the event?
Notable speakers included Casey Rodarmor (creator of Ordinals and Runes), Udi Wertheimer (Taproot Wizards), Dan Held (Asymmetric), and representatives from companies like UniSat and UTXO Management.
What are Ordinals and why are they significant?
Ordinals are digital artifacts inscribed on individual satoshis, enabling the creation of NFTs and other unique assets on the Bitcoin blockchain. They are significant because they expand Bitcoin’s functionality beyond simple transactions.
What kinds of products were showcased at Bitcoin Asia?
Attendees saw a range of innovations, including Bitcoin ETF products, Layer 2 solutions, hardware devices like the BitBoy One console, and artistic installations bridging digital and physical realms.
Is Bitcoin Asia returning in 2025?
Yes, following the success of the 2024 event, Bitcoin Asia will return in 2025. Early bird tickets are already available for those interested in attending.
How can I stay updated on Bitcoin developments?
You can follow major conferences, subscribe to industry newsletters, and 👉 access real-time tools and resources to deepen your understanding of Bitcoin and blockchain technology.