This year’s TABConf event, which has been running since 2018, will be choosing topics and speakers based on proposals submitted by attendees via GitHub.
Decentralization and open-source software are two of Bitcoin’s core principles, yet industry conferences tend to be centralized affairs – funded, sponsored, planned and coordinated by companies and protocol teams.
Now there is a renewed effort underway to decentralize what can often be the most basic yet highly political element of conference planning – the agenda.
Two crypto executives are hosting what they’re calling the first “open source” conference for Bitcoin developers, reimagining the five-year TABConf gathering held in Atlanta.

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Alex Thorn
Head of Firmwide Research
Galaxy
Hear Alex Thorn discuss “Bitcoin and Inflation: It’s Complicated” at Consensus 2023.
Secure Your Seat
Decentralization and open-source software are two of Bitcoin’s founding principles. Yet industry conferences tend to be centralized affairs, often funded, sponsored, planned and coordinated by companies or protocol teams.
There’s a renewed push underway to decentralize what can often be an unwieldy element of conference planning – the agenda.
Two crypto executives are organizing what they’re calling the first “open source” conference for Bitcoin developers, reimagining the TABConf gathering that has been held annually in Atlanta for five years.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
TABConf 2023 will feature a public forum in September where attendees can suggest topics for discussion and speakers they’d like to hear from, according to event planners.

Consensus 2023 Logo
Alex Thorn
Head of Firmwide Research
Galaxy
Experience Alex Thorn’s perspective on “Bitcoin and Inflation: It’s Complicated” at Consensus 2023.
Secure Your Seat
Decentralization and open-source software are two of Bitcoin’s core principles, yet industry conferences tend to be centralized affairs – usually funded, sponsored, planned and coordinated by companies or protocol teams. Secure your seat today to guarantee yourself a place at these important events!
Now, there’s a renewed drive to decentralize what can often be the most basic yet highly political element of conference planning – the agenda.
Two crypto executives are organizing what they are calling the first “open source” conference for Bitcoin developers, reimagining the TABConf event that has been held annually in Atlanta for five years.

TABConf 2023 in September will give attendees the chance to suggest topics for discussion and speakers they’d like to hear from, according to event planners.
“Anyone can open an issue,” Brandon Iglesias, co-founder of TABConf LLC and event organizer, declared. “The issues are chosen solely based on merit.”
Atlanta Bitcoin Meetups
TABConf was formed out of a series of successful Atlanta Bitcoin meetups organized by Iglesias and Michael Tidwell. Iglesias serves as director of product at decentralized storage firm Storj Labs, while Tidwell works as director of infrastructure at Bitcoin gaming and payments firm Zebedee.
Last year, TABConf welcomed over 500 attendees and featured dozens of speakers, such as Bitcoin Core developers Andrew Chow, Gloria Zhao, Murch and Pieter Wuille on a panel. Developer Jeremy Rubin spoke about Bitcoin smart contracts while Ruben Somsen discussed Silent Payments – single reusable addresses which allow multiple payments from different people without breaching privacy – while Zebedee CTO Andre Neves delivered the keynote address.
Traditionally, Iglesias, Tidwell, and a few other organizers are solely responsible for creating the conference agenda.
What sets the 2023 event apart is that anyone can submit a recommendation for a speaker or topic through its GitHub repository – making it the first open source Bitcoin conference, according to Iglesias.