The Oslo Freedom Forum: The Best Bitcoin Conference That Isn’t About Bitcoin
(OFF REVIEW ARTICLE)
Dek: The world is utterly f*cked. And we have so much to do. And how can I do more? A Review of the Oslo Freedom Forum.
If I had to choose one conference to attend next year, it would be the Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF).
I attended more than a dozen conferences in 2023 and at least 15 in 2022. I hosted several of these events as a garishly dressed MC, and moderated panels, trying my utmost to hide my Bitcoin maxi bias. I also cobbled together quizzes, game shows, and talks to stimulate and provoke audiences to think a little differently.
So I know a little bit about conferences, networking events and how to capture and carry an audience.
When I look back on these moments, from the World Economic Forum in Davos to El Salvador’s Adopting Bitcoin, Web Summit in Lisbon, and AfroBitcoin in Ghana, there is not a single event that measures up to the Oslo Freedom Forum.
From Oslo to the World
Set in Norway’s sleepy, sophisticated capital, the Oslo Freedom Forum is a thought spectacle. You flop into the Oslo Concert Hall at 10 am, bleary-eyed and hazy after interactions with freedom fighters and bitcoiners into the small yet alarmingly bright hours. You then travel from your chair around the planet, delving into deeper and deeper human experiences.
Nowhere in the universe can you find such an interesting, inspiring, or energized group of individuals.
Activists and entertainers from all four corners of the globe take to the stage to practice and cultivate their freedom of speech. The coming together of these minds and the clash and fizz of ideas create an energy unlike anything I’ve experienced.
From Rwanda to Palestine, Uganda to Ukraine, you’re floored, moved to tears, silenced, and enraged. You surprise yourself by guffawing at Chinese deadpan jokes. Your mind blackens at the thought of Iranians stripped of their freedom to sing in their home country—all while an Iranian operatic singer stirs the audience in Norway, thousands of miles away.
Personally, I was bowled over by the professionalism that went into delivering such an engaging, well-polished spectacle.
Satoshi would be proud
The conversations that splinter and shoot off from the show range from trans debates and genital mutilation to war, famine, and heroism. I did my best to field the Bitcoin questions: “What is a Bitcoin CoinJoin? Is it really private?” I was asked this by a team member from Hong Kong who is fighting to free an activist from jail.
While the third day of the conference was largely dedicated to Bitcoin and financial freedom tools, Bitcoin advocates like LynAlden (npub1a2c…w83a) also graced the main stage to discuss NOSTR, algorithms, and control. Bitcoin is not the focus of the event, although Jack Dorsey did well to remind us of the protocol’s importance, wearing his trademark Satoshi/Nirvana t-shirt on the main stage.
These ideas and discussions left me stirring late at night. In fact, my sleep tracker tells me I averaged 5h of shut-eye per night in Norway; mostly light, seldom deep, low REM. Unfortunately, the deprivation is not to be blamed on the uncharacteristically raucous Norway nightlife that transforms the city during the OFF.
Indeed, the experiences to be had off-stage at the OFF are unique and countless, but here are a few:
I took a selfie with a legendary Colombian musician, Carlos Vives, right before dancing to his crooning songs in the foyer of what looked like a library. The space was at once engulfed by adoring Latino fans and bewildered Northern Europeans;
I peed next to a prolific, exiled Indian journalist and had a nice chat; I learned—visually—how the world’s biggest brands and governments launder money;
I shook jack (npub1sg6…f63m) ‘s hand for the first time and decided to take my shot. I invited him to surf the world’s biggest wave with me, Nazaré, in Portugal. (It’s a no… at least for now.)
And, I delighted in a sauna and fjord experience with not one but two legendary Bitcoin pseudonyms, as well as many other enriching experiences that should not be shared publicly.
On a professional note, I have Bitcoin leads coming out of my ears. As a Bitcoin journalist, I am so excited to bring to life more Bitcoin documentaries and insights into freedom technologies. My next stops are Ukraine, Bolivia, and Venezuela. There are so many untold stories of strife, survival, and financial freedom, but also joy—so much joy.
Fighting Fear with Joy
As the CEO of the OFF, Thor Halvorssen, described in his opening speech, the OFF is not the “Pain Olympics.” We can find joy and laughter in the darkness. And we must.
I met Thor briefly at the after-party and tried to put into words how remarkable the space is; “it’s like a TED conference on steroids,” I tried to explain. I worked for TED in 2015 while a Master’s Student at the University of Edinburgh so know their formula well—but it’s an unfair comparison.
