My name is Jenna Montgomery, and maybe you\u2019ve read some of my news articles<\/a> here before, or seen me on the Bitcoin Magazine TikTok<\/a>. But today, I wanted to switch it up and give you an inside look at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas<\/a> through my eyes as an intern, hired just one month before the conference, having little knowledge about Bitcoin beforehand and never attending an event like this before.\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019m writing this to give you a real, raw reflection of what I experienced over the course of the three day event, and why I believe you should absolutely attend the next Bitcoin conference. I want you all to know what goes down, what to expect, and to know how impactful I think this event really is. Bitcoin 2025 made a lasting impact on me and my life, and it just feels right to tell you why, so yours can maybe be changed too.<\/p>\n I got off the plane, threw my suitcase in my hotel room, and went to go and see the convention center as all of the finishing touches<\/a> around the venue were being added. I remember thinking how big, beautiful, and fun the expo hall was\u2014and where I would soon meet so many new people, make so many friends, and shake hands with people that I looked up to and admired.\u00a0<\/p>\n I will never forget walking in and seeing the main conference stage, The Nakamoto Stage<\/a>, for the first time. Seeing that giant room with a symphony and endless rows of chairs, soon to be filled with thousands of passionate Bitcoiners, really put in perspective to me how Bitcoin 2025 wasn\u2019t just a conference, it felt like something bigger. I realized it\u2019s an actual community and a place of countless opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n The conference is essentially split up into 3 days: Industry Day, General Admission Day 1, and General Admission Day 2. Industry Day was mainly tailored towards professionals, investors, founders, and others focused on Bitcoin businesses. The general admission days were tailored more towards the casual Bitcoiner, and those were the days that I really felt the energy just exploding around the convention center.<\/p>\n INDUSTRY DAY<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Walking into the expo hall<\/a> early in the morning on Industry Day, I was overwhelmed when I saw all of the vendors and companies setting up their tables, booths, stages, and even a rock climbing wall (thank you CleanSpark<\/a>). It seemed as if the expo hall went for miles and miles, and featured a long orange carpet that made an intricate path through the venue that led you to each and every booth.<\/p>\n I remember being in total awe as I looked up at the ceiling and saw a huge UFO in the middle of the expo hall, with two Bitcoin themed Cybertrucks just off to the side of it, with lots of other interesting booths including one with a talking robot.<\/p>\n As I followed the long orange carpet around the venue, I looked over my shoulder and saw a huge blow-up of a Bitcoin Puppet in the art exhibit<\/a>, featuring all kinds of other cool Bitcoin art. Some of these pieces of art were worth well over one bitcoin<\/a>\u2014which was mindblowing to me considering that is more than $100,000. Every good revolution has good art, and seeing all the talented artists pouring their hearts into their work helped me believe that Bitcoin is the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n Now, it was time to get to work at where I would spend the majority of my time over the next few days. My coworkers and I were stationed up right in front of the Bitcoin Magazine news desk next to the AV (audio-visual) team, where I had a perfect view of everything. Here, I spent all day every day writing news articles for Bitcoin Magazine based on the speeches, keynotes, and other panels happening on the Nakamoto stage, as well as filming TikTok\u2019s around the expo hall with attendees.<\/p>\n Working in front of the news desk was one of my favorite things about the conference. Everyone who spoke on it live had an electrifying personality that kept me locked into every conversation, especially one of the hosts Pete Rizzo<\/a>. After every talk on the Nakamoto Stage ended, the live stream would pan over to the news desk where they would break down what happened, providing viewers with expert analysis. This was something extremely very fun to watch live and experience the production of it all first hand.<\/p>\n The talks on Industry Day kicked off to such a great start with Dan Edwards from Steak \u2018n Shake<\/a>, who recently became the first major fast food chain in America to begin accepting<\/a> Bitcoin Lightning<\/a> payments. So I was very excited to hear about Edwards\u2019 speech and to visit Steak \u2018n Shake\u2019s incredible booth, which also featured a group of fun, dancing cows.\u00a0<\/p>\n While speaking on stage, Edwards revealed that, \u201cBitcoin is faster than credit cards, and when customers choose to pay in Bitcoin, we\u2019re saving 50% in processing fees.\u201d Just think about that for a second \u2014 saving a whole 50% on each transaction? This really opened my eyes to the benefits of accepting Bitcoin as payment and why it could mean to merchants who adopt it.