Bitcoin’s Cultural Layer: New Perspectives, New Opportunities.

Autor: Şelale Malkoçoğlu | Date: 03/10/2025

It’s no exaggeration to say that Bitcoin has moved beyond its roots as a monetary innovation, growing into a cultural movement built on resistance, decentralization, truth, and freedom.

This makes perfect sense.

Money and technology are powerful forces redefining how we interact with each other and ultimately live. From the invention of the printing press to the rise of the Internet—and the countless areas they’ve transformed to this day—every major shift in how we exchange value and information has sparked cultural revolutions. The key here is to choose authenticity over the shallow narratives so often thrown our way.

Bitcoin, by its very nature, challenges current systems. The culture it fosters naturally becomes a counterbalance to a world dominated by fiat—its rotten values, dishonest incentives, hopelessness, greed, and increasingly weaker social interactions.

-- Go Out and Meet Your Tribe --

Over the years, I’ve been to plenty of Bitcoin-themed events. Conferences, meetups, hackathons, and so on. All sorts of gatherings. Each one has left me with not just cool memories and lessons learned, but also genuine connections. I’ve met so many amazing people—some I’m lucky to call friends now, and I know that if it weren’t for Bitcoin and the incredible community that’s grown around it, I probably never would’ve crossed paths with most of them.

Culture is not just about where we’ve come from. It’s about where we’re going...

Last year, I joined 5 different conferences, not to mention smaller gatherings. Regardless of their format, they always enrich my personal perspectives, and, in turn, shape how I see the world and my place within it.

My calendar for the first part of this year is already marked with 6 major events, one of which I’m personally co-organizing. From January to March alone, I’ve attended around 10 Bitcoin meetups and 1 larger event in Thailand—SatsNFacts, a signal-rich 'unconference' (here you can read some memories from it).

The more I travel and spend time with Bitcoiners from around the world, the happier, more hopeful, and more motivated I become. I truly believe that the places we choose to go and the people we meet along the way can profoundly shape our near and distant futures.

-- Discover the Heartbeat of Bitcoin Culture --

Now, imagine a unique gathering that embodies the ethos of Bitcoin while blending artistic expression, intellectual stimulation and collaborative spirit. Not too big, with thousands of attendees you’ll never have a chance to talk to, and not as small as an average local meetup where every face is already familiar.

That’s exactly what Bitcoin FilmFest 2025 (#BFF25) feels like—the event I’m honored to co-create (again) this year. It’s not a typical conference but a community-driven cultural experience, that, for the third time already, is taking over one of Warsaw’s most iconic landmarks: the Palace of Culture and Science. Once known as 'Stalin’s Ziggurat,' now our Cinematic Rebel ₿ase.

I’m not writing this piece to promote the event itself but rather to show how attending more culture-themed events can impact your journey. By participating in these experiences, you’re not just learning or networking—you’re becoming part of a movement that values creativity, authentic storytelling, and human connections.

📣 Why to attend Bitcoin FilmFest (or any similar event):

• #1: Fresh Perspectives Through Art and Storytelling

Even if you’re not an artist or filmmaker, most probably you consume their work in one way or another, anyway. Viewing Bitcoin’s cultural impact through the lens of independent art can make you a more conscious, and inspired member of this space. The best part? You won’t just watch films or artistic projects—you’ll also have the chance to meet the creators, ask questions, and dive deeper into their stories. This isn’t about being a random spectator. It’s about engaging with narratives that fuel your mind and heart in ways you can’t yet imagine. Simply put, step in and become part of the story.

• #2: From Cypherpunks to Spiritual Awakening

Cultural events like BFF feel more organic than traditional conferences, where networking can often feel rushed or transactional. Built on art and creativity, they foster a relaxed and open atmosphere—a perfect environment to explore deeper conversations, even those with philosophical dimensions. Topics could span a wide range, from the cypherpunk movement and its emphasis on privacy to using Bitcoin to escape inflation, real-world examples of micro-nations, freedom-tech innovations, powerful music, permissionless art, higher consciousness, personal awakenings, and spirituality. When you add the opportunity to engage with like-minded participants who have firsthand experience in many of these areas, you gain mind-blowing insights that can inspire you for months to come.

• #3: Non-Technical Areas and New Opportunities

While developers and their work is essential, Bitcoin thrives on a wide range of skills and perspectives. Attending events like BFF might reveal how your unique talents can contribute to this space—something you might not realize while sitting at home. As Anya, founder of Bitvocation (*a partner of this year’s BFF, running a mini-site event where you can learn more about the Bitcoin job market, details to come), once told me:

Face-to-face interactions create real connection and trust—vital ingredients for Bitcoin's social layer.

Just like her, I know that by attending Bitcoin meetups and conferences, we gain an unmatched opportunity to grow our network in real life, resulting in much closer relations than hanging out with someone on X or Nostr.

It could even be the first step toward a new career path that, precisely because of your presence, begins to take shape. Indeed, quoting Anya again:

The best opportunities come to those who truly show up.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that after attending an event, you’ll immediately walk away with a job in Bitcoin (though you might!). But you’ll likely leave with valuable connections, fresh ideas, and a clearer sense of direction.

-- Final Thoughts --

A year has 12 months—whether that’s a lot or a little depends on how we spend it. But please remember that a sound culture thrives when we gather, create, and connect. That’s why I’d like to encourage you to make Bitcoin events and meetups part of your plans this year.

Hope to see you in Warsaw at BFF25 (May 22-25)—so you can verify for yourself whether the points I’ve raised above resonate with your own experience.

Who knows? Maybe our paths will cross at other events I’ve penciled into my calendar as well 😎

BTC Your Mind. Let it Beat.

Şela