My Bitcoin Club – a passionate coalition of students, alumni, researchers and members of the community – presents the 12th annual my Bitcoin Expo (April 5 to April 6, 2025), a landmark event that examines how Bitcoin and Freedom Technologies give individuals around the world. With only 5 days back, this student-led initiative continues its decade-long tradition of bridging academia, activism and technical innovation.
Why this matters
Born from Mits Bitcoin project in 2014-AS Distributed Bitcoin to students to study the adoption-have Expo evolved into a critical forum for sovereignty-focused dialogue. This year’s agenda for freedom technology focuses on physical liberation through technology.
Speakers such as Zimbabwean activist Evan Mawarire (#Thisflag movement leader) and Lightning Network creator Tadge Dryja will dissect Bitcoin’s role in resisting authoritarian control and enabling escape from the real world from oppression. This is not about the crypto economy, nor about the meme coins. This is about life, freedom and bitcoin.
What to expect
Day 1: Dive into Freedom Tech Fundamentals with Mawarires’ main note “Why Freedom Tech Matters” and Dryja’s analysis of Bitcoin’s resilience to nation states. Corporate adoption takes the center of Marathon Digital’s Paul Giordano and Bitcoin Core developers like Gloria Zhao. Get more technical in the afternoon with items such as consensus cleaning, poisoning attack, censorship resistance, bitcoin tubes, etc.
Day 2: Change to global influence with Mauricio Bartolomeo (exfiltration via Bitcoin) and panels with activists from Venezuela, Russia and Togo. Technical deep dive includes Mits Neha Narula about scaling self-defense and Steven Roose’s Covenant SoftFork suggestions. Other topics include Future of Freedom Tech, Quantum Resistance, Covenant Soft Fork, Tor Project, etc.
In addition to theory: Freedom Tech Hackathon
Driving parallel (April 4 to April 6) this $ 10,000-a-prize event developers challenges to build tools for privacy, censorship and financial sovereignty14. Previous projects have ensured funding from industry leaders – proof of Mit’s “Mind and Hand” ethos in Action4.
In addition, Anna Chekhovich from HRF runs a workshop on Bitcoin self-defense 101.
Why participate?
This event prioritizes substance rather than viewing. Tickets remain available, speakers present pro bono, and discussions tackle Pressing questions:
– How can Bitcoin enable physical escape from authoritarian regimes?
-What technical upgrades strengthen its properties against censorship?
– Can companies adopt Bitcoin without compromising its ethos?
With 40+ speakers and 500+ expected participants, Expo offers unmatched networks with developers, activists and academics who create Bitcoin’s future.
Event information and registration
5. to 6 April 2025 | 
My campus, cambridge, ma
Secure your place: www.mitbtcexpo.org
Question? [email protected] / [email protected]
For twelve years we have asked tough questions. Join us when we build answers.