<\/p>\n Based on everything I heard in that speech, I think Steak \u2018n Shake may be the first to start a new trend of other big companies accepting Bitcoin. If they recognized the benefits of Bitcoin, it\u2019s only a matter of time before other franchises do as well.<\/p>\n JUST IN: Fast food giant Steak ‘n Shake announced they’re saving 50% in processing fees accepting Bitcoin payments \ud83d\ude80<\/p>\n ‘#Bitcoin<\/a> is faster than credit cards’ \ud83d\ude4c pic.twitter.com\/bxApgBL6El<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 27, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Another big highlight from this day was hearing Senator Cynthia Lummis<\/a> confirm that President Donald Trump supports her Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act. There were so many statements made during the conference that I will get to later on that point to the fact that the United States is pro-Bitcoin and we\u2019re going to be the world leader in it. Senator Marsha Blackburn also added to this, stating, \u201cMany of our allies follow what we do. If we lead, others will follow. This is vital to our economic future.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n JUST IN: \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 Senator Cynthia Lummis said US military generals are “big supporters” of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for economic power. pic.twitter.com\/2RPMV3tbdA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 27, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n At this point in the day, I broke away to attend the Women of Bitcoin Brunch. As a woman in the industry, I really valued the opportunity to attend this event and encourage any woman in the space to attend in the future as it was the highlight of the conference for me personally. I got to meet so many amazing people and was welcomed with open arms. So if you\u2019re afraid to attend this event in the future, or don\u2019t have anyone to go with, don\u2019t be! I walked into the brunch and it was almost like all of these people that I didn\u2019t know were waiting for me and were happy that I was there.<\/p>\n During the brunch, I got to mingle and talk with so many fun girls in this beautiful ballroom with orange and pink feathers and balloons everywhere, which was right up my alley. Then we all got seated as showgirls came in and danced, and we all carried on and laughed and had an amazing time.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lyn Ulbricht, Calli Bailey, Natalie Brunell, and Michaela Navarro, a 14-year-old Bitcoin advocate, shared her thoughts on the impact of Bitcoin.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lyn Ulbricht, mother of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, introduced<\/a> her new nonprofit \u201cMothers Against Cruel Sentencing\u201d and gave an amazing speech on her story and what she stood for. \u201cMultiple thousands of people, many of them nonviolent like Ross, are serving extreme sentences,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are giving families a voice.\u201d Her words drew a big emotional response, and the Women of Bitcoin Brunch became one of the most powerful side events of the day.<\/p>\n Calli Bailey, co-founder of BTC Inc., the parent company of Bitcoin Magazine, delved into all the growth that she\u2019s seen at the company over the years and how much the community meant to her. The brunch genuinely made me feel so emotional\u2014but in the best way. Bailey, specifically, has a way with her words that always makes me cry. I can tell that her son, David Bailey and Bitcoin are her whole world, and every word she speaks really comes from the heart. The energy in the room was so powerful. As I was surrounded by so many strong women who definitely knew a whole lot about Bitcoin, I felt inspired leaving the brunch and feeling at home.\u00a0<\/p>\n As Industry Day continued, I watched and reflected on everything that I had learned so far that day. But this was only the beginning.\u00a0<\/p>\n Next, Donald Trump Jr. took the stage with Chris Pavloski<\/a>, the CEO of Rumble, and revealed that Trump Media Group (TMTG) and Truth Social are backing Bitcoin with a $2.5 billion treasury. Trump Jr. further explained, \u201cWe\u2019re seriously on Bitcoin. This isn\u2019t a phase. This is foundational to the future.\u201d Chris Pavlovski agreed, stating, \u201cThe floodgates are opening. Bitcoin isn\u2019t just an idea anymore\u2014it\u2019s strategy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Hearing people of this caliber with tons of experience helped me build more conviction in Bitcoin, because if powerful figures such as Donald Trump Jr. are putting this type of money, time, and effort into Bitcoin, then maybe myself and others should be taking this seriously too.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bo Hines, White House Executive Director, backed up this entire point<\/a> as he spoke on the Nakamoto stage, saying, \u201cWe are well on our way to becoming the Bitcoin superpower of the world. This is something that is not partisan. This is a revolution in our financial system.\u201d He ended his talk strongly by saying, \u201cBitcoin is truly the golden standard. We want as much as we can possibly get.