Where Cypherpunk Fire Fuels Sovereign Minds.

Over the years, I’ve hit many different Bitcoin events across Europe, recently LATAM and Asia too. Small local meetups, bigger gatherings, mid-sized and large conferences, as well as cultural festivals like the one just held in Warsaw, Poland, Bitcoin FilmFest (aka BFF25, which I also co-run).

With probably an average of 7-10 gatherings a year, it’s a lot for some, not enough for others. For me, it’s a learning process hunting signal: real people, real ideas, real talks. In a way, Proof of Work—joining these events takes time and energy, it too yields the results—new connections, collaborations, or even just further steps toward our sovereign lives, meeting after meeting, just like adding a block to the chain.

When choosing a new place to join, location and program are important, almost equal, but what matters most is the overall theme and the vibe it creates with the ‘crowd’. Almost a paranormal synergy of what organizers bring and what attendees add with their presence.

May-June 2025...

First, culture without chains. Then privacy, tech, and cypher action. Still buzzing from BFF25, just a week later, a bit tired but stoked, I managed to take a 3-hour flight from Poland to Spain.

Worth it? Absolutely! Why? Continue reading to figure out.

BCC8333. Let’s first break down the name.

Barcelona Cyphers Conference, with “8333” referring to the port Bitcoin nodes use to sync the timechain in a decentralized network. Well, BCC8333 promised substance, not just empty fluff, from the very start. Honestly, I wouldn’t even call it a 'conference' but a high-signal, well-structured meetup of maybe 150-200 individuals. No influencers, no VIP rooms. No hype, no pressure.

(FYI. related articles from the past: European Bitcoiners, "Barcelona Cyphers Conference - BCC8333").

Unleashing Decentralized Freedom.

Held at Palau Dalmases, a 17th-century palace in Barcelona’s Born district, the venue was pure magic. Its courtyard, with stair rails carved with mythological scenes, had an artistic, almost rebellious soul tied to its flamenco background (the venue officially hosts flamenco shows in the evenings). Not too big, not too small, it was just perfect for deep talks, hands-on workshops, signal-not-bullshit presentations, and real debates.

The courtyard, the heart of the venue, welcomed us with sunny weather and stylish décor, sparking some of the best daytime  conversations I’ve had. The entire place, with its history and defiant spirit, felt ready for us to build something special.

Organized by locals—Spanish Maxis with a cypherpunk soul—and attended by folks from across the globe, it was a perfect mix of knowledge and experiences. Deep discussions on tech, privacy, geo-politics, culture, communities, health, lifestyle, and philosophy. Precious moments with familiar faces or new ones, all working on very interesting projects.  Fact: smaller crowd let you dive deep into talks and build genuine connections.

The program was thoughtfully structured. Intense sessions balanced with space to breathe, think, talk, and eat.

(Note: BCC8333, smack in the heart of Barcelona, meant plenty of nearby dining options despite tourist crowds and occasional long lines for top tapas bars. Breaks were long enough, so you could savor decent meals while enjoying the 5-10 minute walk here or there with other attendees. Could you pay in SATs everywhere? Not really, not outside the venue. But let’s be realistic: in a group of Bitcoiners, there’s always a way to use SATs, swapping fiat with others who’ll need it sooner or later. Win-win. Personally, I find these scenarios even better—Bitcoiners roaming the city for days, asking ‘Can I pay in bitcoin?’ again and again, spread a message stronger than just a group of us closed off at the venue doing our own thing. Moving around and repeating the same question will sooner or later inspire new places to take Bitcoin payments seriously. FYI: at one dinner, a delicious Brazilian steakhouse, we convinced a waiter to download a Lightning wallet, accept his tips in SATs, and vow to dig deeper into Bitcoin and Nostr in the coming days.)

Back To The Event and Its Agenda.

Practical workshops, sharp presentations, and real debates (sadly, still too rare in the space) covered topics like privacy, nodes, wallets, Bitaxe miners, and Nostr. Crucial stuff to forge the sovereign life.

• My personal highlights?

Friday’s sessions on the history and future of cypherpunks (Spanish / English, with Alfre Mancera, Entropy, Bebop, Max Hillebrand, and Begleri); Miniscripts Roundtable-Discussion (English, with Edouard from Liana, Landabaso from Rewind, Francesco from BitVault, Yuri da Silva from Great Wall); Self-Sufficient Houses (English with Matthew Prosser); and the debate on Op_return (English, with Peter Todd; Unhosted Marcellus, and Lunaticoin).

I couldn’t catch everything—too busy in hallway chats connecting dots from the past to the present for a stronger future ;) … Luckily, the main stage sessions were recorded by the organizers (follow X: BCC833), with extra interviews/coverage done by Juan Cienfuegos (BitCorner Podcast). Sure, all of it will drop online soon.

• What left me in awe?

Pure, unfiltered signal.

First, the Spanish Bitcoin scene is a force. Well-organized, connected, decentralized but acting as one when needed. People relentlessly focused on building, not just talking. BCC8333 was proof.

Second, the fusion of ideas is remarkable; the power of plebs putting them into practice moves the world forward. Just as Bitcoin doesn’t need a CEO, Bitcoiners don’t need typical trendsetters or idols. Case by case, we verify truth ourselves, like nodes in a network, organically building, improving, brainstorming, discussing—not on flashy stages or in cold expo hangars, but in dynamic meetups like this one.

Third, the tribe. Don’t get me wrong, even with thousands of attendees, you can find your people if you try. But with a few hundred, free of overwhelming noise and far too many folks rushing around, you don’t miss the most valuable chats.  BCC8333 was no different. I met and re-met my soulmates. The tribe you laugh with, but also work hard with when needed. Simply put: people who share the cypherpunk fire. Sovereignty and hands-on freedom.

• Bonus stuff?

Though the topics were serious (and important), the vibe still had plenty of fun. Barcelona’s nightlife was a great playground, but the organizers also brought joy right to the venue itself.

Examples: Both days with Chain Duel to play in the courtyard and later a big-screen tournament, were cool to watch and join. Saturday’s concert by Roger 9000, with all of us shouting, “Tick tock, next block, it don’t stop. The love of freedom, it don’t stop!” to his energetic beats, made those moments truly spectacular.

Wrapping Up.

BCC8333 stands apart. As the title says, it was truly the event ‘Where Cypherpunk Spirit Forges Sovereign Minds.’ Cheers to the organizers, contributors, volunteers, and attendees! Those past few days in Barcelona were solid proof we’re keeping Bitcoin’s ethos alive—a strong case that it’s not about “going to the moon” but staying free on the ground.

Thank YOU!

BTC Your Mind. Let it Beat.

Şela