Miami is expanding as a crypto hub by hosting this year’s Bitcoin 2021 event.
The Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami has been touted as the largest Bitcoin event in crypto history, with organizers expecting a huge turnout.
The event, running for three days from June 3 at the Mana Convention Center in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, will play host to a number of industry executives and personalities.
Crypto luminaries scheduled for attendance include former congressman Ron Paul, MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor, pro-crypto Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis, Square co-founder Jack Dorsey and cryptographer Nick Szabo, among others.
The organizers are expecting more than 50,000 attendees, according to a Fox Business report.
Miami has emerged as a major tech hub in recent years, with the Wynwood neighborhood, in particular, evolving into a hub for technology and innovation. The crypto conference was previously held in Los Angeles, but organizers decided to move it due to venue availability issues. On the official website, event organizers stated:
“In addition to moving cities, we are also pushing the conference back slightly to June 4–5, so as to allow ample time for the second wave of COVID-19 to pass and for vaccine rollout to take place.”
A “whale pass” entry ticket is being offered with starting bids at 3 Bitcoin (BTC). The pass allows entry to Bitcoin 2021, five celebrity-suite tickets to the upcoming Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Logan Paul boxing match, three vintage bottles of 1996 Dom Pérignon, a meet-and-greet with pro skateboarder Tony Hawk, and access to VIP concierge services.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is among Bitcoin 2021’s speakers. Suarez has gained fame within the crypto community for his pro-Bitcoin stance and incentive schemes intended to bolster digital asset adoption across the city.
In February, Suarez stated that Miami city employees would be able to get their salaries paid in Bitcoin instead of United States dollars if they wanted to. At the time, he also revealed that he was considering financing his reelection campaign in BTC.
In April, Jackson, Tennessee followed Miami’s lead, with Mayor Scott Conger announcing the city was actively exploring offering its employees to be paid in cryptocurrency, and consider mining Bitcoin that would be added to the city’s balance sheet.