Finland has taken a significant step in the realm of Bitcoin conferences within Northern Europe by hosting its first major Bitcoin event through BTCHel. Held on August 15 and 16 in Helsinki, the conference attracted prominent figures such as Jeff Booth, Peter Todd, Giacomo Zucco, Knut Svanholm, and Adam Back. BTCHel aims to enhance Bitcoin adoption across Northern European countries while providing a dedicated platform for enthusiasts to connect and engage.
According to Remo Karhulahti, CEO of BTCHel, although Europe hosts several large Bitcoin conferences, Northern Europe remains relatively underrepresented in this space. There was a clear need for a substantial local community event. Finland’s Bitcoin community has been active for several years and maintains a community hub where experts and the general public alike discuss Bitcoin-related topics. Despite a reasonable level of awareness, the widespread necessity for Bitcoin has not yet become acute among the Finnish populace, largely due to the country’s strong rule of law and high levels of societal trust.
The BTCHel team, supported by the local community, strives to establish a community-driven and self-sustaining conference, operating more from a commitment to promoting Bitcoin than from financial motives. The majority of the conference content was delivered in English to accommodate international participants, although some sessions were conducted in Finnish. Remo emphasized that BTCHel represents an effort not only to accelerate Bitcoin adoption in Finland but throughout the broader Northern European region, with plans already underway for subsequent editions.
Underlying BTCHel’s success is the philosophy of fostering smaller, locally focused platforms for Bitcoin advocacy that bring together both newcomers and seasoned experts, diverging from the model of large-scale conferences. This approach has positioned Finland and Northern Europe more prominently on the global map of Bitcoin conferences, signaling a growing regional influence in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Source: bitcoinmagazine