Comparing to TED doesn’t scratch the surface of the emotional depth and range on offer at the OFF.
Nonetheless, and despite Thor’s optimism, there is a motif that runs through the event that led me to the same conclusion and question:
The world is utterly f*cked. And we have so much to do. And how can I do more?
Yes, the event is mind-blowing and unique. Yes, it’s a clarion call for freedom, perseverance, and human endeavor—but it’s also a candid acknowledgment that humans have been hacking each other to pieces for millennia.
When faced with the genocide against the Tutsi, Paul Rusesabagina, the Manager of what has become known as Hotel Rwanda, armed himself with speech: “the best weapon is my word,” he said on the main stage.
Faisal Al Mutar echoed this sentiment—from the ashes of civil war in Iraq, his talks and work reached millions of listeners from Afghanistan to Morocco. The activist come entrepreneur has cultivated his word, his speech to fight autocracy.
If we want to change the course of the world and improve it, then we need to meet it with our words, our speech—but also joy, resilience, and humanity. Fortunately, that is available by the bucket load at the OFF.
Looking back on the time in Oslo from Europe’s largest Bitcoin conference, BTC Prague, I am obliged to comment that of course, the OFF is not a Bitcoin conference.
But if I had to go to just one event on the Bitcoin and crypto calendar next year, it would not be a Bitcoin, crypto, or fintech conference; it would be the Oslo Freedom Forum.
And I’m already looking forward to next year.
——
As seen on Cointelegraph.
Thank you to gladstein (npub1trr…hdpu) the arshmolu (npub1wlk…qwhy) Alex Li (npub1szp…h3td) ayelen (npub1rsc…peqk) and the HRF team for putting on such a wonderful event!
joenakamoto / Joe Nakamoto
npub1lr…udl6a
2024-06-20 09:51:56
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"content": "The Oslo Freedom Forum: The Best Bitcoin Conference That Isn’t About Bitcoin\n\n(OFF REVIEW ARTICLE)\n\nDek: The world is utterly f*cked. And we have so much to do. And how can I do more? A Review of the Oslo Freedom Forum. \n\n\nIf I had to choose one conference to attend next year, it would be the Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF).\n\nI attended more than a dozen conferences in 2023 and at least 15 in 2022. I hosted several of these events as a garishly dressed MC, and moderated panels, trying my utmost to hide my Bitcoin maxi bias. I also cobbled together quizzes, game shows, and talks to stimulate and provoke audiences to think a little differently.\n\nSo I know a little bit about conferences, networking events and how to capture and carry an audience.\n\nWhen I look back on these moments, from the World Economic Forum in Davos to El Salvador’s Adopting Bitcoin, Web Summit in Lisbon, and AfroBitcoin in Ghana, there is not a single event that measures up to the Oslo Freedom Forum.\n\nFrom Oslo to the World \n\nSet in Norway’s sleepy, sophisticated capital, the Oslo Freedom Forum is a thought spectacle. You flop into the Oslo Concert Hall at 10 am, bleary-eyed and hazy after interactions with freedom fighters and bitcoiners into the small yet alarmingly bright hours. You then travel from your chair around the planet, delving into deeper and deeper human experiences. \n\nNowhere in the universe can you find such an interesting, inspiring, or energized group of individuals. \n\nActivists and entertainers from all four corners of the globe take to the stage to practice and cultivate their freedom of speech. The coming together of these minds and the clash and fizz of ideas create an energy unlike anything I’ve experienced.\n\nFrom Rwanda to Palestine, Uganda to Ukraine, you’re floored, moved to tears, silenced, and enraged. You surprise yourself by guffawing at Chinese deadpan jokes. Your mind blackens at the thought of Iranians stripped of their freedom to sing in their home country—all while an Iranian operatic singer stirs the audience in Norway, thousands of miles away. \n\nPersonally, I was bowled over by the professionalism that went into delivering such an engaging, well-polished spectacle.\n\nSatoshi would be proud\n\nThe conversations that splinter and shoot off from the show range from trans debates and genital mutilation to war, famine, and heroism. I did my best to field the Bitcoin questions: “What is a Bitcoin CoinJoin? Is it really private?” I was asked this by a team member from Hong Kong who is fighting to free an activist from jail.