\u201d<\/p>\n JUST IN: \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 President Trump’s Executive Director said “Bitcoin is the golden standard.”<\/p>\n “We’re not gonna sell any Bitcoin that we possible have in the US government, period.” \ud83d\udc4f pic.twitter.com\/F6Dv2nUk9b<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 27, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Ending Industry Day on that note was an incredible start to the conference and laid a good foundation for the upcoming general admission days. I can\u2019t state this enough, when you have executives from the White House taking the time out of their already crazy schedule to travel to this event and to tell everyone how important Bitcoin is, knowing all they know, I feel like others should also listen to their message.\u00a0<\/p>\n As Industry Day came to an end, I was ready to rest up and gather all my energy for the first general admission day the following morning. Because the early bird gets the worm\u2014and the worm on General Admission Day One just happened to be JD Vance.\u00a0<\/p>\n BITCOIN 2025 INDUSTRY DAY WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! CAN\u2019T WAIT FOR TOMORROW TO MAKE HISTORY\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\ude80<\/p>\n P.S. SOUND ON, IT\u2019S A VIBE \ud83d\udd0a pic.twitter.com\/MYIqnJ6rv4<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The Bitcoin Conference (@TheBitcoinConf) May 28, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n GENERAL ADMISSION DAY 1<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n That Wednesday morning, I woke up at 4:00am as I walked from my hotel room down to the expo hall, already seeing the Secret Service walking around the venue with attendees starting to line up to get in. That morning, I helped volunteer at registration and direct people to where they needed to go, helping make sure everything ran as smoothly as possible for the 35,000+ incoming attendees. This was also a highlight for me as it was interesting to see all of the different people from all kinds of different places coming to this conference for Bitcoin.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Energy was buzzing<\/a> all around as everyone knew the Vice President was in the building. As the time neared for Vance to take the Nakamoto stage, I eagerly sat in front of the live news desk ready to document absolutely everything Vance was saying to use to publish a news article on.<\/p>\n Then JD Vance then took the stage<\/a> and the crowd just roared from the Nakamoto stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great to be here with Bitcoin at $108k and to be Vice President of the United States,\u201d he said. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just a conference of people. This is a movement.\u201d<\/p>\n Vance made it very clear that Bitcoin is in the future of the United States and even stated that he is the first Vice President to ever hold Bitcoin. He went on to say, \u201cWe\u2019re done with ambiguity. We\u2019re here to build a regulatory framework that lets Bitcoin thrive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n He explained that Bitcoin is in the hands of the American people and that we deserve respect and support from our government with no one trying to tear us down. He gave such a strong speech, saying that we have the power to change the kind of world we live in and what we want to do with Bitcoin.\u00a0<\/p>\n After Vance, the energy in the expo hall and Nakamoto Stage\u2014I\u2019m telling you\u2014it was just truly indescribable. There were people everywhere, there was music, there were DJs, refreshments and food being served, lots of laughter, mind blowing exhibits, and all types of different people.\u00a0<\/p>\n This day was also record breaking for Bitcoin because on General Admission Day One, there was an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most Bitcoin & payments in one day. There was also the Bitcoin Magazine store truck where lots of merch was being sold, where you were able to pay with bitcoin via the Lightning Network. All transactions completed there went towards the attempt!<\/p>\n In addition to this, what was going on at the Nakamoto Stage was also nothing short of incredible. Ryan Cohen, the CEO of GameStop, confirmed a huge treasury play<\/a>, announcing, \u201cWe currently own 4,710 Bitcoin,\u201d as he broke down the company\u2019s reasoning for buying BTC as a reserve asset.\u00a0<\/p>\n He went on to say that GameStop is following the GameStop strategy\u2014not anyone else\u2019s\u2014confirming that GameStop uses Bitcoin as a true plus and asset for itself, totally disregarding any kind of social norms.