Day 1 of Bitcoin MENA kicked off on December 8, with a splash of orange on everything from policy, institutional finance, technology, and culture, while also highlighting the role of the UAE in creating the crypto-hub that is shaping the Bitcoin ecosystem.
The opening day focused on a lot more than trading or speculation. It covered panels on macroeconomics, national policy, institutional adoption, infrastructure, and community with Bitcoin maximalists, investors, miners, and even those who pretend to know and understand crypto. Among them was an 11-year-old in a black Solana hoodie, holding a duffle.
A brief five-minute conversation confirmed that he is present to gain knowledge about trading, accompanying his father. Homeschooled, his abilities as a trader appeared to serve as his shield of confidence.
Discussions, one after the other
The conference opened with a keynote by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, who emphasized the importance of national-level digital-security frameworks as Bitcoin adoption grows across the region.
Following the keynote, Derar Islim, COO of Antalpha, set an institutional tone for the day with insights into how financial markets are preparing for a maturing Bitcoin ecosystem.
Yet the day was far from strictly financial. In the second half of the day, the crowd saw a few Michael Saylor fans dressed like him. The ‘Satoshi maskman’ and the ‘miner’ were right behind, following the trend.
Influencers had their equipment on, while they answered questions and vox pop interviews on the ground, collecting merch and freebies. Bitcoin MENA showcased Bitcoin’s growing cultural dimension through sessions like “Expressing Bitcoin Through Fashion.”
More panels covered the growth of Bitcoin in the MENA region, with speakers highlighting Bitcoin’s role in challenging centralized banking systems and debating the broader implications of Bitcoin for global banking, sovereignty, and financial systems.
At one of the panels, Dishang Patel, Head of Digital Assets from RAKBANK, said that at the end of the day, banks are indispensable to this ecosystem when you need to on or off-ramp your money.
Change of perspectives – Bitcoin’s acceptance
Notably, despite the anti-crypto policies in mainland China since 2021, the venue witnessed a remarkable number of Chinese audiences, miners, and traders. Patrick Ngan, CIO of the Zeta Network group, told AltCoinDesk “Bitcoin is an institutional asset.”
The day also witnessed a throwback to Trump’s initiatives for the growth of the crypto ecosystem at the fireside chat with Paul Manafort, former Campaign Manager, for Trump for President.
As the day came to a close, visitors left buzzing with anticipation for Day 2, scanning through the agenda to confirm when they can catch Michael Saylor and Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao speak, and which other standout speakers will take the stage next.