\n\nWhile the third day of the conference was largely dedicated to Bitcoin and financial freedom tools, Bitcoin advocates like nostr:npub1a2cww4kn9wqte4ry70vyfwqyqvpswksna27rtxd8vty6c74era8sdcw83a also graced the main stage to discuss NOSTR, algorithms, and control. Bitcoin is not the focus of the event, although Jack Dorsey did well to remind us of the protocol’s importance, wearing his trademark Satoshi/Nirvana t-shirt on the main stage.\n\n\nThese ideas and discussions left me stirring late at night. In fact, my sleep tracker tells me I averaged 5h of shut-eye per night in Norway; mostly light, seldom deep, low REM. Unfortunately, the deprivation is not to be blamed on the uncharacteristically raucous Norway nightlife that transforms the city during the OFF.\n\nIndeed, the experiences to be had off-stage at the OFF are unique and countless, but here are a few: \nI took a selfie with a legendary Colombian musician, Carlos Vives, right before dancing to his crooning songs in the foyer of what looked like a library. The space was at once engulfed by adoring Latino fans and bewildered Northern Europeans;\nI peed next to a prolific, exiled Indian journalist and had a nice chat; I learned—visually—how the world’s biggest brands and governments launder money; \nI shook nostr:npub1sg6plzptd64u62a878hep2kev88swjh3tw00gjsfl8f237lmu63q0uf63m ‘s hand for the first time and decided to take my shot. I invited him to surf the world’s biggest wave with me, Nazaré, in Portugal. (It’s a no… at least for now.)\n\nAnd, I delighted in a sauna and fjord experience with not one but two legendary Bitcoin pseudonyms, as well as many other enriching experiences that should not be shared publicly.\n\n\nOn a professional note, I have Bitcoin leads coming out of my ears. As a Bitcoin journalist, I am so excited to bring to life more Bitcoin documentaries and insights into freedom technologies. My next stops are Ukraine, Bolivia, and Venezuela. There are so many untold stories of strife, survival, and financial freedom, but also joy—so much joy.\n\nFighting Fear with Joy\n\nAs the CEO of the OFF, Thor Halvorssen, described in his opening speech, the OFF is not the “Pain Olympics.” We can find joy and laughter in the darkness. And we must.\n\nI met Thor briefly at the after-party and tried to put into words how remarkable the space is; “it’s like a TED conference on steroids,” I tried to explain. I worked for TED in 2015 while a Master’s Student at the University of Edinburgh so know their formula well—but it’s an unfair comparison. \n\nComparing to TED doesn’t scratch the surface of the emotional depth and range on offer at the OFF. \n\nNonetheless, and despite Thor’s optimism, there is a motif that runs through the event that led me to the same conclusion and question:\nThe world is utterly f*cked. And we have so much to do. And how can I do more?\n\nYes, the event is mind-blowing and unique. Yes, it’s a clarion call for freedom, perseverance, and human endeavor—but it’s also a candid acknowledgment that humans have been hacking each other to pieces for millennia.\n\nWhen faced with the genocide against the Tutsi, Paul Rusesabagina, the Manager of what has become known as Hotel Rwanda, armed himself with speech: “the best weapon is my word,” he said on the main stage. \n\nFaisal Al Mutar echoed this sentiment—from the ashes of civil war in Iraq, his talks and work reached millions of listeners from Afghanistan to Morocco. The activist come entrepreneur has cultivated his word, his speech to fight autocracy.\n\n\nIf we want to change the course of the world and improve it, then we need to meet it with our words, our speech—but also joy, resilience, and humanity. Fortunately, that is available by the bucket load at the OFF.\nLooking back on the time in Oslo from Europe’s largest Bitcoin conference, BTC Prague, I am obliged to comment that of course, the OFF is not a Bitcoin conference. \n\nBut if I had to go to just one event on the Bitcoin and crypto calendar next year, it would not be a Bitcoin, crypto, or fintech conference; it would be the Oslo Freedom Forum. \nAnd I’m already looking forward to next year. \n\n——\n\nAs seen on Cointelegraph. \n\n\n\nThank you to nostr:npub1trr5r2nrpsk6xkjk5a7p6pfcryyt6yzsflwjmz6r7uj7lfkjxxtq78hdpu the nostr:npub1wlkfvm7dvnusz9fv44wuwucu0jp3lc3wqt36ax0lz33hukjga7wq6hqwhy nostr:npub1szpa7cypmyd59083qs3pte9lez22lzfu6pl2guhgqx7q09x68y6qquh3td nostr:npub1rscuek38p87xeawmpg9ssump8cjkgmz2j3rhnha4artvh0xjacwq9upeqk and the HRF team for putting on such a wonderful event!",
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