\u00a0<\/p>\n Next, Eric Adams, the Mayor of New York City, announced that he plans to create a BitBond<\/a>, accept Bitcoin payments for taxes, and will use blockchain for birth certificates verifications. This was extremely mind-blowing to me, because this is a huge step into Bitcoin adoption\u2014and I\u2019m honestly here for it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Mike Ho, and Matt Prusak spoke<\/a> after. \u201cEverybody wants Bitcoin. Everybody is buying Bitcoin,\u201d Eric said. Prusak added, \u201cWe\u2019re stacking sats like crazy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n JUST IN: \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 Eric Trump says “everyone in the world wants #Bitcoin<\/a>, everybody is buying Bitcoin”<\/p>\n “0.1 BTC is going to be worth an absolute fortune” \ud83d\ude80 pic.twitter.com\/0942a3dSWI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) May 28, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Toward the end of the day, the goal of reaching the Guinness World Record was getting closer and closer\u2014and at that point, I knew we were going to make it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Then, I remember looking up on the screen, and seeing that the record was broken. Over 4,160 Bitcoin payments in 8 hours, making a huge impact and proving the importance of how Bitcoin is money\u2014and how Bitcoin can be used as money.\u00a0<\/p>\n I participated in this world record attempt myself and had so much fun paying in Bitcoin. It was incredibly exciting to be able to put a number on the board and contribute to breaking an official world record.\u00a0<\/p>\n During this time, I was also going around and doing TikTok interviews for Bitcoin Magazine.\u00a0<\/p>\n Getting to interview attendees and ask what their price predictions were around the expo hall with all the bright lights, fun props, and other cool stuff made an unique opportunity for me to create a lot of fun content. Between all those speaking on the multiple stages all around the venue, fun music was blasting, meeting new friends, and running around doing TikTok interviews\u2014this conference was right up my alley. I knew that I was in the right place. I literally felt the most content in that very moment. It felt right.\u00a0<\/p>\n As I finished up filming, I ran back to the news desk to write yet another news article on someone who changed the way that I look at finance and Bitcoin as a whole: Saifedean Ammous. Before going to Las Vegas, I read his book, The Bitcoin Standard<\/em>, and that made a lasting impression on me. I really wanted to hear what he had to say, because of how deeply I\u2019ve dug into his written words.\u00a0<\/p>\n What stood out most was his projection<\/a> that 1 USDT might soon trade above $1 USD as Bitcoin-backed reserves outpace dollar ones. That idea reframed Bitcoin as more than just a hedge\u2014it\u2019s becoming the center of a new financial system. Ammous\u2019s final forecast was that the USD era is ending, and Tether will eventually be redeemable directly in BTC. He ended almost declaring a challenge: to think bigger, and sooner.\u00a0<\/p>\n The day had finally ended, and the Guinness World Record was hit. I had absorbed so much new knowledge\u2014I kind of felt like a new person. I left the conference that day more than ready to go for tomorrow, and felt very fortunate. More than ever.<\/p>\n https:\/\/x.com\/TheBitcoinConf\/status\/1927914310212407481<\/a><\/p>\n GENERAL ADMISSION DAY 2<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n General Admission Day 2 also had a very good lineup. And at this point in the conference, I had two days under my belt (I was obviously a pro by now). That morning I walked back into the conference so eager and excited for all that was to come that day. The conference was booming right when the doors opened, and I was ready to go.\u00a0<\/p>\n That morning, Hester Peirce, SEC Commissioner, kicked it off<\/a> with the honesty I feel like we all needed. \u201cWe can\u2019t ignore it,\u201d she said, discussing digital asset regulation. \u201cRegulatory uncertainty lets bad actors hide and pushes good actors out. That has to end.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking on the topic of memecoins she stated, \u201cIf you\u2019re expecting to buy a memecoin and become a billionaire\u2014buyer beware. Be an adult.\u201d But on Bitcoin? \u201cPeople deserve the ability to transfer value on their own terms,\u201d she said. \u201cWe need to protect that.\u201d<\/p>\n Paolo Ardoino\u2019s talk<\/a> made my eyes wide as he, the CEO of Tether, stated the fact that Tether owns over 100,000 Bitcoin. Ardoino said it\u2019s \u201cvery realistic\u201d that Tether could become the largest Bitcoin miner in the world by the end of the year\u2014even outpacing all the public mining giants.<\/p>\n He even played around with the idea that one day there could be an AI agent with a non-custodial wallet that can hold Bitcoin and work for you, reinforcing what I mentioned earlier today on the fact that Bitcoin really is the future\u2014and there is so much going on behind the scenes that is yet to come out.\u00a0<\/p>\n Later on, Lyn Alden gave a presentation<\/a> on the U.S. economy, and how the brakes had been ripped out. She backed it all up with hard data, showing how the fiscal deficit has surged past 7% of GDP even while unemployment remains low.<\/p>\n Her explanation that public debt overtook private sector debt after 2008 marked the moment the government stopped even pretending it could rein things in.\u00a0<\/p>\n When she said, \u201cBitcoin is the mirror of this system\u2014and the best protection from it,\u201d I felt that. It reminded me why I\u2019m here, why I care, and why opting into Bitcoin feels like opting out of something broken.\u00a0<\/p>\n At this point in the afternoon, I could feel the momentum starting to go up. 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