Wow.... it's been over 2 months since we set out on an epic journey on that thing we called the Crypto BitBus and headed up to San Francisco to attend the Bitcoin 2019 conference. Typically I would have written a review of all this stuff just after we got back, but ya know what? I was tired...
I have been all "go, go go" in crypto since 2017 and after I got back from the bus, I just needed a break from it all so I could enjoy summer with my family and focus on some other business stuff that I had been neglecting ( you guys DO know that I don't do this crypto stuff full time right?). Now that I am back and refreshed, here is a recap of all the amazing people I met and the things I learned on the bus and at the conference. (click here to skip straight to the Edward Snowden keynote video)
The Crypto BitBus begins!
If you want a quick and cool video recap of the bus ride, my friends at Sense chat whipped this up and it really gives a great overview of what it was like to be on the Crypto BitBus.
Upon arriving to the bus in the Home Depot parking lot we partnered with and seeing all the people with their bags ready to go I realized that this was really happening and all the time our crew put into making happen was finally paying off. We were lucky to have a really cool bus driver and once we corralled everyone, got them name badges, poured some awkward cups of delicious cold brewed HODL Fuel coffee, we were off! Here are a few shots from the send off party the night before and getting ready to leave.
Once we got rolling the games and conversations were on! We played a fun icebreaker to start, then followed it up with some crypto bingo with Trezor Model One's for prizes. It was really cool to see the custom shirts that were made for the trip too.
We stopped for lunch at this really cool BBQ spot called Harris Ranch. The food was great and it's pretty much the only good food place half way to SF! I managed to get everyone together for a group shot after lunch.
After lunch we did a fun game of Sense Chat trivia and talked a bit about some of our sponsors like Crows Nest Exchange, Coinbound, Travala, Monarch wallet and more. During the Sense trivia, I SWEAR we collectively pumped the price of $SENSE because it rose like 200% while we were playing and tweeting about it!
The 7 hour trip actually went by really really fast and the next thing you know we were at the hotel and getting dinner. This is a shot of my room at our partner hotel The Americania. I went out to dinner with a few friends including BitBoy, Ryan Calder, and Mark Moss.
Bitcoin 2019 Conference Day 1
I kicked off the first day of the conference by catching Max Keiser moderating a panel with Pomp and Bill Barhydt (Abara CEO) asking, "Is Bitcoin Unstoppable?". The answer.... yes, yes it is!
After that I checked out some cool booths, including this one that visually shows transactions for 4 different blockchains using this cool led install.
I liked up with quite a few old and new friends on the first day! Here are pictures with Jimmy Song, Anthony Pompliano, Max Keiser, and Lyn Ulbrict, all some of my favorite people in the industry.
I caught a few more panels and talked with a ton of people in just about every area of the convention. The roof top patio was so clutch in having a good time and what better way to end the first day than with my friend Naomi Brockwell getting a dance party started right! I even got to meet one of my biggest supporters at this event, you are awesome Lucia!
Before we get to day 2, check out all this sweet loot I got on day 1! I have never been to a conference where they did such a great job on giveaways and getting people to interact by providing swag. Here is BitBoy and I investigating my new Opendime piggy bank (I gave it to my daughter who loves it and I double match anything she puts in it with Bitcoin!).
Bitcoin 2019 Day 2
The second day kicked off with Naomi Brockwell hosting and the big keynote from Edward Snowden (no he was not there, it was via satellite silly!). Here is a twitter live video of the whole talk he gave.
I know this video is about 45 minutes long, but it's totally worth watching the whole thing. Edward gives some really unique insights into not only Bitcoin, but into privacy as a whole and I really loved how he framed privacy as an inalienable right of all humans. Do your self a favor and go watch this video and soak up his knowledge and experience like I did live as it happened!
I spent the rest of the day hanging with the bro bros, check out more panels and booths, including a panel by Lyn about her son Ross and updates to his petition, if you have not signed the Free Ross petition and you should educate yourself first and sign second here - http://freeross.org), played a ton of lightening enabled arcade games (Yes! I used the Bitcoin Ligtning Network to play Pac-Man and a Star Wars pinball game!), and checked out some of the coolest Bitcoin art from Josie, my old friend Coldie, and more.
Of course, there were tons of great stuff happening at night time that I didn't get any photos of, but my friend Omar Bham did a really awesome recap video on the bus during the ride back and it really does a great job summing up the whole adventure we had.
https://youtu.be/voW0oPqXnlo
I will leave you with one last snap I took as the bus rolled out of SF. You can see the Bitcoin 2019 bilboard in the back. If you still have photos from the bus trip, make sure to tag them on social #cryptobitbus.
All in all, I had an amazing time on the Crypto Bit Bus and at Bitcoin 2019. I made a ton of new friends on the bus, had great conversations with like minded individuals, and the conference was truly one of the best I have ever been to. I look forward to the Bitcoin 2020 conference in SF next year.
Will we be going up on a bus again?
Probably not, and if you missed it, you missed a rare and special event that may never repeat itself. Then again.... you never know...
Look out for more of my summer adventure recaps coming at you soon, but until then...
'Stache That Crypto Friends!
