Conversations Shaping the Future of Bitcoin: BitDevs' First Meetup in Istanbul

Today's Bitcoin is not the Bitcoin of 2009. It's growing, developing new capabilities and features. So, I’m absorbing as much knowledge as I can, but the knowledge itself is also growing. Therefore, while I know a lot about Bitcoin, I will never know everything about Bitcoin."

Eight years later, in late July 2024, former US President Donald Trump and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy spoke at a Bitcoin conference. This was part of their campaigns for the highest office in the United States. Both made significant campaign promises, hoping to win votes from people who love Bitcoin.

But what constitutes good Bitcoin policy, and how is it created? Can politicians, like Antonopoulos, find the necessary time in their busy schedules to develop an understanding of this emerging technology in order to regulate it properly? Presidential candidates, of course, don't formulate policies on their own. They have large teams of research assistants who provide them with advice. The same goes for other political representatives, such as Members of Congress and Senators. These teams of researchers must also be competent to provide advice and develop sound policies.

The reality today is that there is an urgent need for politicians to have teams that firmly grasp and understand Bitcoin. Technological progress happens constantly and inevitably, and public policies must keep up and adapt. The negative consequences of backward policies resulting from a lack of understanding of technology can be severe for a society and should be avoided. This is well understood in developed countries.

When talking about Bitcoin, we often use analogies to explain its various components; for example, the process of creating new bitcoins is called "mining," the software used to store and transfer bitcoins is called a "wallet," and the protocols built on top of the Bitcoin blockchain are called "layers." These analogies or skeuomorphisms are very useful models for beginners to develop an initial understanding of how Bitcoin's various components work and interact, but they are only limited models and entirely inadequate for useful software or regulatory engineering for Bitcoin.

Moreover, Bitcoin is a new and complex system unlike anything we've seen before, situated at the intersection of broad fields of study such as computer science, cryptography, mathematics, distributed systems, economics, game theory, philosophy, and energy. Approaching this subject from a single perspective will almost certainly lead to an incomplete and misleading view. An old Indian parable, "The Blind Men and the Elephant," illustrates this problem. Just as a faulty world map led Christopher Columbus to America instead of India, a faulty model of reality can cause developers to write bad code and politicians to draft harmful regulations.

To better understand Bitcoin and keep up with developments, a group of developers founded BitDevs in New York in 2013. BitDevs, short for "Bitcoin Developers," is a community-driven initiative focused on fostering a collaborative environment for Bitcoin developers and enthusiasts. The primary goal of BitDevs is to provide a space where people interested in the development and technical aspects of Bitcoin can come together to discuss, learn, and contribute to the ecosystem.

BitDevs regularly hosts meetups, often referred to as Socratic Seminars, where participants discuss the latest developments in Bitcoin and related technologies. These seminars are typically technical and cover topics such as protocol updates, security issues, cryptography, and more. The Socratic Seminar format is characterized by a structured discussion led by a moderator, where participants engage in in-depth discussions based on pre-selected topics or questions.

Today, BitDevs meetups are held regularly in over 20 cities worldwide, and on August 17, 2024, the Istanbul Bitcoin community added a new chapter with the first BitDevs Istanbul, held at CoBAC Workspace. Approximately 20 participants attended the 120-minute Socratic Seminar at the coworking space in Istanbul's Eminönü district to discuss technical developments in Bitcoin. Topics included the latest addition to the Lightning Network specification, Bolt 12, new proposals for Bitcoin Layer 2, Bitcoin Improvement Proposal BIP353, and other developments. In the second half, Ark developer Burak gave an overview of Brollups, followed by a presentation on Nostrize by Nostr developer Dhalsim.

After the 2-hour Socratic Seminar, CoBAC invited participants to the Terrace Garden for drinks and networking at sunset, reaffirming their ongoing support for the local Bitcoin community after previously hosting the Istanbul Bitcoin Meetup since 2021 and Lightning Hackdays in 2022. As BitDevs organizers, we are delighted with this support. We are grateful for the hospitality of the CoBAC team and invite curious minds to join us at the next BitDevs to further explore Bitcoin development.

Shape the Future at Istanbul's Dynamic Workspace CoBAC

The BitDevs Istanbul event took place in the modern and creative environment of CoBAC Workspace. Located in the heart of Istanbul, CoBAC Workspace is a dynamic coworking space where professionals from various fields of business come together. Offering an ideal work and event space for entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, and creative professionals, CoBAC continues to take pride in supporting innovative groups like the Bitcoin and blockchain community.

With modern amenities such as high-speed internet, quiet workspaces, spacious meeting rooms, and a unique view of the Golden Horn, CoBAC Workspace provides the perfect setting for events like BitDevs Istanbul. To participate in such events that shape the future of Bitcoin and take advantage of the facilities offered by CoBAC Workspace, reserve your spot now. For more information and membership opportunities, visit CoBAC Workspace's official website or follow their social media accounts.

Sources

1) Wikipedia. "Blind men and an elephant." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant
2) Smeet Bhatt. X post, [August 2024]. https://x.com/smeet_bhatt/status/1824207109921079496