BTC meets at the ETH Conference: Welcome BTC Denver 

Bitcoin Denver, brought together by leading dev house Boosty Labs under their new event series “BTC_U_There,” is set to bring 30 speakers, 50 hand-selected hackathon participants, and a curated audience of 200+ builders, founders, VCs, and BTC OGs under one roof for one day only.

This Friday, February 28th, at a private venue, Bitcoin leaders, including Farmer Joe, Jan Smejkal from Xverse, and Vitalii Yatskiv, COO of Boosty Labs, together to discuss and define the future of DeFi on Bitcoin. Co-presented by a range of sponsors, including RunesDex, Rootstock, Glittr, Cash Labs, and over a dozen leading companies in the Bitcoin ecosystem, BTC Denver is set to be an event like no other- with a curated guest list of BTC builders from around the globe. 

Bridging the gap between the ever-popular ETH Denver conference landscape and the powerful momentum building around Bitcoin, BTC Denver aims to showcase how DeFi on Bitcoin is poised to transform decentralized finance as we know it. With a sharp focus on scaling solutions, cross-chain collaboration, and innovative Smart Contract development on Bitcoin, the event is supported by an impressive roster of sponsors, including RunesDex, Rootstock, Glittr, Cash Labs, and more than a dozen other leading Bitcoin ecosystem companies.

At the core of BTC Denver is a highly selective hackathon featuring 50 developers chosen from over 500 applicants for their expertise and creativity in blockchain technology. These participants will compete for bounties from Glittr, RunesDex, Synternet, and additional top-tier projects, all aimed at building vital tooling, dashboards, and protocols that advance DeFi on Bitcoin—from Smart Contracts to Stable Coins and beyond.

Hackathon bounties will be officially announced on February 27 at noon, giving teams just under 30 hours to strategize before presenting their final demos. Submissions will be adjudicated live between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM on February 28 by a distinguished panel, including:

• Vitalii Yatskiv, COO and Deputy CEO of Boosty Labs—hailed by Business Insider as a Web3 development “wunderkind.”

• Periwinkle Doerfler, Ph.D, PhD – researcher, developer, and Co-Founder/CTO of Glittr Fi

• Nick Fouriezos, CMO of Arch Network

• Alex Horlan, CTO of  Hackenproof

While the hackathon unfolds, 30 key figures from the Bitcoin and broader crypto landscape will take the stage for panels, fireside chats, and keynotes exploring the theme of “Scaling Bitcoin.” Topics range from BTC-based DeFi opportunities to broader regulation, interoperability, and user adoption discussions.

The day’s programming will kick off with a keynote address from Viktor Ihnatiuk, Founder of Boosty Labs, who will set the tone for this singular event—highlighting Bitcoin’s growing potential in the DeFi realm and celebrating the future potential and scalability of Bitcoin. 

Among the notable speakers are:

• Farmer Joe
• Jan Smejkal from Xverse
• Matt Medved from NFT Now
• Isabel Duke from Bitcoin Rails
• Spencer Yang from Fractal Bitcoin
• Erik Jacobi from RunesDex
• Evin McMullen from Privado.ID
• Lancen LaChance of Rootstock
• Jennifer Tran from ICP
• Nick Fouriezos from Arch Network
• JJ from IKA
• Sheldon from Omnity
• Periwinkle Doerfler & Nick Calabro of Glittr.fi
• Rishabh Java from SatsTerminal
• Marcus Mazzocato of Atoma
• Philippe from Synternet
• Landie Slattery from Goldy Lox
• Sid Sridhar from Bima
• Donté from Ducat
• Michael Kelly, PhD of Binghamton University
• Gideon Nweze of Diba / Bitski
• Zhixi Nikki Zhang of BOB
• Aditya Dave from Zenrock
• Sebastien Davies from Aquanow
• Lee Tarone from Voy Finance

BTC Denver will mark a milestone in the continued evolution of the Bitcoin ecosystem, uniting a diverse cross-section of the crypto community. Attendees will gain first-hand insights into how the BTC-fi movement, a term used to describe the intersection of Bitcoin and decentralized finance, is charting a new course for the industry. This movement aims to integrate Bitcoin’s robustness and security with the adaptability and innovation often associated with Ethereum-based DeFi protocols, thereby enhancing the overall functionality and utility of the Bitcoin network.

“By orchestrating an event highlighting the best of both Bitcoin and Ethereum communities, we aim to nurture the innovative spirit necessary to bridge these ecosystems,” says Vitalii Yatskiv, COO of Boosty Labs. “BTC Denver is a testament to the explosive potential of BTC-fi and the many breakthroughs that lie ahead.”

About Boosty Labs

Since 2017, BOOSTY LABS has been the trusted partner for over 500 companies, delivering expert software development in Web3, Blockchain, Fintech, AI, and Cloud. With a team of 150+ skilled developers, we’ve worked with industry leaders like ConsenSys, McKinsey, and Ledger to create scalable, tailored solutions that drive success.